Château Saint Christophe

Identity

Château Saint Christophe is a winegrowing estate owned by the Richard family, with Frédéric Richard and Aurélie Richard currently serving as winemakers. The estate is located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes (33330).

History and philosophy

The family history of Château Saint Christophe spans nearly 200 years, representing a lineage of six generations of winegrowers. The estate has been managed by the Richard-Biès family since 1820. Among key historical figures, Denis Biès was a cooper and cellar master, while her husband, Gilbert Richard, was a wine broker. The estate is committed to sustainable viticulture certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE).

Appellations

Château Saint Christophe produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Practical information

Château Saint Christophe is located at 23 ROUTE DU BOURG, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. Prior booking is recommended for visits and tastings. The tasting cellar is open year-round. From April to October, opening hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, and Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. During the rest of the year, opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:30, with weekends and public holidays by appointment only. The estate offers direct cellar door sales and takes part in wine fairs. Mail orders are also available throughout France and worldwide. Tastings are offered at the property. The château provides two holiday cottages for accommodation: Le Chalet Vigneron and Le Panoramique. Facilities are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Languages spoken for visits include French, English, and by appointment, Spanish, German, and Dutch for groups. Accepted payment methods are debit/credit card, cash, and cheque.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Saint Christophe vineyard covers 9.2 hectares on the Saint-Émilion plateau. The soils are clay-limestone on asteriated limestone bedrock. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (85%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (15%). The average vine age is around 45 years. Pruning is carried out in Double Guyot. Vineyard work is partly carried out by hand. A distinctive feature of the vineyard is that it is partly planted on narrow, built-up terraces, creating a cascading landscape across the Cassevert hillside.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées, including Château Saint-Christophe and Le Primas du Château St-Christophe, as well as Château Yon Saint-Christophe. These red wines are crafted to express the characteristics of their terroir, offering a structure built for ageing potential.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically, with complete destemming of the grapes. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place in temperature-controlled concrete vats. The wines are aged in French oak barrels, featuring a proportion of new oak (around 20% to 25%) and barrels of one or more previous wines (30% to 60%), for a duration of 12 to 15 months. Around 50% of the ageing may also take place in vats. A light filtration is carried out prior to bottling.