Cantenac Brown to build eco-friendly winery

The new owner of Château Cantenac Brown in Bordeaux has commissioned architect Philippe Madec to build a new winery at the estate that will “push the boundaries of current standards for ecological and environmental responsibility”.

The Margaux third growth was bought by agronomist Tristan le Lous late last year and he made clear then that he wanted to commit the estate to environmentally-friendly viticulture and winemaking.

The new chai is clearly a part of this vision and will be made from raw earth and timber from the local region as well as housing a cutting-edge winery.

All of the building materials will be bio-based, no cement will be used and everything will be sourced from Aquitaine to ensure there is zero carbon-footprint.

Raw earth will be a key component of the new winery, aiding the thermal inertia in order to create ideal conditions for the production and ageing of wines without the use of air conditioning.

The whole winery will be gravity fed and winemaker José Sanfins has asked for a larger number of smaller vats for, “high precision blending”.

Le Lous said: “We are aware of nature’s generosity and its importance for our terroir. Château
Cantenac Brown stands at the heart of parkland that has conserved its remarkable biodiversity for more than two hundred years. It is our duty to respect that legacy. Our entire approach is uncompromisingly based on an ecologically responsible philosophy.”

The new winery will be designed to blend into its surroundings, both natural and manmade, with a the objective of “making use of existing infrastructure and preserving unspoilt landscapes.

“My family wishes to build on what already exists, with what nature offers to this terroir. What I liked about Philippe Madec’s approach was the idea of happy frugality, a sort of quest for perfection.”

The winery is expected to be completed in 2023.