Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey — Winery in Bommes

In 2014 Silvio Denz, owner of the crystal brand Lalique, bought Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, and since then two of France's oldest luxury names have been intertwined: Sauternes wine and Lalique crystal. The château is a Premier Grand Cru Classé of 1855 in the Sauternes appellation and has been producing for more than 400 years. In 2018, to celebrate that anniversary, it opened a boutique hotel and restaurant. The Lalique Femme et Raisins motif now adorns every bottle from the château, and the cellar even holds a unique crystal barrel made by Lalique. The tour covers the vat room (one of them underground, a unique feature), the chai with classic French oak barrels and the crystal Lalique barrel. Wine tastings are available in the boutique/tasting room, and Lalique crystal accessories are on sale; small crystal knife rests make a nice souvenir. Best time to visit: autumn, when botrytis (noble rot) affects the grapes, the visual highlight of Sauternes production. Booking in advance is recommended. Chef Jérôme Schilling, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, draws inspiration from the specifics of each vintage and puts winemaking technique at the service of his creations; he's also known as the "culinary winegrower." Two Michelin stars: the very first and only two-star restaurant in Sauternes. The cooking is determined and unusual, inspired by the terroir of the Gironde. The château's wines are exceptional: Lafaurie-Peyraguey and the second wine, La Chapelle de Lafaurie.