Just a day trip or overnight excursion from Paris, in the Saint-Emilion wine region of France, is Chateau Fonplegade. An iconic landmark, has been certified organic since 2013 and biodynamic 2017. It was one of the pioneers of organic farming in Bordeaux along with Pontet Canet and Palmer.

 Château Fonplégade wines are the purest expression of the terroir and land from which they are grown; they are a quintessential interpretation of Bordeaux's famous Right Bank, where clay soils dominate the landscape and Merlot and Cabernet Franc reign supreme. Because of these attributes and the meticulous vine by vine farming technique, Château Fonplégade wines are impeccably balanced, complex, sophisticated, velvety and offer a lingering finish. 

Chateau Fonplégade’s name (literally “fountain of plenty”) was derived from the historic 13^th century stone fountain that graces the estate’s vineyard. It quenched the thirst of passing pilgrims for hundreds of years, and continues to provide sustenance to the estate’s vines in the driest vintage.        

The Chateau stands once again the way it was always meant to, with a second tower restored that had been destroyed in World War II.·       

A biodynamic center will open onsite this summer, showcasing the commitment to farming organically. Guests may get a glimpse of this soon-to-open garden!

How to get to Château Fonplégade:

From Paris, head to the Paris Montparnasse Train station,  hop aboard the TGV, France's intercity high-speed rail service, bound for Saint-Émilion. It will transfer in Bordeaux – St – Jean. The duration of the whole trip is about three hours. Return train ticket with TER for a round-trip adventure back to Paris. The round-trip cost is around $180 USD per person.

From the Saint-Émilion train station, Château Fonplégade is located 1.2 kilometers: that’s about a 17-minute walk for adventurous travelers, or a 3-minute car ride in a taxi or Uber.