“Not another château”

Story

Located on the right bank of the Gironde, Pérenne is an elegantly crafted property which transports the viewer to a beautiful and timeless reality.

The 130 hectares estate is well known for its famous previous owners.

Today with its new owners, Pérenne is a project of evolution.  
The remnants of the old aesthetics are getting rekindled with a touch of the new sustainable, perennial lifestyle. 

  • 1789

    Until the French Revolution, the monks of Saint-Romain de Blaye Abbey lived in a community of Saint Genès, where winegrowing was an important source of income to fund the order.

  • 1791

    The estate of Saint Genes was sold to the Irish O'Lanye family, who succeeded in making it one of the best known wines in the region. 

  • 1832

    The estate became in the possession of successors, a certain Pierre Arnaud, according to the cadastral matrices.

  • 1868

    The wine estate was one of the four wineries mentioned as Cru Bourgeois wine No. 1 in the “Cocks et Féret”, considered the bible for Bordeaux wines. The wine estate was producing 130 to 160 barrels.

  • 1870

    The actual château was built in 1870 by the Arnaud family, designed by Violet le Duc’s disciple, architect Gustav Alaux.

  • 1895

    The estate's production peaked after the phylloxera crisis at 250, or even 300 barrels at the end of the 19th century. Maintaining the estate earned Camille Arnaud and his manager the reward of a large module gold medal, awarded by the Société d'agriculture de la Gironde.

  • 1910

    The castle was acquired from the Arnaud heirs by the count of Danish origin Ejnar Oberbeck-Clausen, husband of the countess Marie Henriette Chenu-Lafitte, also owner of Château Mille-Secousses in Bourg, who enlarged the vineyard in the first decades of the Twentieth century.

  • 1997

    Bernard Magrez, who is best known for owning Château Pape Clément in Pessac Leognan, as well as numerous other estates all over the world, purchased the estate in 1997. Since then, the distinguished Michel Rolland has advised Château Pérenne on winemaking and vineyard management.

  • 2002

    The vineyard of Château Pérenne was used as the grape source for Château Confiance, which is produced in partnership with the well-known French actor, Gerard Depardieu. The vines come from a plot selection of less than 2 hectares among the old vines of Château Pérenne. At the same time the property debuted La Croix de Pérenne under the direction of Magrez, a premium Cuvée.

  • 2016

    Entrepreneur Jack Ma has purchased Château Pérenne.

CHÂTEAU •

CHÂTEAU •

“Château Pérenne is a project of evolution; a place where the traditions of the Bordeaux wine region are re-invigorated through a modern lens.”

Pérenne evokes the timeless sweetness of summer and the calm sensations of its own eden passing slowly the seasons.  At the château, guests are immediately transported to the vineyards with a single gaze at the extensive views that lie just below the shaded terraces. 
Nature gives guests at the property an endless variation of sights, smells and sounds. Not only is it sensory heaven; it’s also mentally and physically restorative.  

All our senses come into play when creating the interior environments just as healthy and just as stimulating.  Pérenne will prove that we can live in perfect symbiosis with Mother Nature.
Just like the extensive opulent views of the landscape, in the interiors of the château and its orangery, guests will as well trace the variety of ‘ton sur ton’ emeralds that stretch across the gardens and vineyards. 
By creating this association with the scents, sounds and flavors of its scenery, Pérenne will offer a vibrant interpretation of its French pedigree. 
Every feature of the chateau will be fashioned with meticulous care and with unique eye for detail. The design will feature a combination of antique and futuristic elements, with materials marked by natural patina.

TERROIR

The only two rhythms at Pérenne are the seasons’ rhythm and the different parts-of-the-day. Well exposed to sun and grown in clay and limestone soils, the 40 years old vines come alive in a multitude of hues. 

Pérenne’s vineyard is fairly sizable, with 71 hectares of vines, mostly Merlot. Château Pérenne, the primary wine from the estate is grown from a 55-hectare portion of the vineyard and production averages close to 20,000 cases of wine per year. 

The estate also produces a high end cuvée, La Croix de Pérenne Cuvée d’Exception. La Croix de Pérenne is culled from the vineyards best parcels and oldest vines from the much larger Château Pérenne vineyards.

“In limestone, Merlot tends to develop more perfume notes while in sandy soils the wines are softer than Merlot grown in clay dominant soils.

winemaking •

winemaking •

“With its dry yet fruity flavors, supple tannins, velvety mouthfeel, and chocolatey finish, it's no wonder that oenophiles around the world can't seem to get enough of Merlot.”

The presence of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby rivers flowing strongly affects the climate, smoothing the severity of hot summer days, a light breeze and soft clouds. 







In winter, the proximity of the water surface helps mitigate climate extremes. 

Harvesting begins after reaching a maximum maturity of berries. 
Picked fresh from the vineyards, the grapes are getting squeezed, not stirred… 



Fermentation happens in stainless steel thermoregulated tanks.  
Then the barrel aging process begins with a variety of French oak barrels. 
This malolactic fermentation in oak barriques last for minimum 9 months, which gives Merlot a richer flavor and smokier notes of vanilla, cocoa, and wood. 

WINES

Château Pérenne

The great complexity of the aromas make you linger: Blackcurrant, blackberry, violet and wood.
Its power works with slim tannins, which penetrate with verve and without any harshness. 
The whole leaves a sensation of great delicacy at the end. Unmistakably Merlot.

La Croix de Pérenne

A brilliant Merlot, representing one of Bordeaux’s finest efforts:
Elegant and precise, excellent balance between freshness, complexity, richness and structure. 
A vibrant, vivid, pure aromatic aroma with some cocoa notes.  
A soft texture showing a fruity finish of ripe cherries, espresso beans and licorice.

“Call me old-fashioned but I am a quintessential classic French wine label.” 

Château Pérenne Blanc

Elderflowers open the aroma of the wine. The wine is fresh and fruity with ripe yellow fruit and hints of pineapple and wine gum.
 On the palate it is a dense, well-structured wine with a nice freshness and a perfect finish; a good acidity, a bitterness and some notes of ripe citrus.

CONTACT •

CONTACT • 

Château Pérenne is located in the heart of the Bordeaux wine region, with its vineyards spanning Côtes de Bourg and Côtes de Blaye. 
With a clear view of the Dordogne river, the castle sits atop a hill, embodying the quintessential image of a premium French wine estate in both posture and position.

The property boasts excellent accessibility, being only a 45-minute drive from the center of Bordeaux with its TGV connection, and the Bordeaux airport. The ferry from the town of Blaye is just 10 minutes drive. Within a range of 30 minutes to an hour, the property provides easy access to the renowned regions of Saint Emilion, the Médoc, and Cognac.

Pérenne
 33390 Saint-Genès-de-Blaye
 France
Tel: +33 6 13 81 36 22

Dear visitors,


During the harvest and vinification periods, we are unable to offer tours and tastings at Château Pérenne. 
We therefore regret that we cannot meet your requests during this period.