Our story
The château Rabaud-Promis
Since the 17th century, the wines produced on the estate have always offered a harmonious balance allowing the full expression of an explosive aromatic richness.
The Rabaud-Promis castle overlooks the Ciron valley and that of the Garonne to the specific micro climate of the region to exercise its role of “taste hub.” It is within this environment that our family of winegrowers fits perfectly into sustainable viticulture , preserving biodiversity: forests and natural habitats of wild fauna have their place on the estate. From generation to generation, we have been able to create attractive wines and greedy for the neophyte as for the expert, thanks to the transmission of a know-how and the support of current technologies.
During vinification, we try to preserve the exceptional taste of this grape to which we strive all year round to provide the best care. Our sensitivity pushes us to design wines combining freshness with gourmet intensity of aromas.
This perfect balance gives access to a multitude of culinary associations and transforms an aperitif into an unforgettable aromatic experience.
Our story
Yesterday
Château Rabaud-Promis, quietly placed on the hill Rabaud since the seventeenth century, offers its facade, designed by architect Victor Louis, the rays of the rising sun.
Its vineyard, whose creation merges with the birth of Sauternes, spreads peacefully on the gentle slopes that surround the house.
A Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the history of Château Rabaud-Promis is a real saga, from the cutting of property to a change of owner until 1950, when it was bought by Raymond-Louis Lanneluc.
Since then, the property has been exclusively family-run.
Our story
Vine
Of the 40 hectares covered by the estate, 33 hectares are planted with vines.
The grape varieties present are typical of Sauternes: Sémillon (80%); Sauvignon (18%) and Muscadelle (2%).
The terroir, conducive to vines, is complex, composed of a clay-sandy subsoil covered with a large layer of Pyrenean gravel. At Château Rabaud-Promis, we strive to work with the utmost respect for our environment and practice reasoned viticulture, promoting the development of biodiversity and now a living viticultural ecosystem. Treatments are therefore limited to the maximum and tillage is always preferred.
Sustainable viticulture is our philosophy!
Our story
Wine
At Château Rabaud-Promis, the harvest is manual, by successive sorting. We therefore pass several times over each plot to collect the grapes which have reached the optimum degree of over-ripening. It was a delicate moment, the climax of our year of work… In the cellar, the harvest goes on a sorting table which we inspect as a family, then falls into the pneumatic presses. Fermentation takes place in batches, from our different days of harvest, in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks. Some batches ferment directly in oak barrels.
Aging takes place in barrels for 12 to 18 months, in an air-conditioned cellar. The percentage of new barrels varies according to the vintage, to respect each batch and allow it to best express its aromatic potential. The final assembly of Château Rabaud-Promis is decided with the family, by tasting. It is another important moment, the one where we determine the profile of our great wine. A wine not overly loaded with sugar, it should not saturate the taste buds. A balance between sugar, acidity and alcohol, with a perfect aromatic expression …
Bottling takes place two years after harvest.
Our second wine, from the youngest plots, is vinified like the Premier Cru and is called “Promise” from Château Rabaud-Promis.
A wine of pleasure, that is our philosophy!
"Pleasure above all, I must take pleasure in doing it, and that we take pleasure in drinking it."
Our story
Today
Château Rabaud-Promis is fashionable. Innovate, try, undertake are sweet words to our ears… The first Sauternes castle to protect its vineyard from hail with an anti-hail cannon, the first also to reproduce its own vines by grafting, we are happy to be Today, the first to offer you an easy-to-use website, allowing you to have an uninhibited approach to our wines.
Although looking to the future, Château Rabaud-promis does not forget its history, nor the men and women who shaped it. The love of a job well done, the transmission of knowledge, mutual aid and sharing are values of importance to us. We are aware that the future is built on solid foundations that require respect for our land and the vines that we have inherited.
For the sustainability of our operation, it is also important for us to make our products accessible and fun by offering consumption alternatives: take Sauternes off the beaten track and try new aromatic experiences … Dare to Sauternes!
Today, our family is involved in many areas in the life of the appellation and sweet wines in general, and opens each year its doors to friends and customers the second weekend of November, in the part of the Sauternes and Barsac open doors…
Sharing, advancing, investing and transmitting, that’s our philosophy!