Chateau Filhot

SAUTERNES, BORDEAUX, FRANCE The creation of the vineyard dated from 1630 up to 1650. The chateau was built in 1709 by Romain de Filhot (1641-1710) whose family already owned the noble house ‘Verdoulet’ in Sauternes. At that time, he changed the old label ‘Wine of Langon’ by introducing the Sauternes appellation.

After the revolution, the Lur-Saluces, managed the property, which they had inherited from Josephine de Filhot. In 1840, Romain-Bertrand de Lur-Saluces (1810-1876) joined up the vineyards of Chateau Filhot and Pineau du Rey. In 1845, he rebuilt the castle in collaboration with the Architect Poitevin. The Landscape Gardener Louis-Bernard Fischer contributed to the elaboration of the large garden which surrounds the chateau. The vineyard was awarded the ‘Second Cru Classification’ according to the 1855 official classification suggested to Napoleon III by the Negociants and the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux. From then on the wine Chateau Filhot was universally diffused under the name of Chateau Sauternes until the end of the 19th century. The estate was given back the title of Chateau Filhot in 1901.

In 1935, the Countess Durieu de Lacarelle, born Lur-Saluces, bought the vineyard from her brother. Her son, Louis Durieu de Lacarelle restored and expanded the vineyard until the 1970s. One of the Countess Durieu de Lacarelle’s daughters married the Count Pierre de Vaucelles, ambassador of France. Since 1974, their eldest son, the Count H. de Vaucelles, has been managing the Chateau Filhoitand is assisted by his son Gabriel since 1996.