The history of Château Kirwan, 3rd Cru Classé in 1855 in the Margaux appellation, goes back more than three centuries.
At the end of the 18th century, Irishman Mark Kirwan inherited the estate, then known as "Lasalle," following his marriage to the daughter of Sir John Collingwood, owner of the vineyard and one of Bordeaux's leading wine merchants. Mark Kirwan gradually enlarged the estate, giving it its name and developing its international reputation. In 1787, Thomas Jefferson cited Château Kirwan in the same category as the Ségur and Lynch vineyards in his book "Jefferson on wines".
In 1855, Château Kirwan was classified as one of the Médoc's 3rd Grand Cru Classés and was acquired by the Bordeaux wine merchant Camille Godard. In 1926, the Schÿler family became the new owners of Château Kirwan. Trading in Bordeaux since 1739, Schröder & Schÿler is still responsible for the estate's development today.
In 2008, renowned oenologist Philippe Delfaut became Managing Director of the estate. The vineyard is managed by Hervé Diez with the advice of consultant oenologist Éric Boissenot, who contributes his experience and knowledge of the great wines of the Left Bank.
With a surface area of 37 hectares spread over 37 different plots, the wines of Château Kirwan are the authentic expression of this exceptional terroir. While the powerful Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the vineyard, the Petit Verdot, which brings firmness and freshness, is also present in two plots. Finally, the Merlot, initially planted on clay soils and then replanted on sandy soils, reinforces the full, velvety character of the wines, as well as their freshness.
In 2017, after two years of work, Château Kirwan underwent a complete overhaul with a new vat room comprising 37 custom-built concrete vats. Château Kirwan has been committed to sustainable development for over 10 years. In 2013, the estate received ISO 14001 international environmental certification, and in 2017 it was awarded the High Environmental Value (HVE) label (HVE3 certified), attesting to its compliance with performance thresholds for biodiversity, phytosanitary strategy, fertilisation management and water resources.
