Rémy Graillot, the man behind the vines

Born in Cher and enamored with wine, Rémy Graillot acquired vineyards in La Moussière, nestled in the golden triangle where Cistercian monks first planted vines in Sancerre.

Only four years later, in 2013, Rémy became the owner of Château de Lestang. Having grown up in the region, he discovered that his grandfather, Alphonse Graillot, had purchased the neighboring farm in 1960, thus establishing a deep connection with his family roots. 450 years later, Château de Lestang saw its vineyards is back again and celebrates the launch of its new wine: Lestang 1573.

Rémy Graillot: From finance to vineyard

Originally a banker, then a real estate investor, Rémy began by leasing his vineyards. This experience ignited his passion for wine, prompting him to become a winemaker.

With 5 hectares of registered designation of origin (AOC) land, he transformed the Château into a real viticultural enterprise, overseeing renovation work to restore the building in a respectful way of its historical and artistic heritage. Under his leadership, the Orangerie was refurbished to house a winery where wine is crafted under the expertise of Célestin, the young master winemaker.

An historical and artful place

Fascinated by the history of this Renaissance jewel, Rémy delved into the stories of Jean-Guillaume Hyde de Neuville, “the winemaker of Lestang,” whose family owned the estate for two centuries. He learned that Château de Lestang had hosted notable figures such as Madame de Millecens in 1573, Châteaubriand, and Lamartine.

“Wine is an art.”
By marrying art with vineyard management, Rémy Graillot has breathed new life into Château de Lestang, where artistic creativity and contemporary aesthetics seamlessly blend with viticultural tradition. As an art and music lover, he has established an artists’ residence and plans to host exhibitions in the Château’s park.

In harmony with nature

Château de Lestang stands as a true ode to nature and viticultural craftsmanship. Rémy Graillot has instilled a philosophy deeply rooted in environmental respect. Every aspect of viticulture at Château de Lestang reflects this commitment—from preserving the historical architecture to meticulously maintaining the park’s bicentennial trees. Biodiversity is at the heart of his approach. Spanning 10 hectares, the estate is one of the few independent French vineyards certified as Low Carbon by ADEME. Water conservation is a priority, along with reducing carbon emissions. Agroecological practices are emphasized, and the work in the Sancerre vineyards— 100% flint “Lestang 1573″—is primarily done by hand.

Rémy has gathered a team of passionate men and women. Together, they celebrated their first manual harvest in 2021, producing an exceptional vintage: the Lestang 1573 Tradition and L’Illustre Voyageur cuvées.

Today, Château de Lestang revives its past life centered around vine, wine, art, and music. What is Rémy Graillot’s hope for now ? That everyone can discover this magical place steeped in history and art, as well as its exceptional wines.