Château Bel Air

Since 1648, château Bel Air has been among the oldest properties of the famous Sainte-Croix-du-Mont vineyard. Indeed, for more than ten generations, the Méric family has settled and farmed these promising lands. The property was originally called Vilatte, one of the oldest and best-known districts of the commune.
The Sainte-Croix-du-Mont terroir, which lies in what is known as the Entre Deux Mers, was already producing on its slopes and hills excellent wines much appreciated by the English. This led them to protect it against incursions by the French. A fortress, the château de Tastes, was erected there.
This château watched over and protected the goods travelling on the Garonne. From 1316 to 1342, the King of England granted various exemptions and privileges on the sale of wine from the jurisdiction of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. Wine-growing activity continued with the same success in the following times. Writings of the 16th century tell us that wine production and sale predominated. Henri IV had called in Dutchmen to drain the marshes. Other compatriots were quick to follow these pioneers. Interested in the production of white wine, which served as a base for the preparation of their national spirits, they exported it and then developed vineyards of this type. It was they who introduced a new technique: sulphuring. A wick impregnated with sulphur is burned in the barrels. Fermentation is stopped and the residual sugars are kept.
We thus come to the second half of the 19th century, when phylloxera invaded the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont vineyard. It had a harmful effect, as on many vineyards in France.
Fortunately palliative treatments were applied with success and the damage limited. The wine trade was able to continue and its transport by river to carry on. Today Sainte-Croix-du-Mont is as appreciated as ever and trade-union institutions take charge of defending its appellation and promoting it.
Who does not have among their childhood memories the image of a glass of golden wine on New Year’s Eve? These wines rhyme with celebration. Sainte-Croix-du-Mont lies on the right bank opposite the highly renowned Sauternes appellation. It produces sweet wines of great quality.
The château Bel Air property is one of the oldest of its appellation. It produces its wine in the greatest tradition and harvests the grapes only once the benefits of botrytis have reached maturity.
From the first contact, one can sense a sweet perfume in which yellow and exotic fruits, toast and spice mingle. This first encounter will leave the enthusiast with a pleasant feeling, and he will find in it the aromas of its perfume with a little taste of mingled sweet and sour.
Jean Guy Méric also owns châteaux Haut Valentin in the Cadillac A.O.C. and Croix de Bern in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.