Since 2001, Patrick Bernard and his wife Sabine have owned Chateau Duc d’ Arnauton, a 13-hectare estate located in the town of Landiras, in the Graves region of Bordeaux.
Patrick Bernard spent 25 years as a wine grower at his family estate, before forming his own winery in 2001. Today he produces wines alongside his wife & two daughters on their 9th century Gironde farm, which formerly welcomed pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela. The wines are made using traditional methods; matured in oak barrels and bottled at the property.
The estate spreads over 13 hectares (32 acres) and three villages - Landiras, Fargues de Langon and Pujols sur Ciron. The vineyard is planted with 8 hectares (19.8 acres) of red grapes (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon), and 5 hectares (12.3 acres) of white grapes (Semillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle), of which just over 1 hectare is dedicated to the production of Sauternes.
The vineyard is farmed under the culture raisonnée method. The soil is a mixture of gravel, limestone and sand. They use the double cordon pruning method, which allows better control of yields. The 15-year-old vines are harvested by hand.
