Portraits of winemakers

BARDET VINEYARDS, A FAMILY HERITAGE

The Bardet Family Legacy

A Rich History in Winemaking

Over generations and through marriages, the family invested in vineyards and eventually dedicated themselves exclusively to viticulture as the railway developed in the Dordogne Valley. The family expanded, and so did their estate. In the 1920s, Mathilde Roy married the founder of Château du Val D’Or Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. Then in 1962, their son Roger Bardet established Château Pontet Fumet. In 2008, the family acquired Château Franc Le Maine while Philippe was in charge of the vineyard, and in 2013, the new generation purchased Château du Paradis. All these estates in the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation contribute to the wealth and history of the Vignobles Bardet.

Current owners Alice, Louis, Thibault, and Paul-Arthur, along with their father Philippe, continue this tradition and passion for their region. Paul-Arthur reveals that his love for wine was cemented after tasting "a bottle of 1er Grand Cru classé from Saint-Émilion, Château Beau Séjour Bécot 1988. The emotion this wine evoked opened my eyes to what I wanted—to offer the same emotions with my own wines." The siblings work together to preserve the legacy handed down by their family.

Domaine Bardet: Between Vines and River

Today, Domaine Bardet spans 50 hectares of vineyards in the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. The vineyard is divided into nearly a hundred plots. This unique mosaic provides a great diversity of soils, exposures, and micro-climates. Thanks to this variety of plots, the estate offers wines with a rich palette of personality and aromas.

The winemakers work diligently and cultivate the vines with environmental respect, following agroecology principles. Vignobles Bardet has also received HVE 3 certification for their High Environmental Value practices. They adhere to a precise specification and highlight the various terroirs within their cuvées.

Modern and Friendly Wines

Looking firmly to the future, Vignobles Bardet offers an approach that blends tradition and modernity. Some of their more classic wines reflect their prestigious Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. Meticulous and innovative work is done to separately harvest the different terroirs and grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

The current winemakers also enjoy collaborating with different wine-related universes to create unique synergies and encounters. The estate offers original cuvées like Dirty South, Game of Thrones, and the Sœurette cuvée, created by their sister Alice, who has been working with them since 2019. Vignobles Bardet is committed to developing oenotourism with unconventional experiences, such as vineyard visits with rap, slam, and poetry.

Their wines are fruit-forward, silky, and round with spicy notes. Paul-Arthur, an epicurean, shares, “These are wines that can be enjoyed on any occasion. I am a very sociable person who loves spending time with friends. What better than a good bottle of wine to share good times with friends?”