Château Lafite Rothschild
Description
Data of interest
The “first among the Premiers Crus” or “the king’s wine” are just some of the definitions that, throughout its extensive history (the first known reference dates back to 1234), have been used to refer to Château Lafite Rothschild, one of the most important estates in Bordeaux.
The name of the estate, located in the village of Pauillac, in the Haut Médoc, comes from the Gascon term la hite, which means “small hill.” Gombaud de Lafite was the original owner of the château, which, in the 17th century, passed into the hands of the Ségur family, who planted most of the vineyard. Successive members of this lineage were also responsible for perfecting the winemaking techniques applied to the estate and introducing their wines to European nobility, to the extent that the famous Marshal Richelieu considered them as “the king’s wine”, “the famous fountain of youth,” or “a generous and delicious liquor only comparable to the ambrosia of the Gods of Olympus.”
The French Revolution ended the Ségur family’s ownership of the estate. After passing through several hands, in 1868, it was the Rothschild family who finally acquired Lafite, adopting its current name. Since 1974, the winery has been led by Eric de Rothschild. Thanks to his drive, the winery has undergone an interesting renewal. The vineyard, covering 112 hectares, one of the largest in Médoc, planted with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, has been strengthened by replanting and restoration efforts, and the facilities were significantly enhanced with the construction of a new avant-garde circular winery designed by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill. All these successful initiatives have only served to reinforce the identity and prestige of a brand whose wines are synonymous with excellence.
The name of the estate, located in the village of Pauillac, in the Haut Médoc, comes from the Gascon term la hite, which means “small hill.” Gombaud de Lafite was the original owner of the château, which, in the 17th century, passed into the hands of the Ségur family, who planted most of the vineyard. Successive members of this lineage were also responsible for perfecting the winemaking techniques applied to the estate and introducing their wines to European nobility, to the extent that the famous Marshal Richelieu considered them as “the king’s wine”, “the famous fountain of youth,” or “a generous and delicious liquor only comparable to the ambrosia of the Gods of Olympus.”
The French Revolution ended the Ségur family’s ownership of the estate. After passing through several hands, in 1868, it was the Rothschild family who finally acquired Lafite, adopting its current name. Since 1974, the winery has been led by Eric de Rothschild. Thanks to his drive, the winery has undergone an interesting renewal. The vineyard, covering 112 hectares, one of the largest in Médoc, planted with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, has been strengthened by replanting and restoration efforts, and the facilities were significantly enhanced with the construction of a new avant-garde circular winery designed by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill. All these successful initiatives have only served to reinforce the identity and prestige of a brand whose wines are synonymous with excellence.
Foundation year
1234
Owned vineyard
112
Telephone
+33 (0) 5 56 59 26 83
Region
Huesca
Country
France
