Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU DE SANNES, THE REVIVAL OF A HISTORIC ESTATE

Château de Sannes: A Renaissance Legacy

It was during the height of the Renaissance, in the early 17th century, that Château de Sannes was born. The cuvée 1603, named after the year the château was built, is a tribute to the estate’s centuries-old history. With its architecture carved from ochre Aix stone, its magnificent French garden, stunning fountains, and serene lake, Château de Sannes continues to captivate visitors.

After lying dormant for about twenty years, the estate experienced a revival thanks to the Gattaz family, who purchased it in 2017. Since then, this passionate family, supported by a dedicated small team, has revitalized the winemaking activity, restoring the grandeur of this exceptional place. Guided by a philosophy of environmental respect and biodiversity, Château de Sannes immediately embraced organic farming and crop diversity. This is why, in addition to wine, the estate produces honey, olive oil, and perfume, all from organic agriculture.

Château de Sannes: A Preserved Ecosystem

The small team at Château de Sannes is committed to preserving, developing, and enhancing the estate's ecosystem. This ensures that the vines have everything they need to grow and produce exceptional wines. To best preserve the richness of this site and its biodiversity, organic farming was the obvious choice. This approach is complemented by biodynamic and agro-environmental initiatives that promote interactions between local flora and fauna.

In this protected setting, Château de Sannes is eager to develop a wine tourism activity, offering visitors walks through the estate and the discovery of a rich and diverse ecosystem that includes forests, lakes, vineyards, olive groves, and lavender fields. The estate even offers a sylvotherapy trail, yoga classes, watercolor workshops, and tours of the property’s old wheat mill. Château de Sannes is truly an enchanting retreat where the senses are delighted, and time seems to stand still—much like when savoring a cuvée from the estate, each of which tells a unique story with great personality.

Passion Driving Great Wines

The motto of Château de Sannes can be summed up in three words: Excellence, Elegance, and Rigor. To achieve its goals, Château de Sannes relies on a passionate and experienced vineyard manager. This lover of vines and nature has been working at Château de Sannes for over 33 years and has witnessed the birth, growth, illness, strengthening, and flourishing of the estate’s vineyards. As the living memory of the property, he knows every plot intimately and is committed to improving year after year, from vintage to vintage. The transition to organic farming, despite initial doubts, was a revelation for this winemaker, allowing Château de Sannes to surpass itself in terms of excellence. This generous character is somewhat reminiscent of the 1603 Blanc cuvée: full-bodied and round, lively and unadorned, and especially one that only gets better with age!