Château Bellefont-Belcier has some of the best terroirs in Saint-Emilion, it is nestled amongst the well-drained, south-facing clay and limestone slopes of St Laurent des Combes. The property dates back to the 18th century although the current beautiful chateau was built in the 1800s, taking its name from Belfont (beautiful fountain) thanks to the springs in these foothills, and the then owner, Count Belcier, who commissioned the chateau.
In 2017, Asian banker and businessman Peter Kwok bought the property, a purchase that continues his longstanding love affair with France and the right bank of Bordeaux. It all started in 1997, with the purchase of Château Haut Brisson. The family’s Vignobles K holding now owns seven right bank properties.
His vast business experience in Asia includes hospitality thanks to two prestigious hotels, an experience that he has put to good use at Château Belfont-Belcier. Beautifully restored, as you would expect from a fine Asian art collector, the château now offers 11 guest rooms and 3 suites.
Biodiversity
The setting is exquisite, with views across the valley towards the Dordogne River. 13.5 ha of vines surround the chateau as do terraced gardens, parkland and woods. It’s easy to spot thanks to the 300 year old Plane trees in the gardens.
This woodland is part of the wine tourism offering, with a 2.5 km footpath that takes guests through the estate without ever leaving the property.
The woods, along with hedges and planting cover crops in the vines is all part of their desire to increase biodiversity through the vineyard. All the Kwok vineyards are currently in conversion to organic agriculture.
Wine Tourism
Château Bellefont-Belcier is open seven days a week throughout the year for private tours, where visitors can discover both the past and the present of the estate, the work in the vineyard and in the cellars. The winery is unique, with an amazing circular vat room dating from 1890. It is the first gravity-fed winery on the right bank, with characteristic Gustave Eiffel metal work. It is still fully functional, the individual cement tanks are used for the plot by plot vinification of the estate grapes to give the best expression of this terroir.
Visitors can get a unique understanding of the terroir of the right bank thanks to the range of wines from the Vignobles K. The private wine tours and tastings are complimented by a selection of food but also the accommodation.
Rooms are available individually for a minimum of a 2-night stay, but also the whole château can be privatised. Perfect for corporate retreats or family events, thanks to conference rooms that open up on the terrace as well as a swimming pool and tennis court.
A flexible welcome
The property is cleverly flexible for conferences, lunches, dinners, cocktails or seminars. Elegant salons in the chateau offer intimate reception spaces, and the circular winery and barrel cellar lend themselves to larger groups, with up to 150 guests comfortably received in the cellars or spilling out into the beautiful, terraced gardens. All this is within the unique atmosphere of a working historic winery and a 19th-century château.
Wendy NARBY