Château Biac
Sometimes life is full of surprises. The Lebanese Asseily family experienced this first-hand when they became the owners of Château Biac as if by accident in 2006. They regularly spent their summer holidays near Biac, but never would they have dreamt that they would own and manage this wonderful property themselves one day. It’s a fascinating story that Tony and Youmna Asseily are happy to share over a glass of their wine.
Château Biac isn’t located in one of the world-famous towns on the left or right bank of the Gironde, but on the Graves plateau south of Bordeaux in the small town of Langoiran. Idyllically situated, the winery offers a magnificent view of a meander of the Garonne to the south-southwest.
Biac was first mentioned in the 17th century. The present-day château dates back to 1755 and was built by the daughter of the Baron de Langoiran. At the end of the 19th century, Château Biac enjoyed an excellent reputation, not least because the vineyards were only planted with selected Château d’Yquem vines and red vines from the finest wineries in Saint-Émilion. By 2006, however, the winery was in a sad and neglected state.
The Asseily family quickly realised that it would require a lot of work to restore Château Biac’s reputation as one of the finest wineries in the region. They sought professional advice and support, including from Patrick Léon, who had been an oenologist at Château Mouton-Rothschild for 20 years. A thorough soil analysis was carried out and the planting of the vineyards was adapted accordingly, as the soil structure turned out to be extremely diverse. But not only the vineyards, but also the infrastructure of the wine cellar and the buildings were modernised and adapted to the new needs.
Red wines from Château Biac
Sweet wines from Château Biac
from Château Biac
Today, a seductive sweet wine and three red wines with character, finesse and elegance are produced on the 15 hectares, providing a delectable drinking experience at a reasonable price.
Le Vieux Biac, the original château from the 17th century, offers three tastefully furnished maisonettes to accommodate guests. The pool, barbecue area and magnificent terrace make this a delightful place to spend a relaxing holiday.
www.chateaubiac.com
Producer
Castro Ventosa / Fam. Pérez Pereira
Castro Ventosa - a bodega in the heart of the Bierzo vineyards. The DO Bierzo, in northwestern Spain, covers about 3500 hectares of vineyards, 70 % of which are between 40 to over 100 years old. On limestone soils interspersed with sand, the indigenous grape variety Mencía feels particularly at home here
Luc Massy
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