Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a renowned wine estate located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan region, south of Bordeaux. Its history dates back to the 14th century, when the French nobleman Verrier du Bosq acquired some vineyards in the area. In the 18th century, the Scottish merchant George Smith bought the property, giving it its current name and building the manor house that still dominates the estate today. Subsequently, in 1842, Lodi Martin Duffour-Dubergier, mayor of Bordeaux and signatory of the official classification of 1855, elevated the estate to the status of Grand Cru Exceptionnel. In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard, former Olympic athletes of the French ski team, fell in love with Château Smith Haut Lafitte and decided to buy it with the intention of perpetuating its tradition of excellence. After three years of intense renovation work, they moved into the 18th century residence to dedicate themselves completely to managing the estate, assisted by a talented and motivated team. The vineyard covers 78 hectares, of which 67 are dedicated to red grape varieties, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11 hectares to white grape varieties, with a predominance of Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard is managed according to organic and biodynamic principles, with practices such as the use of organic compost produced on site and the use of horses in the most delicate areas, in order to preserve biodiversity and soil health.