Château Simard

History

A Family Legacy

Steeped in history, Château Simard has long intrigued Bordeaux fans. Originally owned by Count Simard, the vineyard was once a larger parcel. Then in 1870, a railroad track was built in the center of the vineyard, dividing it into two parcels: Château Simard and Haut Simard.

Shortly thereafter, the Mazière family arrived in Saint-Émilion. They purchased a small château and part of the Haut Simard vineyard parcel. In the early 1920s they purchased the remainder of the parcel. Then in 1954, Claude Mazière assumed ownership of the Simard vineyard.

Mazière was a bon vivant with a simplistic approach to his business. He sold only one vintage at a time, managing all aspects of it with the assistance of only one secretary. This allowed him to dote on his treasured customers.

Today, his nephew, Alain Vauthier, is the sole owner of the winery. Vauthier’s family has been producing wine in Saint-Émilion for several generations and with his daughter Pauline’s assistance, he will maintain the pristine health of the vineyard and restore the historic château.

Vauthier’s approach will differ from his uncle’s in that he will make multiple vintages of Château Simard available simultaneously, with the ultimate goal of releasing future vintages within four to five years of production. It is also his intention to use these sales to accelerate the same reinvestment in Château Simard as he has undertaken at Chateau Ausone. His efforts are already evident in the future of Château Simard. In 2008, he devoted the resources necessary to officially classify the Simard vineyard as Grand Cru.

With a history of making the highest-quality wines, Château Simard has built its reputation on delivering those wines at exceptional value. With a new generation at the helm, it is sure to become recognized as one of the top growths of Saint-Émilion with a vibrant, promising future.