Château Haut-Grelot
Down-to-earth Bordeaux.
Since the 1920s, the Bonneau family has been writing their own Bordeaux history on the Gironde estuary. Today, Julien and Céline manage 67 hectares, working meticulously and close to the soil, combining modern cellar technology with a clear, fruit-driven style in red, white, and Crémant wines.
Family Bordeaux with the river wind at its back since 1920.
Château Haut-Grelot did not start out as a grand estate, but as a small farm in the hamlet of Les Grelots (German: the bells - also visible on today's label). In the 1920s, Julien's great-grandfather and grandfather grew wine and raised cattle alongside it. In 1927, the crucial puzzle piece was added: their own well, which connected everything. In 1975, Joël Bonneau, Julien's father, took over, switched entirely to viticulture, and opened the door to direct sales in 1981. The idea behind it is simple: wine should regain a face and a conversation.
Today, Julien Bonneau and his sister Céline run the estate in the fourth generation. Approximately 67 hectares, of which about 25 hectares are white and 42 hectares are red. The grape variety palette ranges from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. In the cellar, modern equipment meets a deliberately artisanal approach. Julien likes to speak of a balance between innovation and tradition. Technology is a means to an end, not the style.
Precise work is done in the vineyard: debudding, leaf removal, green harvesting, intentionally keeping yields low. This way, the grapes hang more loosely, get more sun and air, and ripen more calmly.
The terroir plays like a two-part harmony. Close to the Gironde estuary: sandy-gravelly slopes for juice and energy. Further inland: sandy-clay-loamy soils that add structure. The result: aromatic, fine white wines and fruity, powerful red wines with silky tannins. Bordeaux, but with more river wind at its back.
Fewer interventions, more balance.
Viticulture raisonnée is not just a buzzword at Haut-Grelot. Since 2015, the team has been working on reducing pesticides within the OPTIDOSE program, with a focus on the ecosystem and the vines. Additionally, parts of the vineyards are farmed organically. The website also lists Haute Valeur Environnementale and Vigneron Indépendant.
Craftsmanship over show, close to the customer.
Haut-Grelot comes across as honest primarily because direct contact has been key here for decades. Joël Bonneau deliberately opted for direct sales in 1981. This still shapes the experience today: doors open, taste, talk, ask questions. In the cellar, the approach remains similarly straightforward. Despite modern technology, the aim is to preserve the artisanal and natural aspects of vinification.
So that wine can foster community here.
Beyond wine, the winery also seeks closeness to the region. Visitors are welcome; the winery sees itself as a place for discovery and tasting. As a local footprint, Haut-Grelot also appears as a partner in regional initiatives, such as the Association Alternative Animale.
"Haut-Grelot is down-to-earth Bordeaux with rolled-up sleeves. Precise, juicy, without much fuss."
Blayais on the Gironde estuary.
Weine des Weinguts
Drink to see
2023
The Ace of Bells
2022
First Cuvée
2024
The Ace of Bells
2023
Cuvée Selection Red
2022
