Paul and Kirstie Rowbotham, originally from North Yorkshire, bought a vineyard near Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (33 Gironde, Nouvelle Aquitaine) in 2006: Chateau la Tour de Chollet
Terrace
British owners
An organic vineyard with a 2 bedroom B&B apartment. There is a double room and a family room and also a living room, bathroom, kitchen and dining room. Guests are able to use the large enclosed garden and the solar heated swimming pool. Prices include breakfast and a vineyard tour and wine tasting.
There is a bedroom in the traditional pigeonnier (but no pigeons)! – the family room is spacious and renovated to a high standard, with plenty of room for relaxing/eating in addition to the cool terrace and heated swimming pool.
The wines – (5 wines, 2 reds, a dry white, a sweet white and a rosé) are AOC Sainte Foy Bordeaux – and the wines are recognised for their quality in the Decanter World Wine Awards – e.g in 2013 the 2009 Prestige Red won a Bronze Medal – “Concentrated and toasty with attractive cherry fruit and a fine tannic structure. Long but slightly dry.”
As an added bonus Paul and Kirstie are always happy to welcome visitors and are open every day from 10am until 6pm for free vineyard tours and wine tastings – but do check with them beforehand
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande is to about 75km east of Bordeaux for the airport or fast TGV – see train to Bordeaux
nearest airport: Bergerac EGC 21 miles/33 km) or Bordeaux BOD (56 miles/90 km)
