Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU DE LA RIVIÈRE, XAVIER BUFFO: A MAN OF AMBITION IN FRONSAC

Discover Château de la Rivière: The Largest Vineyard in Fronsac

Xavier Buffo: From Master of the Cellar to General Manager

With its 100 hectares, including 65 hectares of vines, Château de la Rivière remains the largest vineyard in the Fronsac terroir. Since 2017, Xavier Buffo has been the General Manager, having spent most of his career at this estate:

I started at Château de la Rivière as the cellar master 20 years ago. I later became the operations manager and, recently, the general manager. It is my heart's place.

Cuvée "Aria": The Pinnacle of the Vineyard

Château de la Rivière’s range includes 5 wines: 2 reds, 1 rosé, and 1 white. Each wine has its own specific character, from the pronounced acidity of the white, to the fruity and clear rosé (reminiscent of Provençal wines), and the expressive and elegant reds.

As both an oenologist and agronomist, Xavier is committed to producing powerful and complex wines with good aging potential, such as the Cuvée Aria. This fruity and spicy red wine macerates for 6 weeks and is then aged for 18 months in new barrels.

It’s the estate’s premium cuvée, Xavier comments. Its name refers to an "aria" in opera, the most intense moment when the soloist expresses all their emotions.

8 Hectares of Underground Cellars

Perched on the heights of the Dordogne Valley, Château de la Rivière dates back to the 8th century. It features gigantic underground cellars spanning 8 hectares, carved into the limestone rock.

This is where we store all our wines because all the ideal conditions are present: freshness, humidity, and darkness, explains Xavier.

New Projects and the Confluents d'Art Festival

Always brimming with ideas and projects, Xavier is keen to leverage the oenotouristic potential of Château de la Rivière, which he has already started with the opening of 5 guest rooms within the castle.

This ambitious winemaker has also created the Confluents d’Art festival, which will hold its first edition on July 6, 7, and 8 at Château de la Rivière. Over these three days, visitors can stroll through the castle’s gardens and enjoy performances across all forms of art: theater, dance, concerts, poetry, etc.

For attendees, it is also an opportunity to discover the estate’s cuvées. But that’s not all, as Château de la Rivière will open its doors to other Fronsac winemakers. This is an important criterion for Xavier, who wants to highlight his peers’ work to promote the appellation and showcase “the best it has to offer.”