Château Bessan

Château Bessan Château Bessan, vineyard in the heart of Bordeaux, now proudly part of the Joule’s Brewery family.

La Face Est gets its name from its position on the eastern side of the vineyard.The slope catches strong midday sun, but...
10/09/2026

La Face Est gets its name from its position on the eastern side of the vineyard.

The slope catches strong midday sun, but by late afternoon the vines get some relief from the heat. This makes it suitable for Merlot and Cabernet, while the more sensitive Sauvignon Blanc also does well here.

The reds take a little longer to ripen than those across the ridge on the south-facing La Côte. Underfoot, the soil is drier with a shallow seam of limestone.

It’s another part of what makes the different parcels at Bessan so interesting. 🍷

La Côte gets the full force of the Bordeaux sunshine.Sitting over the ridge, this south-facing part of the vineyard has ...
06/09/2026

La Côte gets the full force of the Bordeaux sunshine.

Sitting over the ridge, this south-facing part of the vineyard has very little shade and quite different growing conditions to the cooler plateau.

The soil here is sparse and gravelly, so the vines have to send their roots deep in search of water and nutrients. They take longer to establish and tend to produce smaller, more concentrated berries.

The grapes are harvested later and go into Bessan’s rich Claret, AOC Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux.

A good example of how much can change from one part of the vineyard to another. 🍷

Down in the Bassain, things get a little cooler.This part of the vineyard forms a natural basin, holding cooler air and ...
02/09/2026

Down in the Bassain, things get a little cooler.

This part of the vineyard forms a natural basin, holding cooler air and moisture even through dry summers. It can make spring frost a bit of a headache, but those cooler conditions are particularly good for Bessan’s white varieties.

Here you’ll find Muscaris and Souvignier growing over a seam of red clay, which holds moisture deeper in the soil and adds minerality to the wines.

The result is fresh, fruity whites with delicate aromas and a lovely crisp mineral character. 🍷

Meet Coin des Dieux.Sitting 90 metres above the Garonne, this is the highest and most prized parcel at Bessan, planted e...
29/08/2026

Meet Coin des Dieux.

Sitting 90 metres above the Garonne, this is the highest and most prized parcel at Bessan, planted entirely with Merlot.

What makes it particularly interesting is what sits beneath the vines. Limestone gravel gives way to clay with a rare blue ferrous seam, a soil more commonly associated with Pomerol and particularly well suited to Merlot.

The grapes grown here are an important part of Château Bessan and, in exceptional years, are used to make Cuvée Lucques Bessan.

A very special little corner of the vineyard. 🍷

A seal with a story going back centuries.In the 16th and 17th centuries, Bessan wines were transported along the river i...
25/08/2026

A seal with a story going back centuries.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Bessan wines were transported along the river in barrels. Lucques Bessan used a large wax seal on his wines, helping to protect them from being mixed with lesser wines before they reached their destination.

The Great Seal carries the Fleur-de-Lys, surrounded by vine leaves and topped by the sun. Each element has its meaning, from loyalty to the King to the importance of sunshine and the vines.

The Great Seal of Bessan is still used today, a mark that has been associated with the wines for hundreds of years. 🍷

Rosé weather isn’t over just yet. 🍷Château Bessan Cuvée No.9 Rosé is light, fresh and very easy drinking. Best served pr...
23/08/2026

Rosé weather isn’t over just yet. 🍷

Château Bessan Cuvée No.9 Rosé is light, fresh and very easy drinking. Best served properly chilled, preferably with good company and a bit of sunshine.

Find it by the glass or bottle in Joule’s Taphouses.

A little look at where Château Bessan begins. 🍷Just 10 miles from Bordeaux, the vineyard sits high on a plateau above th...
21/08/2026

A little look at where Château Bessan begins. 🍷

Just 10 miles from Bordeaux, the vineyard sits high on a plateau above the Garonne River, where altitude, cooler air and an east-west orientation create brilliant conditions for growing grapes.

Beneath the vines, layers of limestone, gravel, clay and sandstone help shape the wines grown here – from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Muscaris.

The estate has a long history of white winemaking, once known for its sweet whites and today producing beautifully aromatic dry wines alongside Château Bessan’s classic Bordeaux blends.

Organic, rooted in its terroir and very much shaped by its surroundings.

Take a look around the map and see where our wines begin – before making their way from Bordeaux to our Joule’s Taphouses.

Delighted to pop into the newly refurbed Red Lion JQ for the very important job of wine training and tasting… tough work...
17/08/2026

Delighted to pop into the newly refurbed Red Lion JQ for the very important job of wine training and tasting… tough work, but someone’s got to do it 🍷

A little tour through the Château Bessan range, all the way from Bordeaux and now very happily sitting behind the bar in the Jewellery Quarter.

Pop in and find your favourite 🍇🍷

17/08/2026

And we’re off!

13/08/2026

Times ticking! We’re about 2 weeks away from harvest!

Here’s an update from Steve on the Vineyard through our plans 🍇

Address

Great Hales Street
Market Drayton
TF91JP

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