The History of Château La Grâce Fonrazade
The story of Château La Grâce Fonrazade and its owners is a saga of passion, dedication and renaissance in the world of wine. From the actual owners’s parents first steps in the 1960s to the next generation, each step reflects a deep commitment to viticulture and excellence.
From advertisers to winemakers : Passion, the guide to a new profession!
It all began some fifty years ago, when Mylène and Maurice Bon, then Parisian advertising executives, decided to change their lives and embark on a winegrowing adventure. In 1970, seduced by the beauty and potential of an exceptional property in the Entre-Deux-Mers region, they sold their advertising agency to a Parisian competitor to devote themselves fully to this new passion with Château de Lugagnac.
- Under their management, this estate quickly became a must for Bordeaux wines.
- Maurice Bon juggled his passion as winemaker with that of advertising executive, becoming head of communications at LVMH Hennessy until 1989.
Despite the challenges, Maurice and Mylène carried on with their project, but health problems led Maurice to consider a family succession as a matter of urgency in 1992. It was then that their son, François-Thomas, a student at a military academy in the UK with a passion for studying agronomy, decided to return to Bordeaux to support his father.
François-Thomas Bon: New energy for the development of a large wine estate
On his return, François-Thomas, still young but determined, quickly took over the reins of the estate:
- First vintage at the age of 18: With the help of his father’s team, he created his first vintage at the age of just 18, breathing new life into Château de Lugagnac while at the same time studying in Bordeaux.
- Development and internationalisation: expanding production and focusing distribution on exports, with the exception of the Chinese market. Despite the economic tensions of the 2000s, the estate prospered, producing over 1.3 million bottles a year and distributing to over 45 countries. In doing so, he increased the estate’s surface area and production fivefold.
In 2012, the death of Maurice Bon prompted the family to consider the future of the estate, which was eventually sold. However, François-Thomas and his partner Bénédicte Simonet had already embarked on a new winegrowing adventure…at Saint-Emilion!
The Château La Grâce Fonrazade: A Renaissance in Saint-Émilion
In 2010, while Bénédicte was a senior executive in the luxury ready-to-wear sector, the couple decided to buy an abandoned property in Saint-Émilion: Château La Grâce Fonrazade, next door to the prestigious Château Angélus. This estate, which had not produced wine since 1985, required a complete rebuild:
- Buying back plots of land and restructuring: They need to acquire new plots of land and rethink the entire infrastructure in order to relaunch the cru.
- New winery with a low carbon footprint: In 2013, the winery was rebuilt with a view to minimising the carbon footprint, while enabling the production of exceptional wines. The winery also became one of the first to benefit from significant reductions in energy consumption, becoming the first winery in France to be self-sufficient in heating.
Thanks to their determination and their love of wine, François-Thomas and Bénédicte have brought this estate back to life, reviving the family’s winegrowing tradition and passion. Their committed perseverance has led them to pursue this adventure with a firm determination to preserve the environment and the life in the soil, and to limit the use of inputs as much as possible. As a result, since their first vintage, the estate has been certified Organic, ISO 14 001 and so on. One thing is clear: the terroirs are expressing themselves better and better.
Continued growth: new acquisitions and development
The couple continued to expand and develop their project with new acquisitions in 2013:
In 2019, following a search for new terroirs in the Saint-Émilion area, Château Tour de Val will also join the estate, adding further potential to the Château La Grâce Fonrazade project.
Unshakeable Resilience:
Challenges and Successes
Despite the many challenges, including destructive weather and the difficulty of finding quality plots, the team at Château La Grâce Fonrazade has shown exemplary perseverance:
- Commitment to quality: The family makes it a point of honour to produce exceptional Grands Crus that reflect the essence of the terroirs and the passion that drives them.
- Recognition: Château La Grâce Fonrazade is gradually regaining its place among the Grands Crus of Saint-Émilion, thanks to meticulous winemaking and unique expertise.
- Distribution mainly geared towards exports, with over 75% of wines sold outside France.
The next generation:
a passionate daughter
The future of the Château seems assured with François-Thomas’ eldest daughter, who is completing her studies in agronomy and oenology and shares the same passion for wine as her parents. She represents a new promise for this family history of excellence, ready to write the estate’s next chapter. Perhaps there will be more to come with this project…