Château Guiraud

Identity

Château Guiraud is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Sauternes, in Gironde. It is owned by Matthieu Gufflet, the majority shareholder since late 2021. General management has been led by Sandrine Garbay since 2022, with Matis Bouscarra Gaubert as cellar master and Christine Sourdes as oenologist. The estate is also co-owned by Xavier Planty. Château Guiraud is a Premier Grand Cru Classé en 1855.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Guiraud dates back to 1766, when it was acquired by the Guiraud family. The estate distinguished itself through its early commitment to agroecology, launching a pioneering biodiversity-focused approach as early as 1996. This commitment culminated in obtaining Agriculture Biologique (organic) certification in 2011, making Château Guiraud the first of the Premiers Grands Crus Classés de 1855 to be certified organic. In 2022, the estate joined the Terres de Natures label, founded by majority shareholder Matthieu Gufflet.

Appellations

Château Guiraud produces wines under the Sauternes appellation. The estate also crafts wines under the Bordeaux appellation.

Practical information

Château Guiraud is located at 1 Château Guiraud, 33210 Sauternes. The estate is open 7 days a week, including public holidays, from 10:00 to 18:00. Tours and tastings are available with or without reservation, in French, English, or Norwegian. A paid tour and tasting provides an opportunity to discover the estate and taste four wines. The estate also offers vineyard walks, an introduction to permaculture in the vegetable garden, and cellar visits. Audio guides are available. Groups (12–100 people) and pets are welcome. Château Guiraud has received several wine tourism awards, including the Best Of d’Or in 2019 for winery dining and the Best Of d’Or in 2022 for Wine Tourism and Environmental Practices. An on-site shop offers the estate's wines, and an online shop is available with delivery options. Wi-Fi is accessible. Accepted payment methods include American Express, payment cards, cash, and bank transfers.

The estate also features two restaurants: La Chapelle de Guiraud, offering bistronomic cuisine at the heart of the château under the direction of Chef Yoann Amado. This venue can host weddings, family celebrations, and corporate events. Le Cercle Guiraud, also helmed by Chef Yoann Amado and Pastry Chef Juliette Bonnard, opened in summer 2023 in the centre of Sauternes village and is listed among the starred establishments in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide.

Telephone: +33 5 56 76 61 01

Email: accueil@chateauguiraud.com

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Guiraud vineyard spans 80 hectares within a 128-hectare estate. The soils consist of gravel, sand, and deep clay, notably gravelly sand. The average age of the vines is 35 years. The grape varieties planted are Sémillon (65%) and Sauvignon blanc (35%). The estate is actively engaged in biodiversity conservation, maintaining a collection of 145 clones of Sémillon and Sauvignon, with more than 630 distinct insect species recorded in the vine rows. The entire vineyard is farmed organically, with certification obtained in 2011. Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Flagship cuvées

Château Guiraud produces several cuvées, including Château Guiraud, a Sauternes crafted from a blend of 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon blanc. This wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. Fermentations are carried out using indigenous yeasts. The estate also crafts Petit Guiraud, a Sauternes that serves as the château's second wine, partially vinified alongside the Grand Vin. The Le G de Guiraud cuvée is a dry white wine made from equal parts Sauvignon and Sémillon. It is aged for 6 months on its lees, partly in stainless steel vats and partly in barrels previously used for the sweet 1er Cru. Finally, the Grand Vin Blanc Sec de Château Guiraud is a dry white wine sourced from parcel selections and vinified in barrels from the Sauternes 1er Cru.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification at Château Guiraud relies on indigenous yeasts. The Grand Vin is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. Le G de Guiraud is aged for 6 months on its lees, half in stainless steel vats and half in barrels from the sweet 1er Cru. The Grand Vin Blanc Sec is vinified in barrels from the estate's Sauternes 1er Cru.