Marriage of Renée and Edmond Daulhiac
Edmond Daulhiac, the grandson of a cooper, married Renée Lansade and settled in Razac de Saussignac with his in-laws. They had three sons, including Régis, the youngest, who is Thierry's father.
Château le Payral, a family-owned estate located in Saussignac
Château le Payral encompasses over half a century of history. We are a family-owned vineyard located near Saussignac. Our story is intimately intertwined with that of Thierry, a young boy and farmer’s son, who could only envision a future as a farmer himself. Since taking over the estate in 1992, Thierry has embarked on a remarkable journey, bringing his wine along with him!
Approximately 80,000 bottles of our wines are distributed not only in France, but also across Europe, as well as far-reaching destinations like North America and Asia.
Explore the history of Château le Payral : a unique family-owned vineyard located near Saussignac !
It’s from the late 17th century that we can trace the presence of Thierry’s ancestors in Razac de Saussignac. We’re not talking about lords or wealthy peasants, but rather about modest stone masons or wheelwrights. It was through his marriage in 1926 to Renée that Pierre Edmond Daulhiac settled in Razac de Saussignac. These are Thierry’s grandparents…
Expansion of the family estate
Marie-Thérèse and Régis Daulhiac, Thierry's parents, who were both dairy farmers and winemakers, had the opportunity to purchase the house and buildings in the village of Razac de Saussignac, which would become the heart of the estate twenty years later.
Takeover of the family vineyard by Thierry
Thierry takes over the vineyard from his parents and becomes the head of the operation! He names his estate "Château le Payral." He has the ambition to sell all of his wine in bottles and quickly explores export opportunities.
Introduction of organic agriculture
After studying the soils of the estate, Thierry becomes aware of the need to change his practices. He experiments with organic agriculture and then initiates the official conversion and certification in 2005. The DEMETER certification for biodynamics is obtained in 2018 after implementing biodynamic principles over several vintages.
Discover our selection of Saussignac wines !
It’s time ! Let yourself be enchanted by the diversity and quality of our biodynamic wines from the Saussignac region. Rest assured, each of our ranges will offer you a unique tasting experience.
Our biodynamic commitment in three steps
We work as good “peasants,” respectful of Nature and its balances, aware that wine is first made in the vineyard. As a family-owned vineyard located near Saussignac, Château le Payral is naturally attentive to its terroir.
Our vineyard
The vineyard covers about fifteen hectares and extends over the limestone plateaus to the south of the Dordogne river, an extension of the slopes of Monbazillac and at the gateway to the Bordeaux vineyard. The plots are mainly established on Castillon limestone rocks. The following grape varieties are cultivated there:
- White grape varieties : Sauvignon, Sémillon, Sauvignon Gris, Muscadelle, Chenin
- Red grape varieties : Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
A comprehensive study of the parcel soils has allowed for the optimal adaptation of grape varieties to the soils.
As such, the vineyard is gradually renewed with the best match between grape variety and terroir in mind, and at planting densities ranging from 5000 to 5500 vines per hectare.
Our winemaking process
In the cellar, once again, we pay special attention to expressing the terroir. To achieve this, fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts. For red wines, we aim for gentle and light extraction of tannins without any harshness: gentle punch-downs, short macerations… we adapt to the characteristics of each warm vintage. The use of barrels is reserved for certain cuvées.
Our DEMETER biodynamic certification guides us towards a very restrained winemaking approach: indigenous yeasts, limited filtrations, reduced sulfite doses.
We have significantly expanded our range of wines, and the work in the cellar is a true extension of the work in the vineyard. In addition to the traditional Bergerac cuvées, we have gradually introduced cuvées without sulfites in both white and red, labeled as IGP Périgord. We also produce an orange wine and a varietal Malbec wine labeled as Vin de France.
Organic farming, biodynamics, agroforestry
Since 2005, the entire estate has been managed using organic farming practices. In addition to treatments based on copper and sulfur, we use clays as well as herbal concoctions and infusions, such as horsetail, fern, garlic, etc. We pay close attention to soil fertility, implementing cover crops in the fall and utilizing composts.
We apply biodynamic preparations to the vineyard: cow horn manure, silica, and more, all of which contribute to the well-being of our vines.
In recent years, we have taken further steps in shaping our parcels by promoting the growth of natural and spontaneous hedges, as well as planting hedgerows and groves – a practice known as agroforestry. Trees become allies to the winemaker: they assist in temperature regulation, enhance soil water retention capacity, encourage beneficial animal populations, and enrich the landscape.
Need more information? Contact us !
Do you have questions or want to learn more about Château le Payral and its products? Don’t hesitate anymore! Contact us.
Whether you want to know more about our history, our biodynamic production methods, or if you have specific questions about our ranges, we’re here to address all your inquiries and guide you through the discovery of Château le Payral!
The team of Château le Payral
Because the history of the estate intertwines with that of the winemakers…
The owners of the estate...
Thierry Daulhiac
Vineyard manager, agronomist, cellar master, team leader, sales representative, mechanic… Thierry is the conductor of the estate. He embodies the estate! With a natural creativity, passion, and wholehearted dedication, he has fully invested himself in bringing the estate passed down by his parents to life, implementing his environmental commitments in his daily work.
Isabelle Daulhiac
As the daughter of Norman farmers, by marrying the winemaker, Isabelle also embraced the life that comes with it. With a background as an agricultural engineer, while retaining her part-time teaching profession, she is highly involved in the operation as a partner to Thierry. Handling management, invoicing, declarations, payroll, communication… she humorously refers to herself as the “office winemaker.”
And also...
A small estate like ours represents approximately 6000 hours of work annually in total ! The estate also employs workers: one permanent employee as well as seasonal workers, without whom all of this would not be possible… We are committed to training young people: since Thierry’s takeover, we have welcomed numerous interns or apprentices who come to discover or learn their craft. They are also part of the history of our family vineyard on the lands of Saussignac.
Finally, we must not forget the most valuable partners of the estate, our oenologists, Caroline Chauveton and Stéphane Seurin.