The history of the estate began with Guillaume Sabatier in the 18th century, who acquired the castle of Espeyran and its domain in 1791.
He expanded the estate through major construction projects, including a resort and reception area, as well as planting a vineyard in 1796, which became the main crop of the property.
In 1815, Guillaume Sabatier acquired additional land to further expand the vineyard.
After Guillaume's death, his heir Jean-Baptiste Félix Sabatier passed away prematurely in 1818, leaving his widow to raise their three sons: Frédéric, Félix, and François.
The family was known for their business acumen, artistic interests, and contributions to the property's development.
Frédéric, the eldest son, became the head of the family and focused on his passion for breeding racehorses on the estate. Félix managed the farming operations and enjoyed hunting, while François engaged in cultural pursuits, mingling with notable figures of his time.
Over the years, each family member left their mark on the estate, contributing to its agricultural and stud farm success. Frédéric introduced new grape varieties to enhance wine quality and later implemented American vine stock to combat the phylloxera crisis.
The fortune of the Sabatier d’Espeyran family was consolidated in the hands of Guillaume's descendant, Guillaume Sabatier. His heirs included Frédéric, Pierre, Robert, and Guy, with Guy being the great-grandfather of the current winemaker, Blaise de Bordas.
The Bordas family, descendants of the Sabatier d’Espeyran family, now cultivate the estate's 550 hectares, including 60 hectares of vineyards. They continue to produce wine in the Château’s grand cellars, maintaining the family's legacy as winemakers for nine generations.
The Chateau d’Espeyran vineyard, established in 1796 near Saint Gilles, south of Nîmes, boasts a unique terroir where the Rhône valley meets the Camargue.
The vineyard's stony alluvium soils, influenced by limestone and pebble terraces called GRESS, yield high-quality grapes.
The interplay of factors, including sea breezes, warm stones, and the Mistral wind, preserves fruit freshness and distinctiveness.
This Mediterranean climate region receives an impressive average of 2700 hours of annual sunshine, occasional rainfall, and benefits from underground springs.
With a history dating back to the thirteenth century, the area's exceptional soil quality and water resources have long made it conducive to grape cultivation and fine wine production.
The ILLUSTRES reserve is a red wine made from a blend of old vines, aged in oak barrels.
The castle of Espeyran is listed as a historic monument, and labeled house of the Illustrious. Our ancestors, these « Illustres » preciously kept in cellars the best wines of the area.
Today each vintage offers this limited-edition heritage of 2,500 bottles.
A fine smoky and velvet textured red wine with a deep purple sparkle, having a delicate aroma with notes of red fruits, balanced and silky tannins.
