Pierrail

About Pierrail

Situated on a rocky outcrop, Château du Pierrail overlooks a valley in which the river Fonchotte meanders through. This small river rises in the estate and flows into a 7 acre/3 hectare lake situated in a woodland in the middle of the property. This fine château of classic design has a facade flanked by two towers. It was built in the 17th century by the Segur family on the site of an older château from the Middle Ages. From 1782, for more than a century, the property was owned by the Barons de Brianson, and large portraits of the family as cavaliers are hung in the main salon of the château.

Marie Marguerite de Brianson remains an outstanding figure of the Château’s history. In April 1832, she was hostess to the Duchess de Berry, widow of the Duc de Berry (son of Charles X, heir to the throne), who was disguised as a man and travelling from the Provence to the Vendée. The Duchess wanted to raise the population against Louis-Philippe, so that she could put her son the “Duc de Bordeaux”, rightful heir, on the throne.

From 1887, the estate suffered successive setbacks until 1970 when the Demonchaux Family arrived. Jacques Demonchaux began to restore the property into its former glory. He was joined by his wife, Alice Demonchaux and their son, Aurelien Demonchaux. The family still manages the winery today, and Alice is responsible for the commercialization of Château Pierrail wines with a network of partners worldwide. Aurélien is the winemaker and assures the development and the quality of the wines.

The estate of 617 acres/250 hectares includes 222 acres/90 hectares of vines planted on the best coteaux with southeast exposure. It benefits from a shallow soil (rendzine), slightly thicker at the bottom of the slope, with a continuous granulous structure, stony and resting on the draining rock.

Red grapes account for 185 acres/75 hectares of vines. Merlot is the dominant red variety and brings body, fullness and suppleness to the wines. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also planted. White grapes make up 37 acres/15 hectares and are primarily planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris.

The domaine is HVE3 Certified Sustainable.