Meeting Up with Chateau Guiraud

Meet Premier Cru Classe Chateau Guiraud’s Brand Ambassador Augustin Lacaille, who came into town last week for a special wine tasting at Upper East Side Millesima Wine Shop. While he’s in town, Augustin’s main task is to meet with consumers, restaurants, and wine shops, to extend the knowledge of sweet Bordeaux. How he describes the wine? “It has character. Elegant. Not too heavy.”

Let’s talk about the wine some more. Chateau Guiraud consists of 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc, the highest percentage of Sauvignon Blanc in Sauternes. What makes Chateau Guiraud stand out from other vineyards? “It’s complexity and unique terroir. The Chateau can be found at the same altitude as Premier Cru Superieur Chateau d’Yquem, which gives it the best exposure to the wind and microclimate.

Guiraud is the first Sauternes Grand Cru to obtain organic farming certification, and the only one of the Premiers Grands Crus Classes in the 1855 Bordeaux classification to obtain such certification. Augustin explains, “The director Xavier Planty wanted to bring back natural equilibrium to the land. He asked himself, ‘Is it necessary to add chemicals?’ His approach was to preserve and protect the consumers and his workers, and thus, create biodiversity.” They started the organic development in 1996 and received certification this year.



Augustin’s favorite wine/food pairing? “It depends on the mood. What I enjoy is finding new food matchings with local cuisine. In Boston, I pair a glass of wine with lobster meat. Or in Beijing, duck.” At local restaurants, Augustin likes to highlight that Chateau Guiraud can be enjoyed by the glass as a starter. “Half bottle wine is important,” he mentions. “People can enjoy the wine for one week after it’s been opened.” Even though consumers may associate sweet Bordeaux as a dessert wine, it can definitely be enjoyed all year long for many occasions.

Read about this year’s harvest at Chateau Guiraud here and check out their website here.