Château Guiraud — Winery in Sauternes

For more than thirty years Château Guiraud has welcomed visitors in the heart of Sauternes. In 2011 it became the first 1er Grand Cru Classé estate in Bordeaux to be certified organic. As soon as you arrive along the old Gallo-Roman avenue lined with 181 plane trees, a 128-hectare estate opens up before you. There are several ways to discover the estate. Flash tasting: no reservation, just walk in and taste three or four wines at the bar, ideal if you're passing through. L'Essentielle: 45 minutes, explaining the history and the organic approach, followed by a tasting of the estate's four wines. L'Odyssée de Guiraud: an hour and a half, a more in-depth experience in a small group or privately, explaining the château's environmental commitments. Guiraud & Chocolate or Guiraud & Caviar: special pairings that show how versatile Sauternes is. In a tasting of three vintages, cheese is carefully chosen as a counterpart: the 2006 with Saint-Nectaire, the older vintages with Roquefort. The organic kitchen garden is freely accessible, and visitors may taste vegetables and take a few home: an unexpected but charming touch. At La Chapelle de Guiraud, in the middle of the estate, under high vaulted ceilings with an open kitchen and fireplace, chef Thomas Simmoneau serves bistronomy dishes made with local, seasonal produce: poached egg with Sauternes sauce, pâté en croûte, pork shoulder with smoked pepper.