Château Coutet: Saint-Émilion Organic Winegrower

Château Coutet is one of my favorite vineyards in Saint Émilion. You can feel the passion from listening to the stories. It was interesting to hear about the family history and the values that carry through 400 years. The experience was wonderful.

Château Coutet is a leading organic winegrower that has been around for over 400 years. DAVID-BEAULIEU family, owners of the Château for 14 generations, have always been committed to producing a Great Wine of Saint-Émilion with tremendous respect for the terroir and the surrounding nature. 

Château Coutet covers 16 hectares planting Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Primarily by working horses and harvesters. Over the fourteen generations, the Château has been growing and making wine as natural as possible, without the chemical. Therefore it gives a rare purity to the wine and enables wild tulips, orchids, and animals to thrive around the area.

The business is authentic; the tour was insightful, laid back, and not pretentious. Other than learning a lot about organically growing wine, you get to visit the family’s private cellar and appreciate a few wine tastings in the end. If you are searching for a down-to-earth, boutique, family-run, organic winegrower – Highly recommend it. 

Sustainability Matters

Mindful eating has been part of my life since starting my wellness journey. I have paid more attention to the important details of the food choices and where they came from. Whether organic is ‘better’ for health is a personal preference. However, as a supporter of creating a positive impact on our earth. Organic farming has proven results in increasing biodiversity.

Organic means fewer pesticides, fewer antibiotics, no GM, and always free range. Therefore, choosing organic products can play our part in contributing to a positive impact on our bodies (self-care) and nature; As a foreign visitor, being a sustainable traveler can positively impact the tourism ecosystem.

Why Organic Wine? 

Organic wine is clean, has lots of antioxidant properties, and is rich in vitamins and minerals. It has a positive effect on health and the environment.  According to the Organic Consumer Organization, organic wine has an average of 32 percent higher resveratrol levels than conventional wines, which can help combat cholesterol and prevent cancer.

The story of Château Coutet

Walking or Biking

Château Coutet is situated approximately 30 minutes walking distance from the Saint Émilion train station and less than 1 kilometer from the UNESCO world heritage site of Saint-Émilion. It is a pleasant walking distance and biking route.

The Vineyards & Wine

Château Coutet is beautifully situated at the “first hill” of Saint-Émilion, less than a kilometer from the UNESCO World Heritage village. The vineyards are in a golden location where it benefits from 3 specific terroirs of Saint-Émilion: the limestone plateau, the clay-limestone coast, and the more siliceous foot of the coast.

The grape varieties included:  60% Merlot, 30% Bouchet (local Cabernet Franc), 7% Prayssac (local Malbec), and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are aged 18 months, including 12 months in barrels. They are produced using a century-old press suitable for small grapes and with natural yeasts and bacteria.

Certified “Organic Agriculture”

At Château Coutet, the family produces high-quality organic wine that benefits biodiversity. The property has been selected as one of the Best Environmental Practices in Wine Tourism. Other awards included gold medals at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, gold and Best Bordeaux Red Wine at Mundus Vini, silver at the International Wine Challenge, and Concours Féminalises de Beaune wine competitions. The professional review included: “zero pesticides, great and healthy wine. Wine provides a nice fruity body—well-balanced among the tannins, acidity, and fruitiness.

Biodiversity – Environmental Protection

The DAVID-BEAULIEU family is dedicated to environmental protection. The organic winegrowers have kept 25% of the 16 hectares of the estates for parks and gardens to develop biodiversity, which can contribute to a good eco-balance of the vineyards. Around the Château and vineyards, visitors can see wildflowers such as the Gladiolus of Byzantium, tulips planted by the Romans, and orchids. Newts, salamanders, and shrimps are also highly developed within the area. 

Innovations vs. Traditions

During the visit to Château Coutet, you get a sense of combining forward-looking methodologies and consciously maintaining the traditions. The château has developed environmentally-friendly solar and autonomous technology to manage the grass. While the other part of the process is produced by hand and almost without electricity. 

Grapes are produced using this century-old press with natural yeasts and bacteria.

Organic Wine Tour and Wine Tasting

Premium Package

• 25 euros for 2 hours, minimum of 4 people
• History of the estate, biodiversity, discovery of vineyards, cellars, and organic wine tasting from the bottles and barrel.

Standard Package

• 7 euros for 1 hour
• history of the estate, vines, cellars, and wine tasting.

General Information:

• Address: 3330 Saint-Émilion France
• Telephone: +33 (0) 5 57 74 43 21
• Mobile: +33 (0) 7 82 22 01 05
• Email: chateau.coutet@gmail.com
• Website: http://chateau-coutet.com/
• open all year by appointment from 10 am to 6 pm

Source: Château Coutet Tour and Official Website