During the reign of Henri III, the estate was the fief of the Dukes of Épernon, including the first of that name, Jean-Louis Nogaret de La Valette, an admiral in the French navy. Derived from the Old French “Baisse-Voile“, meaning “lowered sails“, Beychevelle takes its name from a legend that tells how ships passing in front of his estate lowered their sails as a sign of allegiance to this powerful man. This is reflected in the château’s emblem, which depicts a ship with a griffin (the guardian of Dionysus’ wines in Greek mythology) on the prow.
Built in the 17th century and reconstructed by Marquis de Brassier in 1757, the château was restored to its original splendour in the late 20th century.
The elegance of Beychevelle’s architecture is reflected in its refined, well-balanced wine served at prestigious tables around the world.
The estate’s owners are also very respectful of the environment and the estate has obtained integrated vineyard management certification.
