The vineyards of Château Pape Clément, originally known as Domaine de la Mothe, began their first harvest in 1252. In 1299, Gaillard de Goth acquired the estate at the request of his brother, Bertrand de Goth, who had just become Archbishop of Bordeaux. After being named Pope Clement V in 1305, Bertrand took ownership of the estate, which subsequently adopted his name. Following his death in 1314, the property remained with the archdiocese until the French Revolution in 1789, when it was confiscated and sold. The château changed hands multiple times until Bernard Magrez revitalized it in the 1980s, aiming to restore its former prestige.

An Exceptional Terroir

Château Pape Clément is located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation within the Graves region, encompassing 60 hectares of vineyards. The estate benefits from unique soil characteristics, including the ancient “Pyrenean gravel layer” and a thin layer of Garonne gravel, which dates back 1.5 million years. This diverse terroir supports the optimal ripening of various grape varieties used in both red and white wines. Hand-harvesting ensures that only the finest grapes are selected, with meticulous sorting both in the vineyard and the cellar.

Combining Innovation and Tradition

With a history spanning 700 years, Château Pape Clément has cultivated numerous traditions that prioritize excellence. Techniques such as manual vineyard work, Guyot-Poussard pruning, and natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts are still practiced today. These methods highlight the estate's terroir and contribute to the quality of its wines. At the same time, innovation plays a crucial role in enhancing production. The use of drones, Green-Seeker technology, electric tractors, and eco-friendly practices significantly improve both the technical and environmental aspects of winemaking.

For more information about Château Pape Clément, visit their official website: Château Pape Clement.

Top reviews

debora frota
May 10, 2018
Wonderful wine tasting. I did the tasting tour of 6 wines and it was well worth it.
Virginie Dartigues
November 3, 2024
We had a guided tour for our group of about fifteen people. We really enjoyed the experience. The guide was very clear and knowledgeable about her subject. Even though she was a beginner without the profession, she was as comfortable and pleasant to listen to as the experienced guide we had a few years before. The places are magnificent, both outside and inside. The tasting was a real success there too.
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Location

Location 216 avenue Dr Nancel Pénard, 33600 Pessac

Region

Médoc, Bordeaux, France

Spoken Languages

Services

Wine types

Red Wine
White Wine

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Sauvignon gris
Muscadelle

Other wineries in Bordeaux

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Reviews (27)

César del Rio
Reviewed on March 6, 2025

A lovely chateau tour with a wine tasting. In addition to strolling through a spectacular garden with ancient olive trees, they show you a vineyard and explain, in a very entertaining way, the history of the chateau, showing you several rooms with bottles and barrels, while explaining the winemaking process. After this magnificent hour of explanations and walking, comes the half-hour tasting, which takes place in the shop, with two whites and a red. You can continue on your own with a dozen more wines on display for sale. In addition to wine from the chateau, the shop also sells wines from other chateaus owned by the same owner (he has 43 around the world), and also sells olive oil and other gourmet products. The service from the staff was top-notch.

Review provided by Google

Kim Epple
Reviewed on March 5, 2025

We had a private tasting here for 2 and were so impressed! Making the reservation online was simple and when we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of this chateau. Benjamin was our guide and he gave us a thorough tour of the property, the vines and the history. Excellent sense of humor and wonderful guide. We had a tasting of 6 wines paired with cheese and a helpful presentation. Afterwards, we were free to pour ourselves more wine and sit outside. Great wines and great atmosphere! The property has a very gorgeous cellar and wine making room. It definitely lived up to the hype and we will be back!

Review provided by Google

Александра Лежнева
Reviewed on March 2, 2025

We booked a tour with degustation = tour+3wines. The tour may be conducted only in French. We saw grapes field, wine bottles and barrels. The guide was nice, but not much to learn. The territory is quite small. Besides the tour, there is a free tasting (about 10-12 wines). 👣Easily reached by a tram line. But need to walk about 15-20 to reach the chateaux.

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Niko Cec
Reviewed on March 2, 2025

Castle accessible by public transport from the center of Bordeaux. Nice visit. 1 hour visit of the cellars and the vat room, the gardens and the vines and 30 minutes of tasting of 3 wines including the Château Pape Clément. Nice choice of wine in the shop.

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Neil Redmond-King
Reviewed on February 14, 2025

We had a simply fantastic tour with Benjamin. It was very interesting to hear the history of the castle and the wine making process. Benjamin was knowledgeable, engaging and friendly and we really enjoyed the tour. The wine was exceptional and we took home a bottle… or three! We will definitely be back, if only to see the place in the summer. And Benjamin, if you want any tips for visiting London or Edinburgh, feel free to email me!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Château Pape Clément

Where is Château Pape Clément located?

Château Pape Clément is located in Médoc, France

What type of wines does Château Pape Clément produce?

Château Pape Clément produces Red Wine, White Wine.

What grape varieties do they plant at Château Pape Clément?

At Château Pape Clément, they cultivate Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Sauvignon gris, Muscadelle.

What languages do they speak at the Château Pape Clément?

At Château Pape Clément they speak French.

Do they produce organic wines at Château Pape Clément?

No, Château Pape Clément is not an organic wine producer.