Chateau Petit Village and Chateau Pichon Longueville are opening new cellars and visitor centres – after three years of work in Pomerol, and two in Pauillac.
The architect for both properties was Alain Triaud, who has also completed projects for Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou in Saint Julien.
The cellar at Pichon Baron is estimated to have cost around €2m. No figure was available for Petit Village.
Both cellars make use of low-impact techniques such as gravity-feeding of the grapes, peristaltic pumps and manual punching down of the cap during fermentation.
At Pichon Longueville in Pauillac the entire cellar is underground. The reflective pool for which the chateau is known was drained and replaced above the cellar when the work was complete.
The Petit Village development in Pomerol officially opened late last month, while Pichon Longueville will have its official opening in time for En Primeur tastings, from March 31 to April 4.
Both properties will also now feature expanded wine tourism facilities, with visitor centres and shops.
Written by Jane Anson
