The legacy of the Ribéreau-Gayon family at Les Conseillans

A laboratory that changed the wine world
When Professor Jean Ribéreau-Gayon acquired Domaine Aux Conseillans in 1938, he established a small chemistry lab and an experimental cellar between the kitchen and the barrel cellar. In the "old cuve," now used as a tasting room, he achieved a milestone: the scientific description of malolactic fermentation —that second fermentation which transforms harsh malic acid into soft lactic acid, giving red wines their suppleness, microbiological stability, and aging potential. Without this understanding, modern top-quality wines would not exist in their current refinement.

Plots 8 to 11 – birthplace of modern oenology
The southeast-facing terraces, marked as blocks 8–11 on our vineyard's parcel map, date back in part to the original planting in 1938. The grapes used by Jean Ribéreau-Gayon for his groundbreaking fermentation experiments still grow here today. In 1953, he established further experimental plots and planted additional rows – these still provide fruit for our wines and serve as a reminder that research and terroir have always intertwined at Conseillans.

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From the laboratory to the world
In 1949, Jean Ribéreau-Gayon founded the Institut d'Œnologie de Bordeaux with Émile Peynaud; there, and in his cellar at Conseillans, he taught generations of oenologists. His son , Pascal Ribéreau-Gayon , later ran the institute for almost two decades, training luminaries such as Denis Dubourdieu and Michel Rolland, who shaped the global understanding of quality.

Tradition as an obligation
For LaSuite aux Conseillans, this heritage is more than just history. We vinify each parcel individually – including the historic blocks 8–11 – and ensure that malolactic fermentation proceeds as precisely as prescribed by the “founding father of modern oenology.” Thus, a piece of wine history, written here, lives on in every barrel.

Why this is relevant to you
When you open one of our wines today, you're not just tasting Bordeaux tradition, but the origin of a global quality revolution. The glass connects past and present: the curiosity of the researcher, the echo of old vines, and the fresh perspective of a winery that carries this legacy into the future. If you want to experience where scientific pioneering meets vibrant terroir, then LaSuite aux Conseillans is the place for you.