The Domaine de Lagravière, has always been recognized for the quality of its terroir. It was purchased at the end of the 18th century by the Count Hippolyte de Maurès de Malartic, who came from a very old Armagnac noble family.
An honourable servant to the Kings of France, the Count of Malartic fought as an Admiral against the English on seas all around the globe, particularly distinguishing himself in 1756 at the Battle of Quebec.
The property was bought in 1850 by Madame Arnaud Ricard who added the name Malartic to that of Lagravière in homage to the former owners. She built the house that forms the current left wing of the château.
The estate, renamed Malartic-Lagravière, remained in this family for 140 years, handed down and managed by women. The estate was reorganized and a few small plots were added, giving it the form it would have until the 1950s.
In 1947, Jacques Marly took over management of Malartic-Lagravière after marrying Madame Ricard’s great-great-granddaughter. He managed the estate until 1990, being heavily involved in local wine-growing life, notably during the Graves classification in 1953.
In 1990, the estate was acquired by Champagne Laurent-Perrier. The vines were well cared for, and high-quality work was initiated with the creation of the second wine, originally named Le Sillage de Malartic.
Unfortunately, Laurent-Perrier did not have the time to implement the renovation and improvement projects necessary to produce wines worthy of Malartic-Lagravière’s Cru Classé status.
The Brussels couple Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie fell in love with the estate and purchased it in 1997. They quickly began an entire facelift, with the idea of restoring the sleeping beauty to its former glory. They completely overhauled the estate, building a new winery and restoring the château. The couple also bought over former plots of vines, giving the vineyard its current dimension.
In 1998, the new winery received its first harvest. The building, designed by the architect Bernard Mazières, was built on Malartic’s hillside to enable the transport of the grapes by gravity. At that time, this was a pioneering, highly innovative approach.
“La Minerve”, Admiral Malartic’s ship, became the symbol of the property, and still appears on the wine labels today.
At the end of 2005, Vignobles Malartic expanded with the acquisition of the neighbouring Château Gazin-Rocquencourt and the bodega DiamAndes in Argentina. Two excellent vineyards that complement the Grand Cru Classé, thereby forming 200 hectares of vines on either side of the Atlantic, which the Bonnie family actively manages with their respective teams.
Information about Chateau Malartic Lagraviere