Today, Château Rieussec’s vineyard terroir covers approximately 93 hectares in Fargues, bordering its famous neighbor Château d’Yquem.
Château Rieussec is regarded as one of the most historic wine estates in the Sauternes region. Its origins date back to the 18th century, when the property belonged to the Carmes de Langon monks. Following the French Revolution, the monastic lands were confiscated as biens nationaux and sold, bringing Château Rieussec into private ownership.
In the renowned Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855, Rieussec was ranked as a Premier Cru Classé for Sauternes and Barsac, one of the highest distinctions for sweet wines from the region. At the time, the estate was owned by Monsieur Mayne, and throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries it changed hands several times. Notable owners included Charles Crepin, Paul Defolie, the banker Edgar Bannel, the Gasqueton family and later Albert Vuillier, who played a key role in improving the estate’s quality during the 1970s.
A major milestone in the estate’s modern history was its acquisition in 1984 by the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). Since then, Château Rieussec has been part of the Rothschild family and has benefited from substantial investments in state-of-the-art cellar technology, stricter grape selection and a quality-driven approach to winemaking. A new winery was built by the late 1980s, and the uncompromising focus on quality even led to the complete absence of a Grand Vin in challenging vintages such as 1993 and 2012, when the grapes did not meet the estate’s standards.
An outstanding international success came with the 2001 vintage, which was named “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator magazine in 2004, underscoring the exceptional quality of the estate.
Today, Château Rieussec’s vineyard terroir covers approximately 93 hectares in Fargues, bordering its famous neighbor Château d’Yquem. The soils, predominantly sandy-gravelly and clay-based, combined with a unique microclimate, provide ideal conditions for the development of Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, which is essential to the production of classic Sauternes wines.
The vineyards are traditionally planted with Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Harvesting takes place over several weeks through successive selective passes, ensuring that only perfectly botrytised grapes are picked.
Under the ownership of the Rothschild family, Rieussec has not only focused on its iconic sweet wine but has also expanded its range. Alongside the Premier Cru Classé Château Rieussec, the estate now produces the second wine Carmes de Rieussec as well as a dry white wine called “R” de Rieussec, made from a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Today, tradition and quality are combined with modern winemaking techniques. The wines are aged for extended periods in French oak barrels and express both the richness and sweetness typical of Sauternes and a lively freshness. Château Rieussec thus remains one of the leading references for great, mature sweet wines from Bordeaux, highly regarded by wine lovers and collectors worldwide.
