Château Haut-Bergey was founded in the 15th century in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, under the name “Maison Noble de Pontey.” The vineyard reached its maximum size of nearly 100 hectares in the 18th century, before undergoing a long decline that explains its absence from the 1855 classification despite the quality of its terroir. It wasn’t until 1991 that the estate truly experienced a renaissance, when Sylviane Garcin-Cathiard—sister of Daniel Cathiard, owner of Château Smith Haut-Lafitte—became its owner with the ambition of restoring it to its former glory. Under her leadership, the vineyard expanded from 18 to 43 hectares over two decades, guided in particular by the renowned oenologist Michel Rolland.
In 2007, her son Paul Garcin joined the venture and spearheaded a radical transformation: passionate about the idea that biodynamics allows wines to better express their terroir, he obtained organic certification in 2010 and Demeter certification in 2012, making Haut-Bergey the very first estate in Pessac-Léognan to be certified biodynamic—even before the Grands Crus Classés. He also expanded his experiments in the cellar, gradually moving away from traditional oak barrels in favor of large casks, amphorae, and concrete eggs, to allow for spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts.
The 40-hectare vineyard, facing south-southwest, grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec for reds, and Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for whites—an unclassified grand cru that today rivals the appellation’s biggest names.
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