OUR HISTORY
A family heritage and authentic expertise in the heart of the Médoc
The history of Domaines Pedro is part of an ancient Médoc vineyard. The first vines of Château Le Meynieu, in Vertheuil, Haut-Médoc, date back to the 18th century, and the château was built in 1830.
Arrival at Château Le Meynieu
In 1962, after scientific studies at the University of Bordeaux, Jacques Pedro moved to Château Le Meynieu, which had been acquired by the parents of his wife, Edith. At that time, the estate consisted of only half a hectare of vines.
The historic frost of February 1956 devastated the Médoc vineyards, leaving many plots abandoned. Jacques Pedro gradually undertook their acquisition and replanting, while also restoring the château.
Alongside his wife Edith, Jacques Pedro dedicated himself to developing the property. Together, they participated in its evolution and gradually built the history of this family estate.
Starting in 1964, Jacques and Edith Pedro also developed Château Lavillotte in Saint-Estèphe, where they began replanting the vines. This new property complemented Château Le Meynieu, located in the Haut-Médoc appellation.
In 1969, the family acquired Domaine de la Ronceray, also located in Saint-Estèphe. The three properties thus developed progressively, following the pace of acquisitions and plantings.
Over the years, the vineyards expanded, wine production increased, and the operational buildings gradually became too cramped.
Jacques PEDRO's Dream
Jacques Pedro had long nurtured a dream: to have a true place to store his wines and vintages in the best possible conditions.
In 1974, this dream became a reality. He built a 467 m² barrel cellar, air-conditioned from the start—a very innovative installation in the Médoc at the time—as well as a vast underground cellar entirely dedicated to the preservation of wine bottles.
The Cellar
Located beneath the barrel room and protected from light, the cellar maintains a stable temperature in both summer and winter, where the wines slowly continue their evolution.
The wine bottles rest there lying down, lined up property by property and vintage by vintage. Stored without labels, they are only labeled when they are ready to leave the estate.
Over the decades, Jacques Pedro’s dream has become the memory of the family’s vintages and one of the estate’s signatures.
Preserving Our Terroirs and Nature
This attention given to the vines, the wind, and time is accompanied by a commitment to preserving the terroirs, biodiversity, and natural balance.
In 2021, the Pedro estates obtained High Environmental Value certification for their vineyard management. This approach is faithful to the estate’s philosophy: producing authentic wines that express their terroir while respecting nature.
The Estate Today
More than 60 years after his arrival at Château Le Meynieu, Jacques Pedro still leads the estate with his children, Hervé and Caroline. Supported by Sébastien Fraysse, the estate director, and a loyal, passionate team, they continue the history of Domaines Pedro between Haut-Médoc and Saint-Estèphe, with new projects and the same commitment to excellence.
“I realize that I have no regrets in my life. I have managed to accomplish everything I truly wanted. I still enjoy my profession just as much. I am fortunate to still be working and to have multiple projects that drive me.”
JACQUES PEDRO
