Château Coutet is a vineyard steeped in history, dating back over 400 years to 1601. The very ancient remains and wild tulips and Eastern Gladiolus left by the Romans, as well as the former name of the place, “Domaine de Francs”, are proof that the land was already inhabited during the Roman era. The estate was given its current name by Sieur François Coutet in the 15th century and became property of the mayor of Libourne, Thomas d’Augereau, in 1601.
The Coutet vineyard has been passed down from generation to generation, intimately tied to the David Beaulieu family for centuries. Its inhabitants have always produced a high-quality Saint-Émilion wine. In 1874, wine critic Édouard Féret referred to the estate as being situated on a hillside of Saint-Émilion with a fortunate position overlooking the Dordogne valley, and praised its land as highly favorable to the vine.
Today, the vineyard is still run by Alain and Xavier, both manager and winemaker, and three generations of the David Beaulieu family are actively involved in the company. Adrien is in charge of sales, while Matthieu, Mathilde, and Raphaëlle participate in various vineyard activities. The 14th generation of the family is also part of the company.
The vineyard is unique in that it is free from any trace of chemical activities and is currently being studied by various scientific bodies. Its Mediterranean microclimate and diverse flora and fauna are attracting numerous visitors and researchers. The agronomy school of Bordeaux has installed temperature sensors and the Vitirover company uses the vineyard as a study site to develop its solar-powered robot.
Since 2013, the David Beaulieu family has been actively developing and organizing its wine tourism offer. They open their doors to visitors, eager to share their history, passion for nature, and knowledge of the terroir. The family welcomes guests with open arms and shares their anecdotes and stories, offering wine tastings and workshops.
In order to better receive guests, a reception hall is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, allowing for events such as seminars, corporate and association gatherings, weddings, and birthday parties. This new activity takes place in a family-friendly and dynamic atmosphere.
The family also has plans to return to traditional methods of ploughing the vineyard by using draft horses instead of tractors. The use of horses will help keep the soil less compacted and the work more environmentally friendly. In addition, the château staff will be restructured, with two new members joining the family team to develop wine tourism and manage viticulture work.
Finally, the André David Beaulieu Museum is set to open soon, honoring the memory of a renowned naturalist and ornithologist who was also a colonial administrator in French Indochina and manager of Château Coutet until 1969. The museum will display numerous colonial era remains and animals stuffed by him, as well as archives dating back to the estate’s founding 400 years ago.
Château Coutet’s 400-year history is rich and full of stories and traditions that the David Beaulieu family is eager to share with the world. Whether through their wine tourism efforts or their commitment to preserving their heritage, the family is dedicated to maintaining the history and beauty of the estate for generations to come.
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Steve Arthurson
2 months agoA brilliant tour conducted by Agnes. Her passion and knowledge really made the day. Coutet is a beautifully peaceful place with an enormously interesting history and Agnes really helped us learn so much about the grape growing and wine making process. A super visit thanks
Jon Pratt
in the last weekChateau Coutet was our second stop in Saint-Emilion, and it did not disappoint. Our guide, Agnes (please forgive me if I’ve misspelled her name), was warm and knowledgeable, with a genuine passion for wine that was immediately apparent. Her global experience in the wine industry has given her a unique perspective on winemaking, which she eagerly shared with us during the tour. As Agnes explained, Chateau Coutet is deeply committed to organic and natural winemaking. The estate strives for ecological balance in every aspect of its production. For example, they plant trees to protect against insects and birds, and they allow their fields to remain wild with minimal soil disturbance, only turning the soil when absolutely necessary. One interesting fact about Chateau Coutet is that they own the oldest bottle of wine in Bordeaux. Discovered buried on the property, it features a glass cork that is hermetically sealed, and although it may still be drinkable, the winery has vowed never to open it. However, they have recreated the bottle with a glass cap, and visitors can purchase this replica at the winery. Now, I know some of you might be skeptical about “natural” or “organic” wines, worrying they might be prone to spoilage or other issues. While the risk of spoilage can increase with more natural methods, I’m happy to say that Chateau Coutet manages these risks exceptionally well. Their wines were fantastic—fruit-forward with a subtle touch of oak. Our favorite was the Les Demoiselles, which is made entirely without electricity. If you're in Saint-Emilion, Chateau Coutet is a must-visit. It's a wonderful introduction to a family-run winery that treats its terroir with deep respect and reverence. This boutique winery is definitely worth the stop!
Haley Biermann
3 months agoMy husband and I visited Coutet as a stop on our honeymoon. Incredible experience! Even on a rainy day, the tour was lovely. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and this chateau’s history and traditional approach to wine making were much more interesting/less touristy than others in the area. The wine is a fantastic value for the quality as well. Highly recommend!
Pascal Joosen
5 months agoVisiting Coutet was refreshing. We visited a lot of other chateaus / winerys before but this was back something diffrent. Not super fancy not luxerious. But keeping it normal and casual made this one of our best visit for our vacation. Good wines and even tried some locally produced soy sauce.
Big Cheese
2 months agoA lovely chateau with people passionate about what they do and committed to producing great wine. Highly recommended for a visit.