Q&A: Cédric Pla, director, Castel Châteaux & Grands Crus

For those who aren't familiar with Châteaux Castel - how would you describe the spirit and philosophy behind your family-owned estates?

Châteaux Castel is a collection of 20 family-owned estates spread across four of France's greatest wine regions: Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, Provence, and the Languedoc. Our mission is to bring out the best in each estate by investing the right resources to respect and showcase the unique identity of every terroir.

Your estates stretch from Bordeaux to Provence, via the Loire and Languedoc. How do you preserve the individuality of each terroir while keeping a shared philosophy across the collection?

Each estate is run by a dedicated manager who has a detailed knowledge of the vineyards - they work closely with a regional winemaker who specialises in that particular appellation. Providing steerage and oversight is Philippe Castel - our technical director - Léa Mazubert, and myself. Together, we support our local teams to create wines that reflect their origins and deliver immense quality and satisfaction to consumers. We value a bespoke, hands-on approach that delivers precision and authenticity.
 
Sustainability is central to your approach - can you give us a few real-life examples of how that plays out in the vineyard?

We take a holistic view of sustainability - it's about environmental, social, and economic impact. But we're not dogmatic about it; every decision has to reflect the core values of these three pillars. At Château Cavalier, for example, we practise eco-grazing. In our region, shepherds require grazing-land between winter and their summer relocation to mountain pastures in June. So we offer a solution: for about six weeks, up to a thousand sheep graze in our vineyards. It's a win-win situation - the shepherds benefit and we reduce our CO₂ emissions.

Are your wine styles evolving to keep up with changing consumer tastes — particularly in the UK?

Absolutely. Take our Bordeaux reds: the key is to bring out more freshness and drinkability without losing what makes Bordeaux special - structure and ageing potential. We focus on enhancing fruit expression and making the wines more accessible when young, while still allowing them to develop beautifully over time.

Are there any new projects or upcoming cuvées that you're particularly excited about?

Yes - we're poised to launch a Médoc Blanc from Château Tour Prignac, our northernmost Bordeaux estate. It's a cool-climate terroir with real potential for premium white wine. The result is a mineral-scented, aromatic wine - the finish is long and complex. Exactly what consumers expect of a modern Bordeaux Blanc!