Château de Lionne

Château de Lionne is a family-owned 37-hectare wine estate in Illats, in the Graves wine region south of Bordeaux. The estate is run by Véronique Smati. Rather than growing up among the vines, she previously worked in antiques and as a restaurant manager. In 2007, she acquired the estate together with her husband. She surrounded herself with skilled vineyard workers and brought on board enologist Grégory Dalla Longa, who oversees the day-to-day work in the cellar. Chemical use in the vineyards has been reduced, and harvesting is now done by hand. The blends draw on grape varieties typical of the region—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot for the reds, and Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for the whites—crafted to produce fresh, fruit-forward wines that are a pleasure to drink. The estate is HVE 3 (High Environmental Value) certified, reflecting its environmentally responsible practices.