Château Livran

Identity

Château Livran is an estate located in the commune of Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil in Gironde. It has been owned by the Lurton-Michon family since 2013, when Edwige Michon-Lurton and Olivier Michon acquired the property. Olivier Michon also serves as winemaker. The estate draws on the expertise of consulting oenologist Éric Boissenot and Stéphane Paillard.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Livran dates back to 1280, its documented founding date, making it one of the oldest châteaux on the peninsula. The name ‘Livran’ originates from the Latin ‘liber’, meaning ‘free’. The estate has seen several owners throughout the centuries and was acquired in 2008 by a Russian investment fund before being taken over in 2013 by the Lurton-Michon family. A private chapel was built and consecrated on the estate in 1783.

Since 2016, Château Livran has integrated biodynamic and biocontrol principles into its viticultural practices, notably using natural treatments such as lavender essential oil against insect pests. However, the estate does not yet hold biodynamic certification. The cellar buildings are designed with low energy consumption in mind, featuring natural insulation and wastewater treatment through composting.

The Appellations

Château Livran produces wines under the Médoc appellation. An application for the recognition of an AOC Médoc blanc was submitted in 2023.

Practical Information

Château Livran is located in Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil (33340). Visitors are welcome Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Tours can be arranged by appointment between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm on weekdays and on Saturdays. The estate offers guided tours for groups of 5 to 10 people, including an exploration of the vineyard plots. A family quiz activity is also available for children. The tour and tasting fee is €5, waived with any wine purchase. The estate is pushchair-accessible and features parkland, a boutique, a click-and-collect/takeaway service, and Wi-Fi. Payments can be made by payment cards or in cash.

Telephone: 05 56 09 02 05

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Livran vineyard covers 40 hectares of vines. The estate also includes parkland and woodland spanning 400 hectares in total. The vines are planted 500 metres from the Gironde estuary in Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone. A one-hectare parcel is dedicated to white wine production, situated on clay soils over a limestone bedrock.

The grape varieties for the red wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. For the white wine, the cultivated varieties are Chenin blanc and Chardonnay (accounting for 5%). Soil cultivation is partly carried out using a horse. Harvesting for the white wine is done by hand through three successive selective pickings, including a late harvest.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate offers several cuvées. The grand vin is Château Livran Cru Bourgeois, a red wine blended primarily from Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon. It boasts a structure allowing for 7 to 10 years of ageing potential.

A second red wine is also produced, named Château Livran Les Sources de Livran.

Château Livran also crafts a white wine, currently classified as Vin de France pending potential recognition as AOC Médoc blanc. This wine is produced from Chenin blanc and a small proportion of Chardonnay.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is mechanical for the red wines. For the white wine, it is conducted by hand through multiple selective passes. The estate is equipped with a cellar. The winemaker is Olivier Michon.