The Château

Merlot at the base of Maison - Organic Grapes for Rosé

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Claribes Maison

Maison to Chateau

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Autumn Merlot

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A Historic Home, Rooted in Nature

Château de Claribès is a place where history, nature, and winemaking come together in harmony. Established in the 16th century, the Château sits on sun-kissed limestone slopes near the Dordogne River—an ideal location for growing grapes and once, for transporting wine to the port of Bordeaux.

But this land’s story begins long before that.

Vineyards were first planted here by the Gallo-Romans, who understood the value of the region’s gentle maritime climate. These conditions—mild, balanced, and generous—remain perfect for growing grapes with character and depth.

Beneath the Château lie ancient caves, once home to early inhabitants well before Roman times. Archaeological excavations led by the University of Bordeaux uncovered pottery and other artefacts now housed in the Bordeaux Natural History Museum—a quiet reminder of the lives once lived on this land.

Meet the Winemakers

Helen and Nick have been making wine at Château de Claribès since 2005. Guided by a deep respect for the land, they craft wines that express the true nature of this place.

“Our philosophy is simple,” says Helen. “We make wines that are honest, sustainable, and a genuine reflection of the terroir.”

From the beginning, they have worked to restore and enhance the estate with care and intention:

Replanting and restructuring vineyards to meet Côte de Bordeaux standards

Transitioning to certified Organic (Biologique) farming practices

Upgrading winery facilities for modern, sustainable production

Château de Claribès earned full Organic certification in 2013, and every wine has been 100% vegan since 2006.

A Promise of Authenticity

We are proud to be the only vineyard, winemaker, and Château in the village of Claribès. Every bottle we produce is made and sold under a single name: Château de Claribès.

When you see our label, you can be sure of its origin, its integrity, and the natural values behind it. This is wine made with respect—for the land, for history, and for those who share in its story.

Certified Biologique Vineyards

Veraison of the Merlot first week of August 2014

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Claribes Merlot Pre Floraison

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Certified Biologique by EcoCert

At Château de Claribès, our 11 hectares of vineyard are carefully planted with grape varieties chosen to suit the land and the local climate. These classic Côtes de Bordeaux varieties produce elegant whites and rosés, along with rich, refined reds—each one a true expression of its terroir.

Our vineyards surround the house and winery, so grapes begin their journey into wine within minutes of being picked—freshness and quality preserved from the very start.

Since 2010, our estate has been officially certified Organic (Agriculture Biologique) by Ecocert. This reflects our deep commitment to natural, sustainable farming.

We work closely with nature, following the lunar calendar to guide all key vineyard and cellar tasks. Most vineyard work is done by hand. We use organic compost, encourage native plants to grow between the rows, and time everything—from pruning to harvest—according to the rhythms of the moon.

Our goal is simple: to harvest healthy, perfectly ripe grapes from each parcel of the vineyard. Everything we do is rooted in care, respect, and balance with the environment.

As the Guide Hachette des Vins noted in a review of our Rosé, the result speaks clearly in the glass.

“… made according to the lunar calendar, and judging by this wine, there’s definitely something in it”.
Guide Hachette des Vins

AOC Wines - Certified Biologique

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Handcrafted, Honest Wines

At Château de Claribès, our wines are made with the same care and respect we give to the land. Just as we farm naturally, we craft our wines with a light touch—allowing the character of the vineyard to shine through in every bottle.

All our wines are certified Organic (Biologique) by Ecocert. The 2010, 2011, and 2012 vintages were produced during our conversion to organic farming. From 2013 onward, every vintage has been fully certified organic.

Our wines also meet the strict standards of the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, and Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux—certified by QualiBordeaux.

We make only small quantities, using traditional, hands-on methods. It’s an intensive process, requiring time, patience, and a close eye for detail—something many of our visitors have experienced firsthand.

Each bottle reflects our commitment to honest winemaking, guided by nature, and rooted in the land.

“Provenance has taken on increased significance amongst fine wine consumers. Knowing and buying direct from small producers, where the profits go back into the quality of the product, is THE WAY TO GO”.

Vin Blanc

White wine is made from our hectare of Sauvignon Blanc grapes. These grapes produce our superb fresh, clean & dry Bordeaux Blanc-Sec “Cent pour Cent”.

To capture all the delicate natural flavours and aromas we harvested in the cool early morning air and press the whole bunches as soon as they arrive. Everything is kept at a steady low temperature during fermentation and we elaborate the wine on the fine lees.

Vin Rosé

Grapes for rosé wines are harvested by hand. We use a similar process to white wine, press the whole bunches as soon as they arrive and cold ferment the pale juice. This technique helps to produce our truly pale Bordeaux Rosé, dry and picked by hand.

No allergens are used in the process and SO2 levels are kept to strict minimums for Biologique (Organic) wine.

Vins Rouge

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Malbec provide us with options to innovate with our red wines. We use fermentation techniques that are specific for each parcel of vines and variety.

This approach means we produce a range of wines with quite different and unique qualities. Wines like Old Vine Malbec with over 95% pure Malbec, Marpeau our Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wine, Barreyre with Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

We carry out a natural secondary fermentation on the red wines, converting malic acid into lactic acid, this gives the wines a full, rounded feel in the mouth, a typical Bordeaux characteristic.

Following fermentation, the red wine is matured for almost two years before bottling at the Château.