Where is Château La Garde located and who owns it?

Château La Garde is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Martillac, in the Gironde. It is owned by Maison Dourthe, a renowned name in the wine industry. The estate is led by Pénélope Godefroy as Managing Director. This property is distinguished by its rich history dating back to 1732 and its present commitment to sustainable environmental practices.

What are the characteristics of the Château La Garde vineyard?

The Château La Garde vineyard spans 54 hectares and features a varied terroir, including gravel ridges and a clay plateau, with 27 distinct soil types. Red grape variety plantings consist of Merlot (66%), Cabernet-Sauvignon (32%), and Petit Verdot (2%). For white wines, plantings comprise Sauvignon Blanc (86%) and Sémillon (14%). The estate is committed to environmentally friendly viticulture without herbicides or insecticides, and holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification.

Does Château La Garde offer wine tourism activities?

Yes, Château La Garde offers a variety of wine tourism activities. Visitors can take part in themed tours such as Découverte and Grandeur Nature, or Mosaïc tastings. Tasting workshops, cookery classes, and “Parenthèses gourmandes” are also available. The estate offers Signature tours and guest rooms. The tasting boutique is open six days a week from April to October and five days a week the rest of the year. Tours and tastings are by appointment and are accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

Château la Garde

Updated on 2 August 2026

Château La Garde in Martillac, owned by Maison Dourthe, produces Pessac-Léognan wines. Its 54-hectare HVE-certified vineyard fosters rich biodiversity. The vat room was renovated in 2021. The estate offers a range of red and white wines.

Pierre Estorges - Responsable viticole - Château La Garde - Pessac Leognan — © Château la Garde

Identity

Château La Garde is a winegrowing estate located in Martillac, in the Gironde. It belongs to Maison Dourthe. Pénélope Godefroy is its Managing Director.

History and philosophy

The history of Château La Garde dates back to 1732 with the construction of its chartreuse manor house. In 1756, the “Bourdieu de Lagarde” was recorded on the Cassini map as the property of the Blanchard family.

In 1877, the Lacoste family acquired the estate, naming its wine “Clos La Garde”. They expanded the farm buildings in 1881. Louis Eschenauer became the owner in 1920.

Since June 1990, Château La Garde has been part of Maison Dourthe. In 1991, a barrel cellar was built. More recently, in 2021, the vat room was completely redesigned and renovated. Axel Marchal has consulted as an oenologist for the estate since 2022, and Christophe Ollivier joined him in 2023 for oenological consulting on red wines.

The estate is committed to an environmentally friendly approach, without herbicides or insecticides, and is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE). A study conducted in 2022 by the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) Aquitaine recorded significant biodiversity on the estate, including 56 bird species, 33 butterfly species, 10 bat species, 17 dragonfly species, and 5 protected amphibian species.

Appellations

Château La Garde produces wines under the Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Practical information

Address: 1 Chemin de La Tour, 33650 Martillac

Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 91 18 93

Email: hospitality.lagarde@dourthe.com

The tasting boutique is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 from April to October, and Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 the rest of the year. Tours and tastings are by appointment and are offered in French and English. The estate has disabled access.

Château La Garde offers various wine tourism activities, including Découverte and Grandeur Nature tours, Mosaïc tastings, tasting workshops, cookery classes, “Parenthèses gourmandes”, and Signature tours. The estate also offers guest rooms and hosts corporate and private events.

Find out more

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

Where is Château La Garde located and who owns it?: Château La Garde is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Martillac, in the Gironde. It is owned by Maison Dourthe, a renowned name in the wine industry. The estate is led by Pénélope Godefroy as Managing Director. This property is distinguished by its rich history dating back to 1732 and its present commitment to sustainable environmental practices.
What are the characteristics of the Château La Garde vineyard?: The Château La Garde vineyard spans 54 hectares and features a varied terroir, including gravel ridges and a clay plateau, with 27 distinct soil types. Red grape variety plantings consist of Merlot (66%), Cabernet-Sauvignon (32%), and Petit Verdot (2%). For white wines, plantings comprise Sauvignon Blanc (86%) and Sémillon (14%). The estate is committed to environmentally friendly viticulture without herbicides or insecticides, and holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification.
What types of wine are produced at Château La Garde?: Château La Garde produces red and white wines under the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The principal red wines are Château La Garde Rouge and La Terrasse de La Garde Rouge, crafted from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. The white wines include Château La Garde Blanc and La Terrasse de La Garde Blanc, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. The estate also offers a range of six cuvées called “Mosaic”, reflecting the diversity of its terroir.
Does Château La Garde offer wine tourism activities?: Yes, Château La Garde offers a variety of wine tourism activities. Visitors can take part in themed tours such as Découverte and Grandeur Nature, or Mosaïc tastings. Tasting workshops, cookery classes, and “Parenthèses gourmandes” are also available. The estate offers Signature tours and guest rooms. The tasting boutique is open six days a week from April to October and five days a week the rest of the year. Tours and tastings are by appointment and are accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château La Garde vineyard covers a total area of 54 hectares. It is characterised by a diverse terroir with 27 distinct soil types, primarily composed of gravel. It features gravel ridges (croupes) as well as a clay plateau. The elevation of the gravel plateau reaches 50 metres.

The average age of the vines is 22 years. The area dedicated to red grape varieties is 50 hectares, while 4 hectares are planted with white grape varieties. The vineyard is divided into 50 parcels.

The red grape variety plantings consist of Merlot (34 ha), Cabernet-Sauvignon (15 ha), and Petit Verdot (1 ha). Clay-limestone soils are favoured for Merlot, deep gravel for Cabernet-Sauvignon, and clayey-gravel for Petit Verdot.

For the white wines, plantings comprise 3.5 ha of Sauvignon Blanc and 0.5 ha of Sémillon. Sauvignon Blanc is planted on a limestone seam, while Sémillon is situated on clayey-gravel parcels.

Vineyard management follows a sustainable approach (lutte raisonnée), with certain parcels farmed organically and biodynamically. Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Flagship cuvées

Château La Garde offers red and white wines. The main red cuvée is Château La Garde Rouge, to which 20 hectares are dedicated. Its average production is 130,000 bottles per year. The second red wine is La Terrasse de La Garde Rouge, sourced from an area of 25 hectares.

The main white cuvée is Château La Garde Blanc, originating from 2 hectares of vines with an average annual production of 15,000 bottles. The second white wine is La Terrasse de La Garde Blanc.

The red wines are crafted from Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. The white wines are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

The estate has also developed a range of cuvées named “Mosaic”, featuring six different wines.

Vinification and ageing

The Château La Garde vat room, renovated in 2021 by the Moon Safari architectural firm, is equipped with 63 vats, including 34 truncated-cone and inverted truncated-cone vats. These stainless steel vats are double-skin insulated and of small capacity. The Mosaic cuvées are aged in amphorae.

The barrel cellar, established in 1991, can accommodate up to 2,000 barrels. The wines are aged in barrels, with 15% new oak for the whites.