Château Cantemerle Winery: A Historic Bordeaux Estate Reimagined by BPM Architectes

Château Cantemerle, located in Macau within the prestigious Haut-Médoc wine region, is one of the oldest and most celebrated wine estates in Bordeaux. Set across twenty-eight hectares of wooded parkland, the château combines centuries-old heritage with a contemporary vision for winemaking. Between 2023 and 2025, BPM Architectes led a transformative project to restore, reorganize, and expand the estate while preserving its historical identity.

Restoration and Expansion of a Bordeaux Landmark

The comprehensive intervention—commissioned by the SMABTP group, owners since 1981—revitalizes both the wine production facilities and the visitor experience. The project includes:

• Restoration of the historic château
• Expansion of the vat room and wine cellar
• Enlargement of bottle storage areas
• Conversion of the orangery into a seminar space
• Redesign of the tasting room
• Creation of a new boutique
• A cohesive landscape project linking all interventions

The objective was to merge tradition and efficiency, ensuring Château Cantemerle serves as both a world-class production site and an inviting destination for guests.

A Harmonious Blend of Heritage and Contemporary Architecture

BPM Architectes focused on unifying materials and volumes across the estate. The restored stone façades, traditional slate and tile roofs, and tree-lined pathways ensure a seamless dialogue between historic structures and modern extensions.

The château, used privately, underwent a full interior restructuring. Nine bedrooms, large living rooms, dining areas, and reception spaces now reflect both elegance and comfort. The woodwork was recreated identically, preserving the estate’s classical aesthetic.

The orangery was enlarged and redesigned to host seminars for up to fifty people. Its new extension adopts the architectural vocabulary of the site, maintaining continuity with the adjacent vat room.

State-of-the-Art Winemaking Facilities

The vat room and wine cellar form the core of the estate’s technical upgrades. The façade of the original vat room facing the main courtyard was preserved, and a terrace now connects it to the extension. A combination of timber and steel frames supports a suspended roof that enhances spatial clarity and natural light.

With the project, the building’s area doubled. Key enhancements include:

• A new barrel cellar located in the basement
• A vat room containing 114 vats, arranged around the harvest courtyard
• Management offices and tasting spaces positioned above, spanning two levels
• A bottle storage facility expanded by two naves, accommodating two million additional bottles

This enlarged storage area also functioned as a temporary vat room during two consecutive harvests.

Visitors now experience an upgraded tasting room and a newly designed shop opening onto a terrace overlooking the château—creating a refined setting for wine appreciation.

Sustainable Strategies and Landscape Integration

A new landscape masterplan connects all buildings through organically flowing pathways framed by mature trees. The estate’s design aligns with three guiding principles:

1. Optimize winemaking processes
2. Provide functional, ergonomic workspaces
3. Incorporate eco-responsible solutions

Sustainable features include:

• Geothermal systems for efficient thermal comfort
• Photovoltaic panels generating renewable energy
• Sensible use of natural materials and restored heritage elements

After twenty-five months of work, Château Cantemerle emerges as a modernized, sustainable winery that remains deeply rooted in its historical charm.

All the photographs are works of 11H45