Portraits of winemakers

STANISLAV ZINGERENKO, CHÂTEAU LA FAVIÈRE: ‘EVERY WINE HAS ITS OWN MUSICAL SCORE’.

Château de la Favière: Where Wine and Music Harmonize

Each summer, Stanislav and his wife Natalia open the doors of their vineyard to the public for the Scènes d’Été en Gironde, a music festival held every July.

"In Each Wine, There’s a Musical Score"

For Stanislav and Natalia, the analogy between wine and music is clear. "Each vintage creation is akin to composing a musical work. Just like wine, each piece of music has its uniqueness, its fans, and evokes a distinct emotion," they believe. This concept inspired them to create unique tasting notes that combine both wine and musical elements. Each tasting sheet includes traditional wine characteristics (color, aromas, mouthfeel) alongside musical attributes (introduction, tempo, finale). For example, the 2010 "Château La Favière" cuvée, with its bold attack on the palate, corresponds to a "strong and delicate" opening in music, while its generous tannins are likened to a lively allegro "full of vigor and momentum."

Wines Crafted Like Bordeaux’s Great Crus

Originally from Russia, Stanislav and Natalia left their homeland in 2011 to acquire Château de la Favière, located in Saint-Seurin-sur-l’Isle, about twenty kilometers from Libourne. Upon their arrival, the estate underwent a complete overhaul, including the construction of a new barrel cellar. The couple’s goal is ambitious: to produce wines using the same methods as those employed for Bordeaux’s Great Crus. "When we decided to settle in France to produce our wine, we never considered anywhere other than Bordeaux, as we were deeply impressed by the region's grand crus. It’s very important to us that our wines come as close as possible to them," they explain. To achieve this, the winemakers vinify and age their wines in oak barrels. "This early integration of wood produces wines that are more supple, enhancing their aromatic complexity," they add.