Château Sainte-Marie

Identity

Château Sainte-Marie is a winegrowing estate located in Targon, in the Gironde department. It is owned by the Dupuch family, with Stéphane Dupuch overseeing technical management and winemaking. He represents the fifth generation of his family at the helm of the estate.

History and philosophy

Stéphane Dupuch joined the family estate in 1997. Since the 2000s, Château Sainte-Marie has pursued more environmentally conscious viticulture, implementing sustainable winegrowing practices. The estate is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) and Bee Friendly, with organic certification planned for 2023. The estate's philosophy favours a more ‘Burgundian’ approach to viticulture rather than a strictly Bordeaux one, placing strong emphasis on single-plot management and showcasing individual terroirs. The estate has also invested in modern tillage equipment and new stainless steel vats designed to minimise water consumption. A planned winery facility equipped with solar panels aims for partial energy self-sufficiency.

Appellations

Château Sainte-Marie produces wines across several appellations, primarily Entre-deux-Mers, Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet, and Côtes de Bordeaux. The white wines are crafted notably under the Entre-deux-Mers appellation. The red wines are produced under the Bordeaux Supérieur or Premières-Côtes-de-Bordeaux appellations, the latter also referred to as Côtes de Bordeaux.

Winemaking and ageing

Winemaking at Château Sainte-Marie is carried out plot by plot, especially for the old vines. Densimetric sorting takes place upon grape arrival. For white wines, pneumatic pressing is followed by low-temperature fermentation in stainless steel vats (between 15°C and 18°C) to preserve aromatic fruit intensity. White wine ageing takes place in stainless steel vats with weekly stirring of the lees (bâtonnage). For the red wines, specific vinification details are less documented, though the aim remains preserving fruit expression. The estate continues to invest in new stainless steel vats equipped with water-saving technology.

Practical information

Château Sainte-Marie is located at 51 Route de Bordeaux, 33760 Targon. The estate is open for cellar-door sales and visits by appointment, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00. The telephone number is +33(05) 56 23 64 30 and the email address is contact@chateau-sainte-marie.com.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Sainte-Marie covers a total area of 66 hectares, spread across four main blocks, predominantly in the commune of Targon. The soils offer a rich diversity of terroirs, including clay-limestone soils—particularly for the plots dedicated to white wines—and clay-gravel. Certain plots, such as Marcon in La Sauve, feature outcropping asteriated limestone. The south-facing Croignon plot benefits from Pyrenean gravel over a clay subsoil. The Vieilles Vignes plots, surrounding Sainte-Marie in Targon, cover 25 hectares on clay-limestone soils. The grape variety distribution for white wines comprises Sauvignon Blanc (50%), Sémillon (40%), and Muscadelle (10%). For red wines, Merlot dominates (50%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Cabernet Franc (20%). The estate also practices polyculture and is bordered by woodland, fostering biodiversity.

Flagship cuvées

Château Sainte-Marie offers a range of wines comprising whites, reds, and rosés. White wines, such as Château Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes Entre-deux-Mers and the Madlys cuvée, are crafted from century-old Sémillon vines on certain plots, fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel vats to preserve fresh fruit flavours. Château Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes Blanc sec, blended predominantly from Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon, and Muscadelle, reveals aromas of white flowers, grapefruit, and peach, underpinned by a mineral quality. These wines are generally crisp and complex, designed to be enjoyed in their youth. Among the reds, cuvées such as Château Sainte-Marie Bordeaux Supérieur Vieilles Vignes (sometimes available in Magnums) and Alios are based on a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines stand out for their structure and ageing potential. The average vine age for these cuvées is 32 years, lending distinctive concentration and aromatic depth. Fermentation is temperature-controlled to preserve fruit intensity. The estate also produces a Château Sainte-Marie Rosé and a Château Sainte-Marie Clairet. The rosé displays a pale salmon hue, lively fruit flavours, freshness, and crispness, while the clairet showcases the distinctive qualities traditional to this appellation.