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Chateau Fonplégade
Upon archetypal glimpse of Chateau Fonplégade, Denise and Stephen Adams felt an undeniable telephone to beryllium caretakers of the 13th period property conscionable steps from the colony of Saint-Émilion in the renowned Bordeaux region. Their emotion for this portion of France began galore years anterior erstwhile they joined successful the Dordogne portion and honeymooned in Saint-Émilion, and they felt destined to go stewards of the spot and its surrounding land. In 2004, the mates realized their imagination and acquired the historical site, with volition to alteration their recently adopted location with meticulous care, devotion, respect, and attraction to detail.
Chateau Fonplégade is located successful Bordeaux's Saint-Émilion region
Located adjacent the charming Saint-Émilion village, Chateau Fonplégade is an iconic landmark located connected the flanks of the famed hillside. Its sanction means “fountain of plenty” and was derived from the 13th period chromatic fountain that graces the estate’s vineyard. It quenched the thirst of passing pilgrims for hundreds of years, and continues to supply sustenance to the estate’s vines successful the driest vintages.
With their acquisition of Chateau Fonplégade, the duo took-on a semipermanent imaginativeness to not lone vastly amended the prime of the wine, but to grant the property by returning it to its erstwhile grandeur. Upon purchasing the estate, the Adams informed the valued Chateau Fonplégade team—a squad that had been astatine the property for decades—that they would beryllium removing each chemicals from the spot and farming it 100% organically. In 2005, they replanted one-third of the vineyard, focusing connected integrated and biodynamic viticultural practices. (Biodynamic farming strives to instrumentality full beingness unit and vitality to the soil, allowing the vines entree to the afloat spectrum of nutrients they request to go much resilient to pests, diseases, and utmost conditions, and to physique a steadfast immune strategy successful the vineyard.) They besides renovated the cellars and restored the chateau (destroyed successful World War II) to its erstwhile glory.
Denise Adams farms Chateau Fonplégade organically and biodynamically
Under Denise’s cautious tutelage, the property was officially successful conversion for integrated farming by 2010 and received its certification from ECOCERT in 2013 aft undergoing a stringent process. And successful 2020, they obtained certification from Biodyvin after a rigorous three-year valuation process that included stringent protocols specified arsenic measuring the magnitude of copper utilized successful the vineyard, sulfur successful the cellar, and assorted compulsory compost preparations.
Chateau Fonplégade’s 45.5 acres—a divers terroir of limestone, clay, and a operation of both—is divided into 27 idiosyncratic parcels, each with its ain chiseled qualities. The mean vine property is 30 years old. The plots are farmed wholly by hand, vine by vine, with meticulous absorption and thoughtful processes. The Adams (who are hands-on owners successful each facet of production) and their closely-knit squad strive to conceive the highest prime wine, twelvemonth aft year. They know, unequivocally, that this begins successful the vineyard with the terroir. The wines are a nonstop reflection of the onshore from which they are grown, representing the purest and astir emblematic look of the terroir.
A 1928 Vintage Chateau Fonplégade
After each of their hard work, the Adams felt inspired to unfastened their doors to the nationalist to share their passionateness and to beryllium the truest ambassadors for the greater assemblage of Bordeaux. The property was 1 of the archetypal to unfastened a tasting country successful Saint Émilion, offering private, by-appointment-only visits, to guarantee guests bask the highest prime acquisition possible.
As the caretakers of the onshore and historical property, it has been a large grant for the Adams to steward the property backmost to its promised glory, and beyond. They are arrogant to beryllium pioneers of biodynamic viticulture connected Bordeaux’s legendary Right Bank. The duo believes it is their privilege and work to attraction for this precious onshore truthful that it whitethorn beryllium preserved for generations to come. In their work, they not lone springiness backmost to the spot but besides to Saint-Émilion and the assemblage which has fixed them and countless others endless abundance implicit the years.
Denise and Stephen Adams
Now disposable connected Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies & TV, Apple TV+, and Google Play Movies is Eastbound Westbound – A Winemakers’ Story from Bordeaux and California, featuring Château Fonplégade. The documentary explores the deep-rooted relationship betwixt Bordeaux and the United States by revealing however this unsocial enslaved originated successful the 18th century. At the bosom of this relationship lies Thomas Jefferson, American statesman, US ambassador to France, and 3rd president of the United States. Jefferson’s emotion for Bordeaux wines and his relation arsenic a large connoisseur acceptable the signifier for the enduring narration explored successful Eastbound Westbound.
English (US)