At the edge of the town, set apart by a single stone wall, lies the 20-hectare vineyard of Clos Fourtet. Private and withdrawn, the chateau bathes in the shadows of swaying lime and chestnut trees. A small community of men and women work intently, possessed with assurance and good-will. Long-uninhabited, the chateau building has been entirely restored to become a place of reflection and family retreat.
A place of pilgrimage for disciples of fine wine and good living, Saint-Émilion sits atop an ancient limestone plateau. Almost dormant in wintertime, the town begins to show signs of life in the spring. In the summer and early autumn its cobbled streets bustle with life, following the rhythm of the vines that sprawl all around. Since 1999, the village of Saint-Émilion has been a UNESCO world heritage site.