Château Ripeau

Identity

Château Ripeau is a Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion. It is owned by Cyrille and Nicolas Gregoire. The estate is located in Saint-Émilion.

History and philosophy

Château Ripeau was founded in 1917 by Marcel Loubat. The de Wilde family subsequently managed the estate, with Françoise de Wilde taking over the helm in 1976. In 2004, Barbara Janoueix Coutel took charge of administration and commercial operations, while Louis de Wilde supervised the vineyard and winemaking. The vat room was modernised in 1997. Since then, Cyrille and Nicolas Gregoire have taken ownership of the estate.

The property is committed to environmentally friendly viticulture, employing practices that exclude herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Grass cover is maintained across part of the vineyard, and green harvesting is carried out.

Appellations

The wines of Château Ripeau are produced under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Practical information

Château Ripeau is located at 1 Ripeau, 33330 Saint-Émilion. The estate can be contacted by telephone on 05 57 74 41 41. Visits and tastings are offered at the property. The tasting room is open from January to July and from November to December, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. Groups can be accommodated, and languages spoken include English.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Ripeau vineyard covers an area of 15.5 hectares. It is characterised by sandy-clay soils, clay-limestone soils, sandy soils, and parcels with iron oxide. The terroir also includes slightly gravelly sand and outcropping iron-clay veins. The vines have an average age of 35 years. The grape varieties planted consist of Merlot (around 65%), Cabernet Franc (around 30%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (around 5%).

Flagship cuvées

Château Ripeau produces several cuvées, including the Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion Château Ripeau. The estate also crafts Château Ripeau L'Ange de Ripeau and La Garenne de Ripeau, the second wine. These red wines are made from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and are distinguished by their structure and balance.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats and barrels. Ageing can last up to sixteen months in barrels, with the proportion of new oak reaching up to 100% for certain cuvées and around one-third for others, depending on the vintage and the wine.