The Château Puyfromage vineyard
extends over 55 hectares within the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, on a clay-limestone plateau overlooking the Dordogne Valley and forming a natural continuation of the Saint-Émilion plateau.
Mainly planted with Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, our vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir and favourable exposure, ideal for producing fine, balanced and expressive Bordeaux wines.
Location
Halfway between Bergerac and Saint-Émilion, around 50 kilometres north-east of Bordeaux, bordering the Saint-Émilion wine region.
Appellation
Francs Côtes de Bordeaux
The smallest and easternmost appellation in Bordeaux.
It forms a natural link between the continental climate of the Périgord and the oceanic climate of the Gironde. It has one of the highest proportions of organic vineyards in Bordeaux and benefits from the lowest rainfall in the region.
It is the only Bordeaux AOC producing sweet wines without chaptalisation, as well as dry whites and reds.
The area is sometimes known as “The Tuscany of Bordeaux.”
Soils
The plateau is composed of limestone soils of fluvio-lacustrine and marine origin, including sandstone limestone rich in fossilised starfish (calcaire à astéries). The slopes consist of limestone molasse, combining limestone, sand and clay. It is this distinctive character that contributes to the finesse and elegance of our wines.
The vines
Our 55 hectares of vines are planted on the best-exposed slopes and divided into 68 individual plots.
Planting density ranges from 4,500 to 6,000 vines per hectare. The vineyard comprises approximately 237,000 vines – the equivalent of 250 kilometres of vine rows – with an average age of 30 years.
To maintain the vineyard in excellent condition, between 1 and 1.5 hectares are uprooted and replanted each year.
Merlot noir – 72 %
The first to ripen, it produces rich wines with supple tannins and aromatic complexity.
Cabernet sauvignon – 16 %
Later ripening, it brings structure, freshness and elegance, with notes of black fruit and spices, as well as excellent ageing potential.
Cabernet franc – 8,5 %
Elegant and aromatic, it brings freshness, finesse and complexity, with delicate notes of red fruit and spices.
Malbec – 3,5 %
Intense and generous, it brings colour, structure and character.
This mix of grape varieties enables us to create blends that give our wines a lovely balance.
Château Puyfromage is driven by a committed and responsive team, working with precision and in close connection with the vines, the climate and those who enjoy our wines. We aim for an optimal yield of 45 hectolitres per hectare, although this may be affected by climatic conditions.
From the 2026 vintage onwards, all wines produced at Château Puyfromage are certified organic.
Environmental commitments
Certified Organic since 2021 / HVE – Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value) certification
Biodiversity
We aim to maintain a diverse range of flora and fauna at Puyfromage by preserving grassy areas and ecological corridors:
Vine pruning
We practise a form of gentle pruning that respects the natural flow of sap and reduces the impact of pruning cuts on the vine.
This approach helps our vines live longer and allows them to express the full potential of our terroir.
Soil life and adapting to climate change
For many years, the health and vitality of our soils have been at the heart of our approach.
After the harvest, we sow a variety of cover crops, or green manures. These plants capture essential elements from the atmosphere, particularly carbon and nitrogen. Once cut, they form a thick layer of natural mulch, gradually returning these elements to the vines.
This organic matter is broken down by the macro- and micro-organisms living in the humus layer. Year after year, this layer becomes deeper and more effective, helping the vines become increasingly resilient to climate change.
During periods of heavy rainfall, the soil acts like a sponge, improving water infiltration and reducing surface run-off. During periods of extreme heat, the mulch protects the soil from UV radiation and provides natural insulation.
Canopy management and vineyard protection
Throughout the growing season, each vine receives careful manual attention to ensure the healthiest and highest-quality grapes possible at harvest. This includes shoot removal, lifting and leaf thinning. Organic vineyard treatments are kept to a minimumthanks to data collected fromour weather stations and guidance froman independent agronomist.
Monitoring ripeness plot by plot
We monitor ripeness in small individual lots, paying close attention to fruit expression, juice balance and tannin quality. Our objective is simple: to harvest each plot at precisely the right moment.
Mechanical harvesting
Our decision to harvest mechanically is deliberate and carefully considered.
It gives Château Puyfromage exceptional responsiveness, allowing us to harvest as close as possible to the optimum ripeness of the fruit. It also enables us to harvest at night, taking advantage of cooler temperatures.
Using the latest generation of harvesting machines, the grapes are sorted directly during harvesting and can be transferred to the winery very quickly, preserving the quality, freshness and integrity of the fruit.
In the winery
We have reduced mechanical handling to a minimum.
The harvested grapes are transferred via a vibrating hopper onto a sorting table, where the initial selection carried out by the harvesting machine is further refined with great precision.
At this stage, we separate the first free-run juices to ensure that only the freshest, most intact fruit enters the vats.
Vatting
Most of our grapes are placed in concrete vats dating from the early 20th century. Their natural thermal inertia provides excellent temperature stability.
Today, these vats are temperature-controlled, allowing slow fermentation at low temperatures so that fruit aromas and colour can be extracted as gently and precisely as possible.
Winemaking
Thanks to our responsiveness, the cool temperature of the freshly harvested grapes and the quality of our sorting process, we do not add sulphites when the grapes are placed in the vats.
We then use an infusion-style winemaking technique: the cap of skins and solids is kept fully submerged, allowing the richness of the grapes to be extracted slowly and gently.
Fermentation takes place at a low, carefully controlled temperature thanks to our thermoregulation system. Maceration is long, with the cap remaining submerged throughout.
Our aim is to allow each individual plot to reveal its finest expression of fruit, while achieving a harmonious tannic balance between finesse, elegance and power.
Pressing
We work in small batches and use gentle, low-pressure pressing to bring volume and roundness to the wines.
Ageing
Les élevages, soutirages et aérations sont adaptés et réfléchis à chaque cuvée.
Ageing, racking and aeration are carefully considered and adapted to each wine.
Our wines are matured with great care for 18 months:
in vats for our Château Puyfromage wines;
in oak barrels for Albert Signature;
in amphorae for L’Amphore de Puyfromage.
Bottling
Bottling takes place directly in our winery and is carried out with the greatest care.
Precise and rigorous technical choices allow us to preserve all the work accomplished throughout the vineyard and winemaking process, so that each bottle reaching your table is the finest possible expression of our wines.
Lightweight bottles – helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
Technical corks – eliminating the risk of cork taint while preserving the ageing potential of our wines.
Take the time to escape to the heart of the Château Puyfromage vineyard, in the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, close to Saint-Émilion.
Stroll through the vines, visit the château and taste our wines: come and discover our family-owned estate and enjoy an authentic and welcoming experience combining nature, history and the pleasure of wine.
Visits
We welcome you all year round, by appointment, for a visit to Château Puyfromage.
Combining our family history, a discovery of the vineyard and an insight into our winemaking, every visit ends with a friendly moment together and a complimentary tasting of our wines.
Walks
Surrounded by the beautiful rolling landscape of the Côtes de Francs, Puyfromage is the perfect starting point for exploring the area on foot or by bike. We are happy to help you make the most of your visit and enjoy a few hours discovering our region at your own pace.
We can offer:
walking routes tailored to your interests and the kind of experience you are looking for;
a heritage trail exploring some of the landmarks and stories that have shaped our local area. The 12th-century Old Château, the 14th-century Royal Dovecote and the beautifully preserved 16th-century Château make this a particularly fascinating route. Your walk can be followed by a visit to our winery and a complimentary wine tasting;
access to the dining room of our 12th-century Old Château, where you can take a break and enjoy your own lunch. Tables and benches are available (food is not provided), and, if you wish, you can even prepare a barbecue in our impressive original fireplace.
For more inspiration, visit our NEWS section, where you will find our recommendations for exploring the region: walking and cycling routes, places of interest, gastronomic stops and some of our favourite local discoveries.
1–1.5 hour walking route: Download here
4.5 hour walking route: Download here
