A new project initiated by Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique, and headed by David Bolzan, Managing Director of Vignobles Silvio Denz, will open in time to mark the 400th anniversary of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, with the official inauguration planned for 23 June 2018.

A page of history… 

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a very old wine-producing estate of 36 hectares situated in the heart of the Sauternes region, on high ground just outside the village of Bommes. Long months of renovation are transforming the château into a top-class hotel and restaurant. The building, considered the Bommes municipality’s oldest monument, dates back to the 13th century and contains almost eight centuries of history within its walls. Built on the site of a Roman staging post, the château features ancient stonework, a perimeter wall and gatehouse.

The history and reputation of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey are inextricably bound up with those of the Sauternes appellation and the 1855 classification. This classification of Bordeaux wines was established on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition held in Paris in 1855 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III. The merits of the sweet white wine of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey were therefore recognized early on, with a classification among the Premiers Crus Classés. It also owed its reputation to King Alphonse XII of Spain who declared it his favourite wine.

A choice location…

The Lafaurie-Peyraguey vineyard is situated at the heart of the great terroirs of Sauternes, on a high terrace with gravelly soil, 70 metres above sea level, next to the legendary Château d’Yquem. Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey was soon regarded as one of the region’s finest architectural gems from its viticultural tradition, the pride of its first proprietor, Sieur Peyraguey in 1618.

A timeless renovation designed by Lalique…

Purchased in 2014 by Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique and owner of five vineyards in the Bordeaux region, including Château Faugères, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé purchased in 2005, Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is getting ready to greet a new dawn. Redesigned as a luxury hotel with a gourmet restaurant, the entire establishment has been decorated by interior designers Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli. Already well known for their Lalique Maison collection and the Villa René Lalique project (five-star hotel and gourmet restaurant with two Michelin stars, a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection), the two designers opted for a “country chic” style, with original creations inspired by the theme of wine. The result is a new interpretation of Lalique interior design, imbued with the character of the site and the history of the château, with new materials and colours adopted from the Sauternes countryside. The incrustations of Lalique crystal are part of an interplay of elegance and simplicity that blends luminosity and gentle living. As Silvio Denz explains, this latest LALIQUE hotel, managed by Christophe Noulibos, comprising ten rooms and three suites, is intended as a place “where four worlds – wine, crystal, gastronomy and hospitality – come together, for all forms of creativity have something in common”.

A restaurant offering the finest French cuisine …

Silvio Denz’s idea from the outset was to establish a second showcase for Lalique’s hospitality, one located in the greatest terroir of Bordeaux Crus Classés – a world first. The man taking up this gastronomic challenge is Jérôme Schilling, former executive chef at Villa René Lalique alongside the three Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Klein, who will take charge of the restaurant kitchen serving around forty covers. A native of Alsace, Jérôme Schilling gained his spurs with some of the great names of French gastronomy, the likes of Hubert Maetz, Joël Robuchon, Roger Verger, Thierry Marx, Jean-Luc Rocha and Guy Lassausaie.

In 2010, he led the French team at Bocuse d’Or. In 2015, he was a finalist in the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France contest. In 2017, he won first prize in the Challenge Culinaire du Président de la République. With his sights set on continuing to deliver excellence, Jérôme Schilling will preside over a new domain that he has rapidly made his own.

The wine cellar …

The project is headed by Adrien Cascio in partnership with Romain Iltis, Chef Sommelier at Villa René Lalique, who gained the titles of Meilleur Sommelier de France in 2012 and Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2015. Together, they have created an ambitious wine list with diverse influences: a rich selection of Sauternes, a highly impressive choice of the best Bordeaux Crus and a great variety of more affordable wines. But there is also a nod in the direction of Alsace, the cradle of Lalique; and the great domains beyond France’s borders are also represented. Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey’s own historic wine cellar houses a spectacular selection of whites and reds. There are two additional cellars which serve for aging ancient vintages and rare nectars. In total, wine lovers have a selection of 350,000 bottles to savour.The wine store is open to visitors – even those just passing through – offering bottles to take home.

Through Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Silvio Denz wishes to contribute to the creation of high-end wine tourism in the Sauternes region. This new project will bring fresh momentum to the smallest Bordeaux appellation and attract a large number of visitors to this multi-facetted region, with the object of rekindling the love affair with the great wines of Sauternes.

“Our dream was to create a focal point where conviviality and the emotional engagement people feel with the region can be celebrated. No other wine in the world touches the emotions quite like Sauternes; it needed a prestigious address. We aim to ensure that Lafaurie-Peyraguey will be that place – … welcoming, amazing and surprising…”: David Bolzan, Managing Director at Vignobles Silvio Denz.

Opening set for 23 June 2018.