Château Nairac
The early history of Château Nairac is imprecise, but the origins of the vineyard seem to lie in part of the estate of André Duranceau, a wealthy accountant from Bordeaux. His estate included a fine house in Barsac with a not inconsiderable area of vineyard, which he leased out. For one obvious reason the property was known, at this time, as Château Duranceau. He bequeathed this grand estate to a gentleman named Jérôme Mercade (died 1744), who was related by marriage to two other notable Sauternais families, proprietors at Château Climens and Château Romer du Hayot.
He expanded the residence but carried out no major works in the vineyard, none that have been recorded for posterity anyway. After Mercade’s death the property came to his son, but after he too died the estate came to Mercade’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth Prost. She exhibited rather more dynamism than her male peers, however, and she began to pay the vines some attention; she increased the planting and expanded the vineyard, turning it into a serious concern. She was subsequently joined in her efforts by her own son, nevertheless the pair eventually sold the vineyard in 1777, the new owner being Elysée Nairac (1734 – 1791).
