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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Château Olivier is a 220-hectare wine estate located in Léognan, Gironde, classified as a grand cru in the AOC Pessac-Léognan. Mentioned in 1350, it was redesigned in the 15th and 17th centuries, then acquired in the 19th century by the Metzler family of Bethmann, of German origin, which still manages it today. Its architecture combines a castle surrounded by moat, a medieval round tower, and 17th century additions such as a square tower and a nymph of dolphins.

The estate, partly listed as a historical monument since 1963, is renowned for its red and white wines, classified in 1953. The 60-hectare vineyard, planted on gravel and limestone, was restructured to restore its 18th-century cadastre. Manual harvests and barricade farming (10 months for whites, 18 months for reds) produce wines such as Le Dauphin d'Olivier, the second wine of the castle.

The castle preserves defensive elements of the 15th century, such as a drawbridge and restored steeples, as well as an orangery and protected commons. The 17th century fountain, with its dolphins supporting a shell, and the busts running around the rounded parts of the park testify to its rich architectural past. The Bethmann family, established in Bordeaux since the 18th century, entrusted the management to Laurent Lebrun, perpetuating a centuries-old wine tradition.

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