Château Villefranche
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Château Villefranche, a family winegrowing estate in Barsac since the 17th century, is managed by Benoît Guinabert. It produces red wines under the Graves appellation, sweet white wines under the Graves Supérieures appellation, and luscious wines under the Sauternes appellation across 22 hectares.
Identity
Château Villefranche is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Barsac, in the Gironde department. The property is managed by Benoît Guinabert, who is also its owner and operator.
History and Philosophy
The history of Château Villefranche is deeply rooted in the Sauternais region. The Guinabert family has been established there for over five centuries and has owned this winegrowing estate since the mid-17th century. The château's archives have been uninterrupted since the advent of Louis XVI, and the property has been listed in the Féret archives since 1840, attesting to its long-standing presence in the vineyard.
Benoît Guinabert has been managing the estate since 1984. It was Monsieur Henri Guinabert who initiated the production of a second wine in the 1980s, a practice continued today.
The Appellations
Château Villefranche produces wines under three controlled appellations:
- Graves Rouge appellation: A still red wine.
- Graves Supérieures appellation: A sweet white wine, whose vines are located in Barsac, with certain plots in the commune of Pujols-sur-Ciron for the second wine.
- Sauternes appellation: A luscious white wine.
Winemaking and Ageing
Winemaking at Château Villefranche follows traditional methods for both red and white wines. For red wines, the maceration period is approximately 20 days. Ageing is carried out entirely in barrels and lasts for 12 months.
As for Graves Supérieures, ageing also lasts 12 months, but it is split between 50% in barrels and 50% in vats, allowing for a balance between the wine's structure and freshness.
Practical Information
Address: Château Villefranche, 33720 Barsac
Telephone: 05 56 27 05 77 / 06 81 01 18 82
Email: benoit.guinabert@orange.fr
Fax: 05 56 27 33 02
Château Villefranche welcomes visitors for tastings and direct sales of wines at the property.
Find Out More
Frequently asked questions
- Which appellations are produced at Château Villefranche?
- Château Villefranche produces wines under several controlled appellations. It crafts red wines under the Graves appellation, as well as sweet white wines under the Graves Supérieures appellation and luscious white wines under the Sauternes appellation.
- Who is the current owner of Château Villefranche and since when?
- Château Villefranche is owned by Benoît Guinabert, who has also been managing it since 1984. The Guinabert family has been established on this historic estate located in Barsac since the mid-17th century, embedding the property in a long winegrowing tradition.
- What is the area of Château Villefranche's vineyard and its grape varieties?
- Château Villefranche's vineyard covers a total area of 22 hectares. The grape varieties consist mainly of Sémillon for the white wines, with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the red wines.
- Does Château Villefranche offer visits or tastings?
- Yes, Château Villefranche welcomes visitors to its property located in Barsac. The estate offers tastings of its wines, as well as direct sales at the property. It is recommended to contact the estate to arrange a visit.
The Vineyard (Terroir)
The vineyard of Château Villefranche covers a total area of 22 hectares. Of these, 5 hectares are dedicated to red grape varieties for the Graves appellation, and 1 hectare is reserved for white grape varieties for the Graves Supérieures appellation. The estate is located on the Haut-Barsac plateau, benefiting from its proximity to the Ciron, a river whose micro-climate, particularly the morning mists, is conducive to the development of noble rot, essential for luscious wines.
The soils of the plots dedicated to red wines are mainly clay-limestone and sandy-gravelly. Those for Graves Supérieures are clay-limestone. The planting density is 6,000 vines per hectare.
The grape varieties for the red vines consist of Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%). For white wines, whether Graves Supérieures or Sauternes, the grape variety is exclusively Sémillon (100%).
The average age of the red vines is 25 years, while that of the white vines is 30 years. Harvesting is carried out mechanically for the red plots and manually for the white plots, particularly for Graves Supérieures where approximately 15% of the harvest benefits from noble rot.
Flagship Cuvées
Château Villefranche produces several cuvées, reflecting the diversity of its terroir and appellations:
- Château Villefranche (Graves Rouge appellation): This red wine is a traditional blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties, offering a characteristic expression of the Graves appellation. Its average production is approximately 30,000 bottles per year.
- Château Villefranche (Graves Supérieures appellation): This cuvée is a sweet white wine, entirely made from Sémillon. Manual harvesting with selection for noble rot contributes to its rich aromatic profile and sweetness. Annual production is approximately 2,500 bottles.
- Château Villefranche (Sauternes appellation): A luscious white wine, also crafted from pure Sémillon. This wine fully benefits from the influence of the local micro-climate to develop the concentration and complexity characteristic of great Sauternes.
- Baulac-Dodijos (Graves Rouge appellation): This is the estate's second red wine, also produced under the Graves appellation.
- Commune
- Barsac
- Wine region
- Graves & Sauternais
- Owner
- Benoit Guinabert
- Technical direction
- Benoît Guinabert
- Surface area
- 22 ha
- Second wine
- Baulac-Dodijos
- Grape varieties
- Sémillon 77%, Merlot 14%, Cabernet Sauvignon 9%
Practical information
- Address
- 33720 Barsac
- Phone
- 05 56 27 05 77
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Dégustation à la propriété, Vente à la propriété