48 Hours of Château Siaurac, Bordeaux

I realize there are many benefits to my work. Being personally invited to spend the weekend as a guest of the family in the Château Siaurac is definitely one of them. Few people have the opportunity to get into the grand facade of one of Bordeaux chateaux, see what makes it tick and understand what makes it unique. Fewer still get open access to the owners, Aline and Pau Goldschmidt, whose hospitality can only be surpassed by his passion for his art; winemaking. 

The Legacy of Nature 
Château Siaurac is the largest property Lalande de Pomerol and covers more than 60 hectares. Its exterior is lined by a long gravel road that is surrounded on both sides by woods, before opening his view on rows of vines methodically stretched beyond a peaceful picturesque stream doing business. After the gravel path and around the courner the newly decorated tasting room, landscaped garden awaits. Designed in the nineteenth century from a plan drawn up in 1832 (by the great great grandfather of Aline) soon becomes apparent that Château Siaurac is more than a conveyor belt for grapes that everything is fine. 
Aline is our host and passionate and she knows nothing of the wildlife, trees and plants in this plot of 15 hectares devoted to forests and wildlife not worth worrying about. She knows that each flower has studied the evolution of all the trees and has even devised his own guided walk for visitors (using cards with numbers written down) so that everyone can appreciate this natural paradise, with or without their expert advice in person. In short, she is both genuinely committed, fiercely protective of the natural heritage of the château. And it is a pleasure to witness.

Châteaux Siaurac 

It's in the History 

Given the six generations have worked tirelessly to build, maintain and develop Château Siaurac is not surprising Aline is protective of its heritage. The photograph of her grandmother with her new husband, a naval officer and writer Baron Louis Guichard, hangs proudly in the tasting room (and keepsake postcards) as a reminder of his legacy. After their marriage in 1919 the couple adds' Vray Croix de Gay 'to Siaurac and Prieure in 1949 In fact, today the three Chateaux being part of the "Baronne Guichard Wines' Aline and Paul now have. 

In 1978 Louis Olivier died and his son took over the properties, the launch of a large modernization project in 1998, which consisted of taking the winemaker Yannick Reyrel (student of the prestigious winemaker Pétrus). When Olivier died in 2004, the future of the three estates hung in the balance until Aline and Paul decided a sell-out was not an option. They took the helm and once again a restoration project that took them until 2007 began - when they left their homes and businesses in Paris Siaurac to live in full time. It then says Aline, the adventure really began.

Châteaux Siaurac 

Vision 

The adventure has seen Aline and Paul transformed the castle, so it is habitable, while preserving the history and essence of your core. The rooms are high, large and decorated with paintings and antiques that would make any antiquarian weak in the knees. My room had its own separate bathroom hidden behind a screen that would not look out of place in an adaptation of Jane Austin. The silver cutlery sets, cutlery and china plates also had me focus more on what I'm used to when setting the table for dinner. In fact, if the mantra is Château Siaurac respect the earth is to live for gastronomy and innovation, both of which adhere Goldschmidt with a passion. 

Innovation of the couple is more prominent in his work with wine. If the garden and Château are all about maintaining harmony with the heritage, then the process of promoting the fruits of their labor is one of the changes. Aware that the wine industry is growing and Bordeaux have to stay on their toes to keep up with the switch in tastes and preferences of people, Châteaux Siaurac is not one to rest on the laurels of a good reputation . 

In fact, despite winning awards for excellence - the last being an international award for 'Best of Wine Tourism 2012' for Bordeaux Châteaux in the category of 'Product and Innovation' (there's that word again) - Château Siaurac is doing its more accessible than ever with customized tastings, workshops, field days and even packages for families kids wines. Their tasting room can even be rented for events or functions.

Châteaux Siaurac 

the Future 

So what for the future? As my stay came to an end and I sat down on the bun fresh milk still warm from the local bakery that I could not help but feel energized. Not for the sweetness of bread butter or sugar in my freshly squeezed orange juice, or even the aerobics cockatoo recently adopted Aline (found in the vineyards). Was the realization that you can have the best of both worlds. Although no one can predict the future of the global wine market, or even the fickle public behavior, you can be sure that Château Siaurac continue to drive itself forward while remaining true to its values; in fact, as Paul points out, the wines they produce are not fancy techniques but rather, they are reduced to an expression of the exceptional quality of its soil and the hard work of the winemakers in the vineyards. 

One for the road 

With all this hard work, come rewards and as my hand luggage-only restrictions spoiled my plans for across the Channel with my own stash personnel-pay hot, you'll be pleased to know that you can buy wine Châteaux Siaurac outside l 'hexagone - although, needless to say choosing your favorite is not an easy task (Pomerol only bowed to me). 

So with a list in hand and a final tour of the oldest estates vines (survivors of the 1956 frost that hit the area) under my belt, I headed back to the gravel road back to Bordeaux. This time however, with a certain joie de vivre that comes from spending a weekend in the company of those who exemplify the art of living to enjoy and celebrate great wine. I'll say cheers to that.