Château Saint-Christoly

Identity

Château Saint-Christoly is a family winegrowing estate situated in the commune of Saint-Christoly-Médoc, in Gironde. The estate is owned by the Heraud family; Cathy Héraud oversees the viticulture and winemaking, whilst Sandrine Héraud is in charge of sales. The estate boasts a family history spanning seven generations of winegrowers.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Saint-Christoly dates back to 1860, according to the estate. Cathy and Sandrine Héraud have managed the property since 2002. The estate is committed to an environmental approach, demonstrated by achieving Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification and doing away with weedkillers for several years.

Appellations

Château Saint-Christoly produces wines under the Médoc Cru Bourgeois appellation.

Practical information

Château Saint-Christoly is located at 1 bis impasse de la Mairie, 33340 Saint-Christoly-Médoc.

The cellar is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, all year round, by appointment. Guided tours and tastings are available by appointment, free of charge for individual visitors. For groups, a fee of €5 per person is charged. The estate can host groups of 15 to 100 people. Immersive experiences, such as taking part in the harvest or cellar work, can be arranged with Cathy Héraud.

The estate provides parking facilities and welcomes pets. A dedicated area is set up for children with colouring and puzzles. A collection of vintage tools is displayed in the tasting room. The estate is wheelchair accessible with assistance.

Services include cellar-door sales, an on-site shop, click & collect/takeaway, and delivery options. The estate accepts debit and credit card payments and provides Wi-Fi. English is spoken.

To contact the estate, you can call 06 81 07 94 29.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Saint-Christoly covers an area of approximately 15 hectares. It is located in Saint-Christoly-Médoc, in the Médoc, bordered by the Gironde estuary. The soils are composed of gravel and clay-limestone. The average vine age is 30 years, with a planting density of 5,000 vines per hectare.

The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (55%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), complemented by a small proportion of Petit Verdot (1%).

Flagship cuvées

The estate notably offers the Château Saint-Christoly cuvée, a red wine. It also produces a second wine, Château La Rose Saint-Bonnet.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting at Château Saint-Christoly is carried out mechanically. The harvested grapes are sorted by eight people on a sorting table. The vat room has a total capacity of 3,800 hectolitres. Maceration lasts between 20 and 30 days.

Ageing takes place in vats and barrels. Stainless-steel and concrete vats are used for a two-month ageing period. Ageing in oak barrels lasts 12 months, using around 200 casks, 25% of which are renewed each year. The estate uses a vertical press.