Chateau Nairac

A sweet wine producing estate in the Sauternes appellation in Gironde, the region of Graves.

The modern day estate was once part of the holdings of a certain André Duranceau – a prosperous accountant native to the Bordeaux. He possessed a fine house and a sizeable stretch of vineyard. However, not having a passion for winemaking, he leased it out.

The state was willed to Jérome Mercade, who expanded the residence before passing it on to his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Prost. She set about enlarging the vineyards and transformed them into a serious concern, rather than a side project. It was eventually sold by Elizabeth and her son in 1777 to Elysée Nairac.

The Nairacas were a wealthy merchant family from the local area. They subjected the residence to an architectural revamp. When Elysée passed away he left the estate to his five daughters – Henriette and Julie-Emilie being in charge of the now extensive vineyards. The family was forced to flee during the Terreur, hastily putting the property up for sale. It caught the eye of Bernard Capdeville of Chateau Broustet who owned a portion of land adjacent to Nairac.

Following his death in 1861 the estate was divided once more into its original parts – the Nairac estate was bequeathed to his daughter, Georgina. Her marriage with Pierre Gustave resulted in no heirs and it fell into the hands of an obscure cousin who then promptly sold it off. The buyer was a négociant named Jean-Charles Perpezat who enlarged the vineyards and introduced varieties such as Sauvignon, Semillion and Muscadelle – replacing the reds.

The infamous frosts of 1956 ravaged the vineyards but his family endured until 1966 when the estate was sold to Dr Jean Gabriolle Seynat. His was a period of neglect of the vineyards and property, with wine being carelessly sold off in bulk. Fortunately in 1971 the property was rescued by the American Heeter family. He had worked at Giscours and he and the properietor’s daughter fell in love.

Within three years the energetic couple and made the chateau liveable again and the vineyard was lovingly coaxed back into life. The couple sadly divorced and so the vineyards have been Nicole’s charge alone. However, the quality of wine has not wavered.

The small 17 hectare estate is situated on limestone and gravelly soil. Semillon makes up 90 percent, Sauvignon Blanc 6 percent and Muscadelle 4 percent. The wine is harvested in a number of tries. Wine is aged thirty months prior to bottling.