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Château Kirwan Winery Guide

Winery Overview

Château Kirwan, like so many of the excellent properties in the Margaux appellation in Médoc, Bordeaux, has known some good and not-so-good times. Its original name was Domaine de Lassalle. In the eighteenth century, it was brought by John Collingwood, a particularly enterprising local merchant. His daughter married the dashing Irish merchant Mark Kirwan, so the name Château Kirwan was born. Indeed, Kirwan is known as one of the Irish wine geese estates, and Irish wine lovers regularly make a pilgrimage here. The former US President Thomas Jefferson even visited the property in the 18th century – he was reportedly very impressed with the wines!

However, this golden era was sadly not to last. The estate received its fair share of hardships before emerging triumphant in the late 20th century. The Château was seized in 1789 during the French Revolution, although Mark subsequently regained control under Napoleon’s rule. Then came the economic depression of the early 20th century, which hit the property’s fortunes hard. Phylloxera, the louse which destroys the roots of vines, had also arrived – not to mention the 1st World War. By now, the estate was due some good fortune. Enter the Schyler family.

The Schylers are a well-established family of wine merchants who brought the Château in 1925, principally as a country residence. And a very beautiful property is also appreciated for its gardens. Over the years, they have carefully restored the wine estate and vineyards to its former glory. Château Kirwan now produces some of Margaux’s most powerful, elegant, and rich wines. The estate enjoys a privileged position in the town, nestled amongst the trees with a fairy tale façade and beautiful banqueting rooms. Visitors always receive a warm welcome! Margaux produces some of the world’s most famous and elegant red wines; its Château is a must to visit for any wine lover, and for our VIP clients, we can organize unforgettable experiences here at Kirwan.

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Further Reading

Author

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James lawrence

With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has been writing for a wide variety of publications for over 12 years, including Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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