CHÂTEAU Haut-Valeyrac

CHÂTEAU Haut-Valeyrac TAKES ITS NAME FROM ITS TERROIR

Château Haut-Valeyrac and its vineyard are located on one of the highest points of the Valeyrac area and dominate the beautiful Gironde river.

With a total area of 56 hectares, the Château Haut-Valeyrac vineyard comprises some 30 hectares of vines located on hillocks and plateaus, that are alternatively made up of sandy gravel on a bed of hardpan, or an iron-rich type of clay (alios) on a gravelly and stony subsoil. In the past, the upper part of the true bedrock was blasted away and the stone removed to facilitate the vine growing.

The vineyard is only complanted with a select variety of grapes, the proportion of which have been carefully studied, so that the well-balanced wines have tannin and a pretty colour. In the bottle, they acquire an excellent fine and fragrant bouquet and are particularly sought after.

A NEW DIRECTOR
PIERRE-YVES JOANNON,
AT THE HEAD OF THE PROPERTY SINCE 2016

After studying wine making and with a Diploma in Oenology and a Masters of Management from ENITA, Bordeaux, Pierre-Yves Joannn began his career at the Domaine des Conseillans, St Caprais de Bordeaux, owned by Jean Ribereau Gayon. Francis Courselle from Château Thieuley was his mentor during this period.

In 1993, he left for Enosens, the oenological centre in Grézillac, chaired by André Lurton, to further his knowledge in wine analysis, assemblage and advice.

In 2000, he returned to the vineyards and in 2004, he became the technical director of Château Pey LaTour, that belongs to the CVBG Dourthe Kressmann group.

In 2016, he took over the running of Château Haut-Valeyrac (a family property) in order to continue his father’s work.

THE Haut-Valeyrac BEEHIVES

INDICATORS OF THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY LIVE

✔ March 2018: reintegration of 3 beehives

1 Beehive: 100 000 bees

➢ pollination of 1 500 ha

3 beehives ➢ pollination of 4 500 ha

RE-INTRODUCTION OF BATS

(Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

An environmental asset

✔ Bats help to fight grape worm, moths and other parasite insects that attach the vines, and thus become an alternative option to some insecticides

FLOWERING FALLOW LAND AROUND Haut-Valeyrac
PRETTY AND ESPECIALLY USEFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT

✔ Reintroduction of hedges, trees and grassed and flowered strips to maintain and develop animal and plant biodiversity. A flower field, also called a flowering fallow land, is a permanent source of food for many insects such as bees, ladybugs, butterflies, beetles... which in turn are a source of food for birds and other insectivore species... In short, a return to sustainable ecosystems, so important for the vines. In fact, these grasslands ensure a number of environmental services such as pollination, pest control, soil quality maintenance and erosion reduction

Haut-Valeyrac IN THE HEART OF PARC NATURA 2000
PROTECTION OF FLORA AND FAUNA IN NORTHERN MEDOC

✔ Certain natural habitats and the species covered by the European directives have been designated as of community interest and about 20 such natural habitats and 17 such species (excluding birds) have been identified in the Médoc estuary marshes

✔ The diversity of natural environments (wet meadows, ponds, brackish vegetation, woodland...) enables the development of rich and endangered fauna and flora (mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects...). Among these species, we can cite the otter, the European pond turtle, several species of lamprey, the Large Copper butterfly…

✔ Moreover, located along a major axis of avifauna migration in Europe, the Northern Médoc marshes constitute a hospitable site for many birds (birds of prey, sparrows, water birds...). 42 species are currently identified as of community interest