While the origins of Château de La Grille date back to the 15th century, the château as we know it today was built in 1848 by Gustave de COUGNY, a famous historian and lawyer in Chinon.
At that time, the troubadour style flourished in France as a reaction against the neoclassical and Empire styles. This artistic movement aimed to reinvent and reclaim an idealized atmosphere of the Middle Ages and Renaissance through the arts. The influence of the English neo-gothic style, which emerged in the late 18th century, leads experts to view troubadour imagination as a component of Romanticism. The “rediscovery” or reappropriation of medieval imagery is one of the intellectual curiosities of early 19th century France.
Gustave de Cougny expanded the estate, which then covered about a hundred hectares, consisting of wheat fields, woods, pastures, and vineyards. At that time, the wine from La Grille was already known as “the reference for Chinon wines thanks to its quality.” From 1951 to 2008, the GOSSET family, a long line of Champagne winemakers, spread the reputation of “The Chinon Exception” beyond local borders. They brought their expertise and designed the bottle still used today, imitating the first glass bottles dedicated to wine that emerged in the 18th century. This Cabernet Franc is primarily dedicated to producing red wine, even though a few bottles of rosé and sparkling wines are also produced in limited quantities.
