Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU DU PAYRE, VALÉRIE LABROUSSE: ‘ELEGANT, RICH AND AROMATIC WINES’.

Château du Payre: From Mother to Daughter

A Name That Misleads: A Family Legacy of Women in Winemaking

The name Château du Payre is misleading. While it means "father's castle" in Gascon dialect, the story of this Bordeaux vineyard is one of women passing down the estate from mother to daughter for five generations. Now at the helm of the estate, Valérie Labrousse (née Marcuzzi) represents the fifth generation of women winemakers in her family.

Although Valérie grew up immersed in the world of wine and always aspired to make a career in the field, her path was not always straightforward. "I arrived at Château du Payre in 1993. Before that, I worked in spirits sales because there were very few opportunities for women in the wine sector at that time."

Château du Payre: A Terroir with Many Facets

Fortunately, times have changed and opportunities have evolved. Today, Valérie skillfully manages the family legacy, which includes 35 hectares of vineyards, with the help of five full-time employees. Located within the city of Cadillac, the Château du Payre vineyard boasts a terroir with multiple facets: "The expression of our terroir varies from one sector to another depending on the year. This offers us many possibilities," Valérie explains.

Capitalizing on this diverse terroir, Château du Payre offers a varied range of wines, including red wines from AOC Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux, as well as sparkling wines from AOC Crémant de Bordeaux. Since her arrival at the estate, Valérie has expanded this range by creating two Crémant cuvées (a dry and a rosé), a sweet wine, and a premium red wine with woody aromas: the "Perle du Payre" cuvée. Valérie focuses on producing "rich, elegant, and aromatic wines."

"Bacchus" Stay: Guest Rooms and Dining Experiences on the Estate

When Valérie is not working in the vineyards or cellars, she develops the estate's oenotourism activities. Between the tasting room, the sales cellar, and workshops where visitors can create their own wine, tourists from across France and beyond can gain a comprehensive view of the estate’s work—a priority for Valérie. Among other offerings, she provides VAL, an interactive and educational trail through the vineyards where visitors can learn about the Château du Payre vineyard’s history via a smartphone app.

The major new addition to Château du Payre’s oenotourism is the "Bacchus Stay." Launched just a year ago, this package includes four guest rooms (Sémillon, Muscadelle, Sauvignon, Merlot) and dining options. This initiative earned the estate the Best of Gold Wine Tourism Award in 2017