Respecting the Land,
Working with life
Since 2012, when Sébastien Pineau became head winemaker, Charmail has been building a new model for Médoc viticulture —one centered on resilience, biodiversity, and care. Our organic conversion began that same year, with a simple principle: great wine begins underground, in living soil.
Long before the harvest, our work begins underground. Healthy soils lead to healthy vines. We use no synthetic chemicals, and instead foster biodiversity at every level. Cover crops, compost, and natural cycles guide our farming. Our rows are buzzing with bees, flanked by hedgerows, and home to more than vines alone.
“A vineyard is not a factory, it’s a living place”
Name
A Symphony
of Life in the Vines
At Charmail, nature is our most important partner. We have placed biodiversity at the heart of our practices—not just in principle, but in daily, visible ways. Our animals contribute meaningfully to the balance of the vineyard ecosystem, each playing a different role.
It’s not just what they do, it’s what they signal. Their presence shows that the vineyard is alive, complex, and in balance. These animals are part of our daily work, not just symbols of sustainability, but contributors to a healthier harvest.
Sheep graze through the vines in winter, keeping grass in check while fertilizing the soil.
Bees help pollinate and signal the health of the ecosystem—producing a little Médoc honey, too.
Draft horses plough younger or sensitive parcels with gentle precision.
Chickens roam freely, aiding in insect control and enriching the soils with their natural presence.
Sheep graze through the vines in winter, keeping grass in check while fertilizing the soil.
Bees help pollinate and signal the health of the ecosystem—producing a little Médoc honey, too.
Draft horses plough younger or sensitive parcels with gentle precision.
Chickens roam freely, aiding in insect control and enriching the soils with their natural presence.
Working with Nature,
Not Against It
Charmail is a living landscape—where vines grow alongside animals, cover crops, and wild flora, and where farming choices are guided by observation, respect, and time. That’s the mindset. And every vintage reflects this choice—clean, expressive wines rooted in the place they come from.
Winter
Winter
In winter, the soil is traditionally worked with earthing up and unearthing, aerating the topsoil and preparing the vines for the growing season. Pruning takes place between December and March, using the traditional Double Guyot method, where only 6–8 buds are left per vine to control yields and enhance concentration in the grapes.
Spring
Spring
By early spring, the vines awaken, and the workers engage in épamprage—the meticulous removal of non-fruit-bearing shoots to direct the vine’s energy to the most promising branches. This is done entirely by hand, ensuring the health of each vine and promoting balanced growth.
Summer
Summer
As the season progresses, summer brings further canopy management, with leaves carefully thinned to improve sun exposure and air circulation. This labor-intensive work ensures that each bunch of grapes ripens fully, ready for the harvest, which usually begins in September and lasts 2–3 weeks, depending on the vintage. The harvest at Charmail is a fully manual affair, with the grapes handpicked and gently placed in small crates to avoid damage—a method that ensures the fruit arrives at the winery in perfect condition.
Fall
Fall
Throughout the growing season, we observe more than we intervene. We listen to the soil, we adapt to the climate, and we respond to what nature offers. This is the rhythm of Charmail: guided by time, shaped by care, and rooted in tradition.