Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU SAINT-GRÉGOIRE: INGRID GANCEL, PRODUCER OF TOP-OF-THE-RANGE MEDOC WINES

Château Saint-Grégoire: Pioneering Unique Wine in Gironde

A Bold Move into Independent Winemaking

"Ingrid has always embraced challenges with courage. Five years ago, she left the cooperative winery she had worked with for 15 years. 'I knew it was risky to go solo after years in a cooperative, but it was a challenge I wanted to take on. I wanted to see what the vine I cared for all year could achieve,' the winemaker shares.

Château Saint-Grégoire: Gironde’s First Wine Cooperative

The first harvest at Château Saint-Grégoire took place in 2015. The cuvée 'Idar-Aiden,' named in honor of Ingrid's father and nephew and developed with the help of an oenologist, marked the success of this new estate. It stood out for its fruity wines with tannins mainly made from merlot. 'This is quite atypical for the region, as Médoc wines usually have more cabernet-sauvignon than merlot,' Ingrid points out. Château Saint-Grégoire is also known for its exclusively barrel-aged wines for a minimum of one year, a feature Ingrid plans to expand in the future.

A Cooperative Approach to Winemaking

Ingrid now enjoys full-time support from her partner, Grégory Goirand, and their daughter, Eva. In 2015, the family launched Belle Alliance Bellevue, Gironde's first Cooperative for the Use of Agricultural Equipment (Cuma) for winemaking. The concept? Sharing a winery with other local winemakers to benefit from a communal vinification space. 'We share the costs associated with the winery and equipment, but each of us produces our own wines independently. It was challenging because cooperative cellars view us as competitors. Yet, the concept is entirely different since each person vinifies under their own brand. It’s a great opportunity,' Ingrid explains.

Expanding the Wine Range with New Releases

Ingrid has been immersed in the wine world for nearly 20 years. The unknown never frightened her. After studying notarial law, she quickly realized that office life was not for her. Her passion for wine was sparked when she met Grégory, from a family of winemakers. An opportunity arose in 1999 for 1.80 hectares of vines in the Médoc vineyard.

Today, Château Saint-Grégoire spans 22 hectares of vines. This growth allows Ingrid to expand her wine range with two new upcoming releases: a high-end cuvée and a classic cuvée. 'The high-end cuvée is aged using an integral barrel vinification process. We put hand-picked grapes into a 4-hectoliter barrel with an opening on top. Once fermentation is complete, the coopers come back to seal the barrels, and we leave the pure wine without the marc for a year to continue its fermentation peacefully,' Ingrid explains. She also plans a classic 'entry-level' cuvée at €5 to make her wines more accessible to those wanting to discover them.

The Future: Doubling Production and Embracing Oenotourism

Looking ahead, Ingrid aims to produce twice as many bottles as she does today. Renovations are set to begin at the Cuma Alliance Bellevue to double the winery’s size. 'Everyone contributes according to their means,' Ingrid says. She also reveals that the expansion will include facilities to welcome the public and venture into oenotourism. 'Wine involves a lot of work, but it’s primarily about pleasure and conviviality. It’s a product meant to be shared,' she concludes.