Château Beauvillage

The château

Beauvillage began in 1925, when Valérie Bugada-Jean’s grandfather took an interest in Couquèques and bought his first plots there. He passed what he knew to his sons, Christian and Claude, and they, many years later, to Eric Bugada, a civil engineer by training who had joined his wife’s family estate. In 2015 Valérie left a career in tourism and communication to work alongside him, and the couple run Beauvillage together. That same year it was recognized as a Cru Bourgeois, a rank it held again in the classifications of 2020 and 2025.

The 25 hectares are spread over 3 villages, Couquèques, Saint-Christoly-de-Médoc and Civrac, on limestone scattered with fossil stones, and planted 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon at 5,600 vines a hectare, 35 years old on average. The vineyard has held Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value, the French state’s environmental certification for farms) at level 3 since October 1, 2019. Each variety is fermented on its own in temperature-controlled vats, with 28 days of maceration, and the wine is aged 12 months; the estate makes 100,000 bottles a year.

At a glance

Appellation

Médoc

Commune

Couquèques, with vines at Saint-Christoly-de-Médoc and Civrac

Classification

Cru Bourgeois, 2020 and 2025; recognized in 2015

Owners

The family of Valérie Bugada-Jean, since 1925

Direction

Eric and Valérie Bugada

Vineyard

25 hectares; 5,600 vines a hectare; vines 35 years old on average

Soil

Limestone, with fossil stones Terroir of Médoc →

Grapes

Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 45%

Farming

Haute Valeur Environnementale, level 3, since October 1, 2019

Cellar

Each variety fermented apart in temperature-controlled vats; 28 days of maceration; 12 months of aging

Production

100,000 bottles a year

Wines

Château Beauvillage