While Bordeaux has long since been a wine lovers’ favorite destination, the French village is so much more than bold reds and rolling vine-covered hills. Sitting on the south-west coast of France, Bordeaux takes rustic serenity to a whole new level, the Queen of England once calling it “the very essence of elegance.” Renowned winemakers and Michelin-starred chefs flock to Bordeaux, and the town is known as "the sleeping beauty" (“la belle endormie”) thanks to its quintessential 18th-century limestone buildings and stunning views along the Garonne river.
A perfect addition to the area is the recently opened Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, created by the legendary crystal house Lalique. The brand's newest hotel opened its doors (or rather, its tall castle gates) on June 23 in the Sauternes region. Previously, Lalique proved their excellence in the French luxury space with the opening of Villa René Lalique in Alsace—within the first few months, they were awarded two Michelin stars. A year later, they debuted their second Alsace property, Château Hochberg.
Lalique is now focused on creating an exclusive experience for guests at Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, which contains only 13 rooms. Michelin-starred Chef Jérôme Schilling heads up the restaurant, taking advantage of local ingredients including region-specific mushrooms, cèpes de Bordeaux, and Arcachon Bay oysters. The menu, additionally, is crafted with wine in mind (2,500 bottles of wine to be exact), while their four underground wine cellars house a vintage collection of 350,000 bottles, some dating back as far as 1893.
Lord Raymond Peyraguey first built the château—and planted the beginnings of the vineyard—in 1618, making this its 400th-year in existence. Chairman of Lalique Silvio Denz, who oversaw the opening of both Alsace properties, acquired the château in 2014 and spent four years modernizing the property, taking particular care to preserve its history and ensure that elements of the old materials fit seamlessly into the enhancements. In true form, the Art Deco-inspired décor is crafted from Lalique crystal embellishments. If you’re heading to Bordeaux, the must-see crystal on premise is an installation called the “Eternal Belief”— a limited edition piece currently displayed in the chapel. Supposedly, it’s almost as breathtaking as the 2,500-bottle wine list.
