Château de Sales

Château de Sales is one of the most beautifulestates in Pomerol from an architectural standpoint. It has notably received the “Best of Wine Tourism” award in the Architecture, Parks, and Gardens category. Its tasting room, wine cellar, bamboo grove, and reflecting pool are all elements that reveal the refinement and finesse of the estate and its wines. Located northwest of Pomerol, Château de Sales is the oldest family-owned estate in the Gironde and the largest in its appellation. Its history began in 1464 when Bertrand de Sauvanelle leased an estate in Saint-Emilion to the Preaching Friars, now known as the Dominicans. He later purchased the estate, before passing it on to his descendants François and Jean, nicknamed “Sieur de Sales.” They built one of the first Carthusian monasteries of the era, which is still used as a château today. Several centuries later, during the French Revolution, the women took over the management of the estate until their imprisonment, which lasted fifteen months. Released following Robespierre’s defeat, they returned to find the château completely ransacked. They kept the estate running by repurchasing the portion previously sold as national property to the church, thereby ensuring the estate’s continued prosperity. The vineyard was thus passed down from generation to generation for nearly 550 years.