Our history
The history of Château Margaux is that of an estate passed down through generations, shaped by the women and men who have guided it. Since the twelfth century, each has contributed to preserving the identity of the property while, with discipline and high standards, leading it towards new developments. This continuity, faithful to the land yet open to progress, defines the singular character of Château Margaux.
16th Century
The Origins of the Estate
Known as “La Mothe de Margaux” as early as the twelfth century, the estate did not yet possess vineyards. The name refers to a slight elevation in the land, a valuable feature in the Médoc, where the finest vineyard soils benefit from good drainage.
From 1152 onwards, Aquitaine came under English rule until 1453. Bordeaux wines then found a broad outlet, particularly in England, where Richard the Lionheart adopted Bordeaux as his table wine. The owners of La Mothe de Margaux were powerful loards, but it was with the arrival of the Lestonnac family that the estate began to take on its present form.
Between 1572 and 1582, Pierre de Lestonnac completely restructured the property and its vineyards, anticipating the transformation of the Médoc, which was gradually abandoning cereal cultivation in favour of the vine. By the end of the seventeenth century, the estate extended to 265 hectares, a surface area it has retained to this day, with approximately one third devoted to vines. The wines, then known as “claret”, were highly appreciated in England and the Netherlands. Château Margaux became a centre of winemaking excellence, and as the hierarchy among Bordeaux’s estates began to emerge. Thus, Château Margaux was born.
Between 1572 and 1582, Pierre de Lestonnac completely restructured the property and its vineyards, anticipating the transformation of the Médoc, which was gradually abandoning cereal cultivation in favour of the vine. By the end of the seventeenth century, the estate extended to 265 hectares, a surface area it has retained to this day, with approximately one third devoted to vines. The wines, then known as “claret”, were highly appreciated in England and the Netherlands. Château Margaux became a centre of winemaking excellence, and as the hierarchy among Bordeaux’s estates began to emerge. Thus, Château Margaux was born.
16th Century
The Origins of the Estate
Known as “La Mothe de Margaux” as early as the twelfth century, the estate did not yet possess vineyards. The name refers to a slight elevation in the land, a valuable feature in the Médoc, where the finest vineyard soils benefit from good drainage.
From 1152 onwards, Aquitaine came under English rule until 1453. Bordeaux wines then found a broad outlet, particularly in England, where Richard the Lionheart adopted Bordeaux as his table wine. The owners of La Mothe de Margaux were powerful loards, but it was with the arrival of the Lestonnac family that the estate began to take on its present form.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the estate’s steward, Berlon, played a decisive role in improving the quality of the wines. He introduced the separate vinification of red and white grapes, which had previously been planted together, and refused excessively early harvesting in order to preserve the colour and concentration of the wine: “because the grapes are covered with dew and, if they are picked in the morning, their colour will be diluted and faded by excess moisture”.
Aware of the importance of soils, he identified the finest parcels according to the different grape varieties and affirmed the fundamental role of terroir. These advances marked the beginnings of modern vinification and formed part of a tradition of excellence upheld by generations at the estate.
17th Century
Berlon
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the estate’s steward, Berlon, played a decisive role in improving the quality of the wines. He introduced the separate vinification of red and white grapes, which had previously been planted together, and refused excessively early harvesting in order to preserve the colour and concentration of the wine: “because the grapes are covered with dew and, if they are picked in the morning, their colour will be diluted and faded by excess moisture”.
Aware of the importance of soils, he identified the finest parcels according to the different grape varieties and affirmed the fundamental role of terroir. These advances marked the beginnings of modern vinification and formed part of a tradition of excellence upheld by generations at the estate.
17th Century
Berlon
18th Century
The Golden Age
In 1705, the London Gazette announced the first auction of the great growths of Bordeaux: 230 barrels of “Margose”! The 1771 vintage was the first “claret” to appear in a Christie’s catalogue. The British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, illustrated the enthusiasm of the English elite for these wines: he regularly purchased Château Margaux, without always settling his accounts.
The reputation of the first growths crossed the Atlantic. Thomas Jefferson, Ambassador of the United States to France, described the already established hierarchy among the great wines of Bordeaux and placed Château Margaux in first position. He ordered the 1784 vintage, which he described as the "there could be no better bottle of Bordeaux".
The eighteenth century marked the rise of the great wines and of a classification that was still informal. This recognition rested on the notion of the "cru", which associating a terroir, a wine and a château. Joseph de Fumel, owner in the middle of the century, understood that only the gravel mounds of the Médoc could produce great wines.
The French Revolution brought this golden age to an end. Élie du Barry, Comte d’Hargicourt and Lord of Margaux, was executed during the Reign of Terror and the estate was sold as National Property. Laure de Fumel, the last descendant of the Lestonnac family, managed to repurchase the estate from Citizen “Miqueau”, who had nevertheless completely squandered it, even allowing the orange trees to freeze. Weakened by the turmoil of the Revolution, she eventually put the estate up for auction in 1801.
The eighteenth century marked the rise of the great wines and of a classification that was still informal. This recognition rested on the notion of the "cru", which associating a terroir, a wine and a château. Joseph de Fumel, owner in the middle of the century, understood that only the gravel mounds of the Médoc could produce great wines.
The French Revolution brought this golden age to an end. Élie du Barry, Comte d’Hargicourt and Lord of Margaux, was executed during the Reign of Terror and the estate was sold as National Property. Laure de Fumel, the last descendant of the Lestonnac family, managed to repurchase the estate from Citizen “Miqueau”, who had nevertheless completely squandered it, even allowing the orange trees to freeze. Weakened by the turmoil of the Revolution, she eventually put the estate up for auction in 1801.
18th Century
The Golden Age
In 1705, the London Gazette announced the first auction of the great growths of Bordeaux: 230 barrels of “Margose”! The 1771 vintage was the first “claret” to appear in a Christie’s catalogue. The British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, illustrated the enthusiasm of the English elite for these wines: he regularly purchased Château Margaux, without always settling his accounts.
The reputation of the first growths crossed the Atlantic. Thomas Jefferson, Ambassador of the United States to France, described the already established hierarchy among the great wines of Bordeaux and placed Château Margaux in first position. He ordered the 1784 vintage, which he described as the "there could be no better bottle of Bordeaux".
Bertrand Douat, Marquis de La Colonilla, acquired Château Margaux in 1801. He considered that the existing manor did not correspond to the renown of the vineyard and decided to built the present château. Of Basque origin and having made his fortune in Spain, he had pursued a career as a shipowner and international negotiator. Settled in Paris, he took little interest in the vine. Château Margaux represented above all a symbol of social success. The works began in 1810, when he was over seventy years old. He died in 1816 without ever having lived in the château.
1801
The Marquis de la Colonilla
Bertrand Douat, Marquis de La Colonilla, acquired Château Margaux in 1801. He considered that the existing manor did not correspond to the renown of the vineyard and decided to built the present château. Of Basque origin and having made his fortune in Spain, he had pursued a career as a shipowner and international negotiator. Settled in Paris, he took little interest in the vine. Château Margaux represented above all a symbol of social success. The works began in 1810, when he was over seventy years old. He died in 1816 without ever having lived in the château.
1801
The Marquis de la Colonilla
For the construction of the château, La Colonilla hired the Bordeaux architect Louis Combes who created at Margaux what would become his masterpiece. Often referred to as the “Versailles of the Médoc”, the château is one of the rare examples of neo-Palladian architecture in France.
Château Margaux is also an agricultural enterprise. Louis Combes conceived a coherent ensemble organised around the château. On one side stand the craft buildings; on the other, the cellars, the vat room and the cooperage. The great cellar, with its white columns and majestic perspectives, evokes a cathedral of wine. The whole forms a remarkable architectural unity, gradually revealed to visitors as they arrive along the avenue of plane trees.
1815
The "Versailles" of the Médoc
For the construction of the château, La Colonilla hired the Bordeaux architect Louis Combes who created at Margaux what would become his masterpiece. Often referred to as the “Versailles of the Médoc”, the château is one of the rare examples of neo-Palladian architecture in France.
Château Margaux is also an agricultural enterprise. Louis Combes conceived a coherent ensemble organised around the château. On one side stand the craft buildings; on the other, the cellars, the vat room and the cooperage. The great cellar, with its white columns and majestic perspectives, evokes a cathedral of wine. The whole forms a remarkable architectural unity, gradually revealed to visitors as they arrive along the avenue of plane trees.
1815
The "Versailles" of the Médoc
1830
Alexandre Aguado
The children of the Marquis de La Colonilla showed little interest in the estate and sold it to Alexandre Aguado, the first banker to acquire a great Bordeaux château. His fortune was already considerable. Château Margaux was not, for him, a means of increasing it, but rather an elegant and pleasant property in which to live.
Aguado quickly abandoned his financial activities in order to devote himself to other projects. Notably, he became the patron of Gioachino Rossini, who composed a zarzuela entitled "Château Margaux".
Alexandre Aguado died in 1836, bequeathing his remarkable collection of Italian and Spanish paintings to the Louvre Museum. His principal legacy at Château Margaux was the Napoleon III style decoration, characteristic of the period. The major elements of this decoration remained in place until the estate was sold by the Ginestet family to André Mentzelopoulos.
1830
Alexandre Aguado
The children of the Marquis de La Colonilla showed little interest in the estate and sold it to Alexandre Aguado, the first banker to acquire a great Bordeaux château. His fortune was already considerable. Château Margaux was not, for him, a means of increasing it, but rather an elegant and pleasant property in which to live.
Aguado quickly abandoned his financial activities in order to devote himself to other projects. Notably, he became the patron of Gioachino Rossini, who composed a zarzuela entitled "Château Margaux".
Alexandre Aguado died in 1836, bequeathing his remarkable collection of Italian and Spanish paintings to the Louvre Museum. His principal legacy at Château Margaux was the Napoleon III style decoration, characteristic of the period. The major elements of this decoration remained in place until the estate was sold by the Ginestet family to André Mentzelopoulos.
On the occasion of the second Exposition Universelle in Paris, Napoleon III wished to showcase French products, and in particular the great wines of the Médoc. He, therefore, requested the establishment of an official classification.
A blind tasting was organised in Paris. It resulted in the 1855 Classification, which distributed around sixty Médoc growths, together with one growth from Graves, into five levels of quality. Four properties were classified as “Premier Grand Cru Classé”. Château Margaux was the only one to obtain the maximum mark of twenty out of twenty.
This classification, still in force today, merely confirmed a hierarchy long established by the market. As early as the eighteenth century, First Growths were selling at approximately twice the price of Second Growths. The 1855 Classification thus formalised earlier recognitions, notably those of Thomas Jefferson. Under the Second Empire, Bordeaux experienced a genuine golden age. The construction of the railway linking Bordeaux to Paris and the free-trade agreements greatly favoured commerce, with Napoleon III playing a decisive role in the expansion of Bordeaux viticulture.
1855
The Official Classification
On the occasion of the second Exposition Universelle in Paris, Napoleon III wished to showcase French products, and in particular the great wines of the Médoc. He, therefore, requested the establishment of an official classification.
A blind tasting was organised in Paris. It resulted in the 1855 Classification, which distributed around sixty Médoc growths, together with one growth from Graves, into five levels of quality. Four properties were classified as “Premier Grand Cru Classé”. Château Margaux was the only one to obtain the maximum mark of twenty out of twenty.
This classification, still in force today, merely confirmed a hierarchy long established by the market. As early as the eighteenth century, First Growths were selling at approximately twice the price of Second Growths. The 1855 Classification thus formalised earlier recognitions, notably those of Thomas Jefferson. Under the Second Empire, Bordeaux experienced a genuine golden age. The construction of the railway linking Bordeaux to Paris and the free-trade agreements greatly favoured commerce, with Napoleon III playing a decisive role in the expansion of Bordeaux viticulture.
1855
The Official Classification
1879
Count Pillet-Will
In 1879, Emily Macdonnel, lady-in-waiting to Empress Eugénie and wife of the son of Alexandre Aguado, sold Château Margaux to Count Pillet-Will. The context was difficult for the Médoc, affected both by a global economic recession and by serious vine diseases.
The estate's successive managers nevertheless maintained the vineyard with care. Oidium first appeared, followed by downy mildew, both of which ravaged the vines. Oidium was controlled by sulphur; downy mildew through treatments with copper sulphate, the famous Bordeaux mixture. Phylloxera, an insect originating from the United States, posed an even greater threat. Its spread was inexorable and the solution until lay in grafting French grape varieties onto resistant American rootstock.
Production at Château Margaux gradually resumed with replanting and new treatments. The 1893 vintage was remarkable and so abundant that the harvest had to be interrupted for six days due to the lack of available vats. Its production exceeded that of the celebrated 1870 vintage, the greatest year before phylloxera.
However, the young vines resulting from replanting did not yet allow optimal quality to be achieved. Part of the production was therefore sold as “second wine”, which would later take the name Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux.
In 1896, the Count Pillet-Will relied on Pierre Moreau, a trusted associate who played a decisive role in managing the estate. He notably brought together the syndicate of future shareholders who would purchase Château Margaux in 1908 and appointed Marcellus Grangerou as cellar master, succeeded by his son Marcel, and later by his grandson Jean. Pierre Moreau’s most important innovation was the requirement of bottling at the château, adopted in 1925 as a guarantee of authenticity.
However, the young vines resulting from replanting did not yet allow optimal quality to be achieved. Part of the production was therefore sold as “second wine”, which would later take the name Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux.
In 1896, the Count Pillet-Will relied on Pierre Moreau, a trusted associate who played a decisive role in managing the estate. He notably brought together the syndicate of future shareholders who would purchase Château Margaux in 1908 and appointed Marcellus Grangerou as cellar master, succeeded by his son Marcel, and later by his grandson Jean. Pierre Moreau’s most important innovation was the requirement of bottling at the château, adopted in 1925 as a guarantee of authenticity.
1879
Count Pillet-Will
In 1879, Emily Macdonnel, lady-in-waiting to Empress Eugénie and wife of the son of Alexandre Aguado, sold Château Margaux to Count Pillet-Will. The context was difficult for the Médoc, affected both by a global economic recession and by serious vine diseases.
The estate's successive managers nevertheless maintained the vineyard with care. Oidium first appeared, followed by downy mildew, both of which ravaged the vines. Oidium was controlled by sulphur; downy mildew through treatments with copper sulphate, the famous Bordeaux mixture. Phylloxera, an insect originating from the United States, posed an even greater threat. Its spread was inexorable and the solution until lay in grafting French grape varieties onto resistant American rootstock.
Production at Château Margaux gradually resumed with replanting and new treatments. The 1893 vintage was remarkable and so abundant that the harvest had to be interrupted for six days due to the lack of available vats. Its production exceeded that of the celebrated 1870 vintage, the greatest year before phylloxera.
1950
The Ginestet Family
Fernand Ginestet and his son Pierre became owners of the estate. Fernand had built his fortune in the wine trade. The funds required to purchase Château Margaux were sent to him by a friend, Mayor of Saigon and a wine importer. The Ginestet family acquired the entirety of the estate around 1950. Fernand and Pierre undertook a gradual reorganisation of the vineyard. Bernard Ginestet, Pierre’s son, managed the family wine merchant business and made it one of the most respected in Bordeaux.
However, the recession of the 1970s, combined with catastrophic and unsaleable vintages in 1972, 1973 and 1974, placed Pierre and Bernard Ginestet in a very difficult position. Determined to honour their commitments, they were left with only one negotiable asset: Château Margaux, which they reluctantly to sell and it took them two years to manage to find a buyer. The sale to André Mentzelopoulos was eventually completed in 1977, surprising the wine world, a Greek in the Médoc raised many questions.
1950
The Ginestet Family
Fernand Ginestet and his son Pierre became owners of the estate. Fernand had built his fortune in the wine trade. The funds required to purchase Château Margaux were sent to him by a friend, Mayor of Saigon and a wine importer. The Ginestet family acquired the entirety of the estate around 1950. Fernand and Pierre undertook a gradual reorganisation of the vineyard. Bernard Ginestet, Pierre’s son, managed the family wine merchant business and made it one of the most respected in Bordeaux.
However, the recession of the 1970s, combined with catastrophic and unsaleable vintages in 1972, 1973 and 1974, placed Pierre and Bernard Ginestet in a very difficult position. Determined to honour their commitments, they were left with only one negotiable asset: Château Margaux, which they reluctantly to sell and it took them two years to manage to find a buyer. The sale to André Mentzelopoulos was eventually completed in 1977, surprising the wine world, a Greek in the Médoc raised many questions.
1977
André Mentzelopoulos: A Hellene in the Médoc
It was in 1977 that André Mentzelopoulos purchased the property. The Ionic columns that adorn the peristyle of the château reminded him of his native Greece and enabled him, thanks to his remarkable intellectual acuity, to grasp the scale of the work required for Margaux to regain its rightful place as a First Growth.
The life of this exceptional man reads like a novel. He was born in 1915 in Patras, in the Peloponnese, to a hotelier father who tirelessly encouraged his children to learn several foreign languages in pursuit of the dream shared by so many Greeks: to go abroad and make their fortune. André fulfilled his father’s expectations. After studying literature in Grenoble, he travelled to the Far East where, in Burma, China, India and Pakistan, he made his fortune in the import-export of cereals.
Returning to Europe, he married a Frenchwoman and, in 1958, acquired the company Félix Potin, founded in 1844 and comprising eighty neighbourhood grocery shops. André transformed this company into a major modern distribution group, with 1,600 outlets and a prestigious property portfolio in Paris. This man, whose accent remained melodious (he spoke six languages) and who enjoyed quoting Winston Churchill, fell in love with his Château Margaux. In 1977, André Mentzelopoulos was a pioneer. Bordeaux wines were emerging from a serious economic and qualitative crisis; investors showed little interest in classified growths and owners lacked the means to enhance their estates. His actions were spectacular, whether in the vineyard, the cellars or the château.
He introduced drainage and replanting. Under the guidance of the renowned oenologist Émile Peynaud, he reintroduced Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux with considerably stricter selection, redefined Pavillon Blanc, introduced ageing in new oak barrels, and planned the construction of the first major underground cellar in the region, a technical feat.
The château, listed as a Historic Monument since 1946 and restored under the supervision of the Inspectors of Historic Monuments of France, was patiently decorated by the celebrated interior designer Henri Samuel, who created the French eighteenth-century rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. André Mentzelopoulos thus orchestrated the reconstruction of the architectural and viticultural heritage allowing the terroir once again to express its remarkable qualities.
The 1978 vintage of Château Margaux was immediately acclaimed as exceptional, demonstrating the effectiveness and scope of his work. He died in 1980, too soon to fully enjoy the renaissance of Château Margaux.
He introduced drainage and replanting. Under the guidance of the renowned oenologist Émile Peynaud, he reintroduced Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux with considerably stricter selection, redefined Pavillon Blanc, introduced ageing in new oak barrels, and planned the construction of the first major underground cellar in the region, a technical feat.
The château, listed as a Historic Monument since 1946 and restored under the supervision of the Inspectors of Historic Monuments of France, was patiently decorated by the celebrated interior designer Henri Samuel, who created the French eighteenth-century rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. André Mentzelopoulos thus orchestrated the reconstruction of the architectural and viticultural heritage allowing the terroir once again to express its remarkable qualities.
The 1978 vintage of Château Margaux was immediately acclaimed as exceptional, demonstrating the effectiveness and scope of his work. He died in 1980, too soon to fully enjoy the renaissance of Château Margaux.
1977
André Mentzelopoulos: A Hellene in the Médoc
It was in 1977 that André Mentzelopoulos purchased the property. The Ionic columns that adorn the peristyle of the château reminded him of his native Greece and enabled him, thanks to his remarkable intellectual acuity, to grasp the scale of the work required for Margaux to regain its rightful place as a First Growth.
The life of this exceptional man reads like a novel. He was born in 1915 in Patras, in the Peloponnese, to a hotelier father who tirelessly encouraged his children to learn several foreign languages in pursuit of the dream shared by so many Greeks: to go abroad and make their fortune. André fulfilled his father’s expectations. After studying literature in Grenoble, he travelled to the Far East where, in Burma, China, India and Pakistan, he made his fortune in the import-export of cereals.
Returning to Europe, he married a Frenchwoman and, in 1958, acquired the company Félix Potin, founded in 1844 and comprising eighty neighbourhood grocery shops. André transformed this company into a major modern distribution group, with 1,600 outlets and a prestigious property portfolio in Paris. This man, whose accent remained melodious (he spoke six languages) and who enjoyed quoting Winston Churchill, fell in love with his Château Margaux. In 1977, André Mentzelopoulos was a pioneer. Bordeaux wines were emerging from a serious economic and qualitative crisis; investors showed little interest in classified growths and owners lacked the means to enhance their estates. His actions were spectacular, whether in the vineyard, the cellars or the château.
1980
Corinne Mentzelopoulos: Following in Her Father’s Footsteps
Upon her father’s death in 1980, Corinne Mentzelopoulos assumed direction of the estate. If André Mentzelopoulos’s arrival had raised doubts, his passing caused even greater concern in the wine world. Yet he had already convinced observers through his energy, strategic vision, and the results achieved in a very short time.
Nothing had destined Corinne Mentzelopoulos for the world of wine. After completing a degree in Classics and graduating from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris in 1979, she began her career at Havas before becoming Financial Controller at Primistères, the company managing the Félix Potin stores. At just twenty-seven, she found herself propelled to the head of one of the greatest classified growths of Bordeaux. Surrounded by the renowned oenologist Émile Peynaud and the estate’s technical team, then led by Philippe Barré, she set to work with determination to continue the momentum initiated by her father. She quickly developed a deep passion for Château Margaux and committed herself fully to understanding its terroirs, viticulture and vinification.
Corinne Mentzelopoulos continued the investment programme previously initiated and committed the property to a long-term strategy founded on qualitative excellence. Her arrival coincided with a major turning point: from 1982 onwards, global demand for the great wines of Bordeaux expanded dramatically. American enthusiasts were the first to show enthusiasm, followed by those in Europe, then Asia and other regions of the world. Bordeaux also benefited from a succession of outstanding vintages, further strengthening its international reputation.
At the same time, the family group underwent profound change. The shops and property assets of Félix Potin were progressively sold, and the group, having become Exor, became a reference shareholder in Perrier. Aware of the financial and strategic challenges, Corinne Mentzelopoulos chose to secure support in order to safeguard the estate’s future. In the early 1990s, she relied on the Agnelli family, then led by Gianni Agnelli, President of Fiat, a partnership that lasted for approximately ten years.
In 2003, when the Agnelli group decided to dispose of its shares in Château Margaux, Corinne Mentzelopoulos immediately repurchased them, thereby becoming once again the sole shareholder of the estate.
For more than forty years, she managed Château Margaux in a spirit of continuity, rigour and high standards, consolidating its position among the absolute references of the great wines of Bordeaux and embedding her stewardship within a long-term, patrimonial vision.
At the same time, the family group underwent profound change. The shops and property assets of Félix Potin were progressively sold, and the group, having become Exor, became a reference shareholder in Perrier. Aware of the financial and strategic challenges, Corinne Mentzelopoulos chose to secure support in order to safeguard the estate’s future. In the early 1990s, she relied on the Agnelli family, then led by Gianni Agnelli, President of Fiat, a partnership that lasted for approximately ten years.
In 2003, when the Agnelli group decided to dispose of its shares in Château Margaux, Corinne Mentzelopoulos immediately repurchased them, thereby becoming once again the sole shareholder of the estate.
For more than forty years, she managed Château Margaux in a spirit of continuity, rigour and high standards, consolidating its position among the absolute references of the great wines of Bordeaux and embedding her stewardship within a long-term, patrimonial vision.
1980
Corinne Mentzelopoulos: Following in Her Father’s Footsteps
Upon her father’s death in 1980, Corinne Mentzelopoulos assumed direction of the estate. If André Mentzelopoulos’s arrival had raised doubts, his passing caused even greater concern in the wine world. Yet he had already convinced observers through his energy, strategic vision, and the results achieved in a very short time.
Nothing had destined Corinne Mentzelopoulos for the world of wine. After completing a degree in Classics and graduating from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris in 1979, she began her career at Havas before becoming Financial Controller at Primistères, the company managing the Félix Potin stores. At just twenty-seven, she found herself propelled to the head of one of the greatest classified growths of Bordeaux. Surrounded by the renowned oenologist Émile Peynaud and the estate’s technical team, then led by Philippe Barré, she set to work with determination to continue the momentum initiated by her father. She quickly developed a deep passion for Château Margaux and committed herself fully to understanding its terroirs, viticulture and vinification.
Corinne Mentzelopoulos continued the investment programme previously initiated and committed the property to a long-term strategy founded on qualitative excellence. Her arrival coincided with a major turning point: from 1982 onwards, global demand for the great wines of Bordeaux expanded dramatically. American enthusiasts were the first to show enthusiasm, followed by those in Europe, then Asia and other regions of the world. Bordeaux also benefited from a succession of outstanding vintages, further strengthening its international reputation.
2015
Two Centuries of Architecture in the Service of a Great Wine
The renown of Château Margaux rests as much on the genius of the place as on the commitment of those who have served it. Two centuries earlier, the Marquis de La Colonilla had already left his mark on the estate by constructing an architectural ensemble inspired by ancient Greece. Louis Combes designed the peristyle of the château as a tribute to the Parthenon.
André Mentzelopoulos felt particular pride in these Ionic columns, which reminded him of his native Greece. More than 160 years after the château’s construction, he restored Margaux’s brilliance in only a few short years.
The addition of contemporary buildings to a Historic Monument represented a major challenge. The architect lord Norman Foster met this challenge by designing modern facilities that respect the architectural heritage. These new buildings enable Château Margaux to pursue its quest for excellence through the most advanced technologies.
The film Prodigy of the Architect, directed by Bruno Aveillan and presented in 2015, retraces this continuity between past and future on the occasion of the bicentenary of the architecture of Château Margaux.
The addition of contemporary buildings to a Historic Monument represented a major challenge. The architect lord Norman Foster met this challenge by designing modern facilities that respect the architectural heritage. These new buildings enable Château Margaux to pursue its quest for excellence through the most advanced technologies.
The film Prodigy of the Architect, directed by Bruno Aveillan and presented in 2015, retraces this continuity between past and future on the occasion of the bicentenary of the architecture of Château Margaux.
2015
Two Centuries of Architecture in the Service of a Great Wine
The renown of Château Margaux rests as much on the genius of the place as on the commitment of those who have served it. Two centuries earlier, the Marquis de La Colonilla had already left his mark on the estate by constructing an architectural ensemble inspired by ancient Greece. Louis Combes designed the peristyle of the château as a tribute to the Parthenon.
André Mentzelopoulos felt particular pride in these Ionic columns, which reminded him of his native Greece. More than 160 years after the château’s construction, he restored Margaux’s brilliance in only a few short years.
At the start of the 21st century, Bordeaux wines enjoy unprecedented success. The world’s attention is on Bordeaux, and demand for its great wines continues to grow. This prosperity, alongside the rise of other global wine regions, has placed Château Margaux in a more competitive environment, while underscoring its unique position as a Premier Grand Cru Classé from 1855, with a terroir shaped over centuries. Complacency is not an option. It would be tedious to enumerate all investments made since 1977; the goal has been to honour the heritage while continually striving to improve and perfect, all the while respecting Château Margaux’s legacy. The 2009 launch of a third red wine to further enhance the quality of the first and second wines, the numerous trials over more than ten years by the R&D department, including exploring the vine and wine’s response to biodynamics, and the introduction of a bottle authentication system all reflect this: honour Château Margaux’s history while continuously progressing so as never to disappoint enthusiasts worldwide. 2023 marks a new era with a generational change in the Mentzelopoulos family. Corinne passes the management to her son Alexis, while her daughter Alexandra becomes President of the Supervisory Board of the Holding Company.
21st Century
Today
At the start of the 21st century, Bordeaux wines enjoy unprecedented success. The world’s attention is on Bordeaux, and demand for its great wines continues to grow. This prosperity, alongside the rise of other global wine regions, has placed Château Margaux in a more competitive environment, while underscoring its unique position as a Premier Grand Cru Classé from 1855, with a terroir shaped over centuries. Complacency is not an option. It would be tedious to enumerate all investments made since 1977; the goal has been to honour the heritage while continually striving to improve and perfect, all the while respecting Château Margaux’s legacy. The 2009 launch of a third red wine to further enhance the quality of the first and second wines, the numerous trials over more than ten years by the R&D department, including exploring the vine and wine’s response to biodynamics, and the introduction of a bottle authentication system all reflect this: honour Château Margaux’s history while continuously progressing so as never to disappoint enthusiasts worldwide. 2023 marks a new era with a generational change in the Mentzelopoulos family. Corinne passes the management to her son Alexis, while her daughter Alexandra becomes President of the Supervisory Board of the Holding Company.
21st Century
Today
