Image rights: George Lucas’s latest acquisition Chateau Margui vineyards by Var Matin
After months of rumours surrounding the lush region of Coteaux Varois en Provence, it’s finally been confirmed that George Lucas has added Château Margüi to his portfolio of properties.
Lucas added the property adjacent to former couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Château Miraval. The historic château, located in Provence, was on sale for US$14 million.
Image: Lucky Maim
Château Margüi boasts 287 acres of prime verdant grounds and 42 acres of devoted vineyards with 7 acres of olive trees. Situated on the corner of the Bessillon ranges, the château has been an agriculture tour de force since Roman time. Surrounding it are rolling hills, dry-stone walls, natural springs, and of course, the vines.
Since the early 2000s, 15 hectares of vines (Syrah, Cabernet, Vermentino, Cinsault, Grenache, Sangiovese) had been replanted by Marie-Christine Baylet-Guillanton and Philippe Guillanton (serving presently as winery manager) on clay and limestone soil that had been dormant for 30 years. With the acquisition of the vineyards by George Lucas, the heritage Provence property joins other Skywalker Vineyards in Marin, California and Lucas’s other European vineyard, Il Convento in Umbria, Italy.
Since the resurrection of the fertile wino-nursing greens, for over 40 years, the land of Margüi has not known any chemical fertilisers. As a result, Margüi’s entire surface is classified AB Organic by Ecocert. The construction of relatively recent wine-making facilities started in early 2003. Architects and builders pursued concepts and ideas following the vineyard’s coming to age: modern wine-making tools under heritage Roman stonework.
View of Château Margüi vineyard. Image: Lucky Maim
George Lucas’ latest vineyard Château Margüi is an architectural jewel of Provence. The elegant 18th-century château was lovingly restored with traditional materials, organic hemp, and natural pigments for all buildings, including the château, chapel and other outbuildings on the farm. As a result, Lucas’ latest vineyard pays homage to its unique history as a 15th-century castle with Romanesque structures.
According to a statement by Winery Manager Guillanton to Provence Wine Zine, “fans of Château Margüi need not worry that the wines will change as the crew is remaining the same.”
Image: Lucky Maim
A variety of wino flows from the estate. A duo of roses serve lovers of pink wines with the Perle de Margüi rose and the Toscane de Margüi. White wines titillate the senses via the refreshing Les Pierres Sauvages and L’Or des Pierres while a sole, Titien de Margüi, offers the palette a delectable red. Château Margüi reached full production of around 65,000 bottles with the 2008 harvest. At the same time, the estate started to produce olive oil with the first press in 2009.
For more images on George Lucas’s new Château Margüi, check out Lucky Miam here.
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