Château Gravas

A « boiling » property where art and wine are linked

The Château Gravas is a family property located in Haut-Barsac surrounded by Grands Crus Classés of Sauternes (Château Coutet, Chateau Climens and Château Myrat). Its creation date of the Château Gravas is unknown however it is possible to date parts of the building, for example, the tower was built in 1789.

By this time the property had a wine business. In fact its name was at the first time Château Doisy Gravas and belonged to Château Doisy-Daëne. In 1850 the property was divided and sold to the Bernard family. Since then six generations have been on the property. From the time of the property to the Château Doisy-Daëne, Gravas kept the arms of the founding family.

Currently the property is one of the pioneers of vineyards in the wine region. The history of tourism in the property begun there over 20 years with Pierre Bernard, father of the current owner, who opened the property to the public, organized the first event and brought the first tourist buses in the vineyard. Since the owner’s family applies to perpetuate this policy regularly creating events (concerts, events, exhibitions) to enhance its wine tourism. This also earned them this year obtaining a Best Of Wine Tourism award (thanks to their numerous art exhibitions visible all year).

Where does the name of Château Gravas comes from ?

The property name comes simply from the basement stony / of the rocks of the vineyard.

Château Gravas and art

This property has a strong link with the world of art including painting and sculpture. Their owners, Florence and Michel Bernard are two great lovers of art, great friends with Paul Flickinger. It exhibits works of art just about everywhere on the property, as in the gardens, in the cellars in the tasting room.

Meeting with Florence Bernard : What is the typical terroir of Château Gravas ?

“We are located on the top of Barsac, surrounded by Grands Crus Classés. This soil produces very Mineral and complex wines.“(Florence Bernard)

What you are looking for each year by creating the first wine of Château Gravas ?

“We want to make a complex wine with a long finish, but also a powerful wine that shows also air in the mouth and fresh. We want the mouth balanced and able to reflects our taste. We want our wine like us while having its own personality.“(Florence Bernard)

What are you looking for creating each year the 2nd wine of Château Gravas : L’esprit de Gravas (The Spirit of Gravas)

“For this cuvée label created by Paul Flickinger we wanted a wine with more freshness, more accessible, more ‘young’. Sauternes drunk young, within 3 years of its freshness and flavor.“(Florence Bernard)

According to you he has one or more point (s) in common between the winemaker and the artist?

“Definitely yes. The winemaker as the artist is an enthusiast who gives everything to his passion, which seeks to convey. One as the other tries to put his personality in its implementation, to give pleasure. Like I said each winemaker will try to put its ‘pate ‘ and his love in his work. My husband , aided by some of our partners will seek each year to go further in his artistic approach in highlighting our spectacular terroir.“(Florence Bernard)

It is fashionable to speak of agreement “wine and music”. For you does that make sense?

“In my opinion the agreement between wine and music are relevant, but they depend among each other. Next time, yet we do not hear the same kind of music. There are times when we need to listen to smooth / quiet music to ease tensions and other peps. Besides, I always put music in the reception room for visitors “(Florence Bernard).

Also in this issue but more on the interview we had Bossa Nova music playing as background.

Side anecdote: A wine of Sauternes presented in a famous perfume bottle known as N ° 5

At the beginning the idea was smiling, some the same qualifiaient crazy but today if the Château Gravas is so well known that it is thanks to its bottle.

There are about five years old when the family began to introduce the bottle to various dealers, nobody wanted apart from a few companies to make year-end gifts. This is the 2nd vintage acquired through the buzz following an article in Le Figaro Magazine. In the morning of the release of magazine orders came one after the other. Not being aware of the publication, the Bernard family did not understand what was happening. It is thanks to the call of a friend they realized a few hours later that many orders came in a short time were due to the article.

Since each reissue of this bottle of Sauternes knows a great success, especially during holiday season.

Thanks to Florence Bernard for her hospitality.

Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche

Château Gravas

6 locality Gravas

33720 Barsac

Tel: +33 (0) 961 360 276