Chateau Paloumey

Paloumey derives from a Gascon referring to the wood pigeon, a migratory bird called “palombe” in the South of France, going over our region in autumn, before reaching the warm lands of Spain.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Paloumey’s wines had acquired an indisputable reputation. The 35 hectares estate belonged then to Ocrave Dupuy, a wine merchant who entirely renovated it. The wines soon ranked among the very best: “Cru Bourgeois”, as attested by the Feret’s rating in 1868. Sadly, the estate suffered terribly from the dark years of war, odium and phylloxera. The vines eventually had to be uprooted in 1950.

When Martine Cazaneuve set her sights on Paloumey in 1989, it was in a sorry state of affairs. Returning the property to its former glory would prove to be an immense undertaking: The vineyards had vanished; the winery and buildings were no more. Through perseverance and substantial investment she slowly coaxed life back into the old estate.