Château Haut-Bernasse

In his thirties, with an iconoclastic temperament and an insatiable thirst for curiosity, Romain Claveille embodies the dynamic spirit of Château Haut-Bernasse since 2014. After studying environmental management of natural spaces, Romain gradually entered the world of wine when his father-in-law hired him to work in the family business. "After 7 years, I realized I was truly passionate and wanted to write my own story. That's why I embarked on the adventure with Château Haut-Bernasse."

Available directly from the estate on Avenue des Vins.

How do you set yourself apart as a young winemaker?

Breaking the molds

As the sole owner of this 14-hectare vineyard (11 hectares of white varieties and 3 hectares of red varieties) in the Bergerac region, Romain has created a domain that reflects his personality. Determined to stand out from his competitors, the young winemaker embraces innovation.

We need to change the codes, catch the eye, and differentiate ourselves to attract new consumers.

And with disruption comes innovation. The "Les Oenopotes" cuvée range symbolizes the youthful and modern spirit Romain aims to infuse into his estate. Notably, the "Oenopotes 2014" cuvée is a delicious and fruity red wine from AOC Bergerac, which, true to its name, is meant to be shared with friends.

What can you tell us about your cuvées?

An unconventional Monbazillac

Within the "Oenopotes" range, Romain also offers an unconventional sweet wine from the Monbazillac appellation. Presented in a Burgundy-style bottle, it contains only 70g of residual sugars, while a wine is considered sweet if it has more than 50g of sugar per liter.

I wanted a delicious, not overly sweet wine that is easy to drink,

explains Romain. However, he does not ignore the work of his predecessors and has preserved part of the viticultural heritage of Château Haut-Bernasse, including the high-end vintage 2003 "Jules et Marie Villette" cuvée.

What are your plans for the estate?

Focus on oenotourism

Despite running the estate alone, Romain is full of ideas and future projects. His goal is to develop the oenotourism aspect of the estate.

It's challenging to manage everything due to the extensive work involved, vineyard maintenance throughout the year, harvests, winemaking, and selling the cuvées. For now, I organize guided tours of my cellars in partnership with a tourism agency, where I explain my winemaking methods. Of course, my property remains open year-round to clients, whom I welcome in the tasting room. I aim to enhance this customer experience by creating specific workshops, especially during the summer season...

Discover the wines of Château Haut-Bernasse directly from the estate, at the estate price, in a short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Château Haut-Bernasse

Where is Château Haut-Bernasse located?

The estate lies in the Bergerac area of the Dordogne, in south-west France, across the Bergerac and Monbazillac appellations. Its 14 hectares are mostly planted with white grape varieties.

Who is Romain Claveille, the estate's winemaker?

In his thirties, he took over the property in 2014 after studying natural-space management. He runs the estate on his own and claims a deliberately unconventional approach.

What is the Les Oenopotes range?

It is the line of cuvées that carries the estate's young, modern spirit. It includes a Bergerac red meant to be shared among friends and a Monbazillac lighter than most sweet wines.

What makes the estate's Monbazillac unusual?

Bottled in a Burgundy-style bottle, it holds around 70g of residual sugar, when the threshold for a sweet wine sits at 50g per litre. The result is fruit-forward, less sugary and easy to drink.

Can you visit Château Haut-Bernasse?

Yes. Romain Claveille runs guided tours of his winery with a local tourism agency and welcomes visitors in his tasting room throughout the year. Summer workshops are in the works.