Château Tour Saint Christophe: A winemaker combining vision with tradition

The vision of Château Tour Saint Christophe’s owner, Peter Kwok, is clear. Drawing inspiration from an archive photo of the rolling landscape surrounding the winery, he wants to return the estate to its 19th-century roots. His aim is to return to the traditional – and best – way of producing some of the most important wines the Bordeaux region has to offer.

His painstaking restoration of Château Tour Saint Christophe’s vineyards has earned the respect of the region’s locals. In keeping with the history of the terroir (land) and hand-built by a specialist team from Valencia in Spain, the unique terraces maximise the rich clay-limestone soil. A richness which eventually ends up bottled as a full-bodied Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.

Mr Kwok is a frequent visitor to the estate and has nurtured world-class wine for more than two decades from his base in Hong Kong. He’s put in place a team of the most knowledgeable people in the industry who are on site daily, preparing for the perfect timing of the grape harvest.

In September and October, the serenity and harmony of the estate gives way to speed and efficiency, as the grapes are harvested and the barrels filled. In the cellars, you’ll find vast state-of-the-art storage facilities. Then, in the final stage of the process, renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland works his magic on the blending before bottles are exported across the globe.

If you’re looking for wine-tasting, food-pairing or even creating your own blend, the on-site team can help. They’ll give you a tour of the estate and talk you through their vintages among the rolling vines. For those wanting the full Château Tour Saint Christophe experience, there’s also an apartment for six people available inside the château itself. With glorious views across the 49.5 acre estate, it can be rented year-round.

Wine-making is very much a family concern with Mr Kwok’s three children, Karen, Elaine and Howard, all fluent in French and involved not only in the running of Château Tour Saint Christophe, but also several other wineries in the area.

As a result of one man’s passion, with careful and painstaking restoration, the future of this timeless vineyard has been assured.

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