Château de Fargues: Vineyards
Today the Château de Fargues estate covers 170 hectares in total, and there are still 25 hectares of fields dedicated to arable crops, principally maize which is used as cattle feed, as well as pasture for grazing Bazas cattle, raised for meat as well as for their manure which is used to sparingly fertilise the vineyards. The aforementioned pine trees dominate the estate, accounting for 100 hectares, and there are also copses of oak, chestnut and acacia, and a system of artificial ponds.
But it is of course the vines that interest us most; there are 15 hectares eligible for the Sauternes appellation, situated next to the ruined château on sandy soils, over a clay and gravel subsoil complete with ancient field drains. They have an average age of 35 years, are 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, and are planted at a density of 7000 vines per hectare. The vineyard work is fairly traditional, with no fertilisation other than the aforementioned manure and no herbicides.
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