Châteaus Margaux and Cheval-Blanc: Beautiful wineries around the world

France's Bordeaux region is home to some of the most stunning architecture in the wine world. Case in point, the iconic edifice of first-growth Château Margaux, and the single-spired Renaissance Revival château at Cheval-Blanc in St.-Emilion

Perhaps no estate symbolizes Bordeaux’s grandeur more so than Château Margaux. A tree-lined driveway leads to a massive wrought-iron gate and a gorgeous neo-Palladian château. The house was the vision of Margaux’s owner in the early 1800s, Bertrand Douat, Marquis de la Colonilla, who commissioned local architect Louis Combes to build a new château with two-story columns, inspired by the Parthenon, and a “village” surrounding it, complete with a cooperage and cellars.

Current owner Corinne Mentzelopoulos added to the architectural pedigree in 2015, commissioning architect Norman Foster to build a state-of-the-art chai. The red-tiled roof and overall shape match the existing cellars, but the glass walls allow visitors to see a modern, light-filled space lined with steel vats.

"Château Margaux's long driveway builds up anticipation for a visit to the estate and makes a memorable impression of its own". (Artiste-Associe). "As with many of the large, famous Bordeaux estates, Château Margaux sits on park-like grounds". (Brice Braastad)

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