The Chibaou Estate

Located in the rolling hills of the Entre-Deux-Mers region, Christophe Rebillou has been the proud owner of Domaine Chibaou since 2005. The estate comprises three châteaux, each with its own unique history. Coming from a family of winemakers, we'll tell you today how wine became a family affair!

The Rebillou family: From the acquisition of the vineyard to organic values!

A pioneer in organic farming since 2009, Christophe chose organic agriculture for his estate. The vineyard is situated on a clay-limestone and silt terroir, a balanced soil that allows the grapes to remain intact, thus limiting the use of pesticides. The clay retains freshness, and the limestone has filtering properties.

The 70-hectare estate partly belonged to Christophe Rebillou's great-grandparents. Initially, his great-grandfather Robert decided to leave the Dordogne in the early 1900s to settle in the Gironde: "And that's when he fell in love with the rolling landscapes of the Entre-Deux-Mers and the scent of the blossoming vines," as his grandson recounts. The story begins here!

He married Madeleine and decided to settle in Castelviel. The estate that would later be called Chibaou was born. Robert's son, Bernard, continued to modernize the family business until the arrival of Christophe, more or less 100 years later!

Originally, the Domaine was a cooperative winery, that is, a group of winegrowers who produce wine with the grapes of its members. But Christophe wanted to make his own wine…

DISCOVER THE WINES OF DOMAIN CHIBAOU

Study to specialize and come back with lots of ideas

Christophe studied wine, management, and oenology, and decided to go to Languedoc to learn how to make wine. He spent two years in the United States to improve his English and returned to the Domaine in 2005.

The cooperative winery is still operating, but the 40 hectares of vines convinced Christophe to initially purchase four vats, a small press, and a pump. His desire to succeed, and as he likes to say, “beginner’s luck,” led to his first wine, Château Grenet 2005, winning a medal at the Bordeaux Wine Competition! It seems there are even a few bottles still hidden away at the Château…

Upon his arrival, the estate was named Chibaou. A strange name, you might say. But in reality, it's a tribute to his family. His great-grandfather, Robert, was a former farrier and coachman, and Christophe's wife was passionate about horseback riding. In the Gascon dialect, horse is called chibaou, and so the name for the estate was found.

DISCOVER THE WINES OF DOMAIN CHIBAOU

3 castles, 3 anecdotes

The Chibaou estate comprises three castles:

Château Grenet , the oldest, the beginning of the story. Located on the clay-limestone slopes of Castelviel, it was the first plot of land purchased by the family, and it's one of the highest points in the Gironde. Apparently, you can even see the Pyrenees from there on a clear day!

Château Beyran was bought by Christophe's parents: "Today, it's about twenty hectares, but above all our cellars, our offices, the house where I grew up." It is located on the plateau of the Dropt Valley in Saint Félix de Foncaude.

Finally, Château Fontaine Fleury is the new kid on the block! In 2016, Christophe Chibaou decided to buy it to develop, with his wife, all the equestrian activities of the estate.

DISCOVER THE WINES OF DOMAIN CHIBAOU

Manon (Les Grappes)