Bardet vineyards: one château for each generation

The Bardet family has been immersed in the world of wine since 1704, reigning over the Bordeaux wine estate complex known as Les Vignobles Bardet for eight generations. It's safe to say that wine runs deep in their veins. With 85 hectares of vineyards in Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Côtes de Castillon, the Vignobles Bardet employs around thirty people across the complex. At ages 27 and 30, Thibault and Paul-Arthur joined the family business in 2011 after completing their studies at business school and the Wine Institute.

Available directly from the estate on Avenue des Vins.

What is the story behind the family's châteaux?

Acquisition of Château du Paradis in 2013

Les Vignobles Bardet owns four Bordeaux châteaux in Saint-Émilion. This wine heritage is part of a longstanding family tradition: acquiring a new estate with each new generation.

Our great-grandfather, a wine merchant, established Château Val d'Or in the 1920s. Our grandfather created Château Pontet-Fumet in the 1960s. In 2008, our father Philippe bought Château Franc Le Maine,

Thibault and Paul-Arthur recount.

Determined to continue this tradition, the Bardet brothers naturally acquired Château du Paradis in 2013. Both work alongside their parents:

My father makes the wine, my brother sells it, and I promote it, to put it simply,

Thibault summarizes.

How do the brothers approach sustainability?

Commitment to sustainable viticulture

Despite their backgrounds in commerce and marketing, the Bardet brothers are dedicated winemakers. Deeply committed to environmental preservation and biodiversity, Thibault and Paul-Arthur practice reasoned agriculture on the 5 hectares of vineyards at Château du Paradis. These values are deeply embedded in the history of Les Vignobles Bardet.

Listed as the first agricultural property in the 1980s and holding the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3 certification, Les Vignobles Bardet is a leader in sustainable practices in the Saint-Émilion region. Philippe Bardet, the father of Thibault and Paul-Arthur, also chairs the technical committee responsible for terroir and sustainable development at the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion.

What are the plans for winemaking and oenotourism?

Focus on oenotourism

In terms of winemaking, the Bardet brothers focus on two main goals: empowering nature to produce the highest quality grapes and crafting wines that best express the reflection and typicity of the terroir.

We extract the maximum from our raw materials to make the best wine possible. For example, we remove rot from the berries and carefully sort the grapes by size to ensure concentrated fruit with thick skins and fewer seeds, resulting in wines with silky tannins,

the Bardet brothers detail.

Since acquiring Château du Paradis, the Bardet brothers have concentrated on this "new winemaking adventure" and are focusing their efforts on brand development, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and oenotourism.

We already have a few ideas that we plan to implement in the coming years: tasting workshops, cellar tours, riverside walks, etc.,

they announce.

Discover the wines of Vignobles Bardet directly from the estate, at the estate price, in a short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Vignobles Bardet

How long has the Bardet family been making wine?

The family has tended vines since 1704, spanning eight generations in the Bordeaux region. Thibault and Paul-Arthur, trained in business and at the Wine Institute, took over in 2011.

Where are Les Vignobles Bardet and which appellations do they cover?

The estate sits in Saint-Émilion and gathers 85 hectares across Saint-Émilion Grand Cru and Côtes de Castillon. It brings together four Bordeaux châteaux and around thirty staff.

What is Château du Paradis at Les Vignobles Bardet?

It is the property the two brothers took on in 2013, keeping up the family habit of adding an estate with each new generation. Its 5 hectares are farmed under reasoned agriculture.

What is the estate's environmental approach?

The Bardets look after their soils and biodiversity and hold the Level 3 High Environmental Value certification. Philippe Bardet even chairs the terroir and sustainability committee at the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Émilion.

What style of wine do the Bardet brothers make?

They aim to mirror the character of their terroir by letting nature lead. Careful berry sorting yields concentrated reds with thick skins and smooth tannins.