Château Franc Mayne
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A Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, Château Franc Mayne takes its name from the Côte de Franc against which it is nestled. Its 7 hectares of vines (with approximately 5.7 ha in production) are spread across three zones—limestone plateau, hillside slope, and foot of the slope—combining limestone, clay, sand, and marl across five distinct soil types in a single contiguous block. The ancient Gallo-Roman road runs alongside the vineyard, while a former coaching inn bears witness to the passage of pilgrims on their way to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Acquired in February 2018 by Thomas Savare and his family, the estate has been certified organic since 2022 and is carrying out a restructuring programme aimed at doubling the proportion of Cabernet Franc. Its underground cellars make it an unmissable destination for visitors.
Identity
Château Franc Mayne is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in Gironde. It is classified as a Grand Cru Classé. The property is managed by Pierre Arnald, and the Savare family are its current owners. Sophie Mage serves as technical director and cellar master, while Thomas Duclos acts as consultant oenologist.
History and philosophy
The history of Château Franc Mayne dates back to the 18th century, with the estate originally known as La Gomerie. Over the years, the château changed hands several times. In 1984, it was acquired by the AXA group. In 2005, the Laviale family, represented by Griet Van Malderen-Laviale and Hervé Laviale, took over management of the property. Since 2017, Jean-Pierre Savare and his family have been the owners of Château Franc Mayne. In 2019, the estate began converting to organic viticulture, achieving organic certification from the 2022 vintage.
Appellations
Château Franc Mayne produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.
Practical information
Château Franc Mayne is located at 1313, route de Libourne, RD243 in Saint-Émilion (33330). The estate can be contacted by telephone on 06 80 20 68 25 or by email at p.arnald@chateaufrancmayne.com. The property offers visits by appointment as well as tastings. Wine tourism activities include sound-and-light tours in the underground galleries and a visit to the underground barrel cellar. Château Franc Mayne also offers guest rooms at “Le Relais Franc Mayne”. Direct cellar-door sales and mail-order purchasing are available.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château Franc Mayne located and what is its main appellation?
- Château Franc Mayne is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in Gironde. It is primarily renowned under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The estate has also held the Grand Cru Classé classification since 2022, attesting to the quality of its wines and terroir within this renowned wine region.
- Who are the current owners of Château Franc Mayne and since when?
- Château Franc Mayne has been owned by Jean-Pierre Savare and his family since 2017. Prior to this, the estate had several owners, including the Laviale family from 2005 and the AXA group in 1984. Dating back to the 18th century, the estate is now managed by Pierre Arnald, with Sophie Mage as technical director and cellar master.
- What are the characteristics of the Château Franc Mayne vineyard?
- The Château Franc Mayne vineyard spans a planted surface area of 7 hectares, with 5.68 hectares in production. The soils are diverse, consisting of clay-limestone, sands over clay, and sandy marls across a limestone plateau and hillside slopes. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (86% to 90%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (10% to 14%). Harvesting is carried out by hand.
- Does Château Franc Mayne offer wine tourism activities?
- Yes, Château Franc Mayne offers a range of wine tourism activities. Guests can explore the estate through visits by appointment, including wine tastings. Sound-and-light tours are organised in the underground galleries, and the subterranean barrel cellar is also open to visitors. For on-site stays, the estate features guest rooms named “Le Relais Franc Mayne”.
The vineyard (terroir)
The vineyard of Château Franc Mayne covers a planted area of 7 hectares, with 5.68 hectares in production. The vines have an average age of 20 years. It is situated in the north-western sector of the appellation, on the hillside slope leading to the Côte de Franc. The soils comprise clay-limestone, sands over clay, and sandy marls, spanning a limestone plateau and hillside slopes. The grape varieties planted consist of 86% to 90% Merlot and 10% to 14% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting is carried out by hand.
Flagship cuvées
The estate’s grand vin is Château Franc Mayne. A second wine is also produced, named Ilex de Franc Mayne, crafted from 100% Merlot from the youngest vines. Another cuvée is offered, Château Franc Mayne Les Cèdres de Franc Mayne. Annual production of the first wine is around 24,000 bottles, while that of the second wine ranges between 5,000 and 6,000 bottles. In 2024, production of the grand vin is estimated at 21,000 bottles.
Vinification and ageing
Ageing for the grand vin, Château Franc Mayne, lasts between 16 and 18 months, split between new French oak barrels and once-used barrels. For the 2024 vintage, ageing is divided into 50% new barrels, 45% foudres, and 5% amphorae. The second wine, Ilex de Franc Mayne, is aged for 12 to 14 months in once- or twice-used barrels, never new.
- Appellation
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Commune
- Saint-Émilion
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Grand Cru Classé (2022)
- Owner
- Thomas Savare et sa famille (depuis février 2018)
- Technical direction
- Sophie Mage
- Surface area
- 7 ha
- Second wine
- Ilex de Franc Mayne
- Certifications
- Bio
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 86%, Cabernet Franc 14%
Estate news
24 August 2026
« Le vin, c’est caractéristique d’une région » : Audrey Chauvet défend un œnotourisme plus lent à Bordeaux
Audrey Chauvet, ancienne journaliste spécialisée dans les questions environnementales, a relancé en janvier à Bordeaux son agence « Les Voyages du vin », initialement créée en Corse. Elle promeut un œnotourisme "slow", privilégiant les découvertes à pied, à vélo ou en train, et mettant l'accent sur une approche locale et attentive aux acteurs du vignoble. Ses parcours ne se limitent pas à la dégustation mais intègrent l'histoire de Bordeaux, notamment l'influence du commerce du vin sur la ville. Audrey Chauvet, titulaire de certifications en vin (diplôme universitaire "Des vignes au vert" et WSET niveaux 2 et 3), cherche à recréer la proximité avec les vignerons qu'elle a appréciée en Corse. Elle privilégie les propriétés familiales et engagées dans le bio ou la biodynamie. Parmi ses adresses favorites, elle mentionne le château Franc Mayne, à Saint-Émilion, réputé pour ses caves souterraines, et le château Angludet, à Margaux, qui pratique la biodynamie. L'accent est mis sur l'exploration des paysages viticoles plutôt que sur une simple succession de châteaux. Ses visites, disponibles en français, anglais et italien, attirent majoritairement des touristes étrangers, sensibles à cette approche et à la dimension écologique. Audrey Chauvet envisage également de proposer des cours universitaires sur l'œnotourisme et d'organiser des voyages dans les vignobles corses et italiens pour un public français.
Read the source — sudouest.frPractical information
- Address
- 1313, route de Libourne, RD243, 33330 SAINT-ÉMILION
- Phone
- 06 80 20 68 25
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Disponible