Château Margaux

The Château Margaux Located in the Médoc region near Bordeaux, Château Margaux produces one of the world's most expensive red wines. It has held the title of "Premier Grand Cru" since 1855.

The estate's origins date back to the Middle Ages, though the vineyard is first documented in the late 15th century. The actual vineyard was established between 1572 and 1582 by the then-owner, Pierre de Lestonnac, through systematic land purchases. The Margaux estate came into the possession of the Pontac family, one of the leading Bordeaux families and also owner of Château Haut-Brion, through marriage. Since the beginning of the 18th century, Margaux wine has also been known by its name in England.

Winemaking made great strides in the 18th century. For the first time, only red grapes were used for red wine, and the harvest took place only after the morning dew had evaporated. Among the wine enthusiasts of Château Margaux at that time were the British Prime Minister Walpole and the American President T. Jefferson, then still ambassador. In a letter from 1787, Jefferson certified the wines as Premier Cru.

During the French Revolution, the estate was confiscated but was later repurchased by the last heiress. However, in 1804, she was forced to sell the property again due to heavy debts. For the next 170 years, Château Margaux passed through the hands of bankers and trading houses. In 1921, the owners established a public limited company, the Société Vinicole de Château Margaux. From 1937 to 1961, in addition to their own wines, a competitor's wines were also processed in the Margaux cellars. A slow decline of Château Margaux began in the 1960s. The Ginestet family, the owners, resorted to less reputable practices such as blending different vintages. The recession following the 1973 oil crisis increased the pressure on the Ginestet company, leading to Château Margaux being put up for sale in 1975.

In 1977, the Greek-born entrepreneur André Mentzelopoulos acquired Château Margaux, including the 1974, 1975, and 1976 vintages still in the cellars. Because a law at the time designated Premier Châteaux as national cultural assets, the buyer had to be naturalized as a French citizen before his name could be entered in the land registry. Advised by the renowned Bordeaux oenologist André Peynaud, he invested heavily in the cellars and vineyards. To improve the quality of the Grand Vin, he reintroduced the second wine, Pavillon Rouge. The 1978 vintage marked the renaissance of Château Margaux. André Mentzelopoulos died at the end of 1980. Around 1990, his wife Laura and daughter Corinne sold their shares in Château Margaux to a Luxembourg company in which the Italian Agnelli family (Fiat) held a significant stake. In 2003, Corinne Mentzelopoulos acquired the 75 percent share held by the heirs of Angeli for an estimated 350 million euros, making Château Margaux one of the most expensive real estate properties in France.