Grands Crus Wine and Chocolate

MASTERING THE ART OF FINE WINES

Stepping into the Château Bouscaut, is stepping into the history of wine. The owner Sophie Lurton-Cogombles is a member of the Lurton family who have cultivated the vines in the region around Bordeaux for four generations.

“My father wanted to pass on, not just the estate, but also his knowledge of the production of the very finest vintages. That’s something we can, in turn, pass on to our visitors,” says Lurton-Cogombles, who now runs the Château Bouscaut estate with her agronomist husband Laurent.

The château has an environmental classification (HVE) and produces white and red wines, among them Grands Crus Classés de Graves. Their vast cellar was renovated in 2010 and a new barrel cellar built, which is open to the public, with tours in English as well as French.

There are several wine workshops on offer, including food pairing. But you can go even deeper at Château Bouscaut, with an opportunity to learn from a wine specialist how to identify the notes and flavours in the glass. Or be guided in the art that every winemaker must master - blending.

The estate, just a 20-minute drive from Bordeaux, is a labour of love for Laurent and Sophie Cogombles, who travel extensively to meet buyers and promote their wine.

Château Bouscaut also runs a gîte that sleeps 10 - Château Valoux - overlooking the vineyards. Given the glorious surroundings, it’s not difficult to imagine that many visitors would find a wine-tasting workshop just isn’t enough and book themselves in for a week.