Chateau de Terrière
The Castle of la Terrière, since the 13th century, is located on Cercié’s area, in the heart of the historical Beaujolais. The first known nobleman of la Terrière is Jean Charreton during the 13th century whose descendants will survey him over 5 centuries and be faithful to the Earl of Beaujeu,, the Bourbon family and then the kings of France.
From the 14th et 15th centuries’ construction, at the time, more impressive and surrounded by moats, we still see a nice porch with counts coats of arms and machicolations, an elegant courtyard with an octagonal turret and mullion windows.
In 1523, François 1er, King of France, took over the Beaujolais and la Dombes to his cousin Charles de Bourbon de Montpensier after he joined Charles Quint and pushed him into disgrace and exile together with his chambellan Charreton de la Terrière. It is only in 1535, after a successful trial that Charreton will be able to get his property back.
In 1750, by heritage, la Terrière’s castle, land and vineyards went into the Millières’ family hands. Two sisters, Suzanne and Anne de Millières, without any descendants, decided to donate 25 acres of their domain to the Hospices de Beaujeu which will become the flower of the Hospices and Régnié “La Grange Charreton”, sold on the 2nd Sunday of December on a public auction sale as a charity action.
The followers of Jules Durieu du Souzy, who bought the vineyards and the castle in 1908, have maintained and embellished the domain within the family tradition. Today, Madame De Jarnac only owns the castle.
Les caves ont été rénovées pour permettre des vinifications plus douces, et des macérations plus longues. En 2007, la cave d’élevage a été améliorée, avec l’arrivée de petits foudres et de nouveaux fûts. Historiquement propriétaire en Brouilly et en Beaujolais-villages, le domaine a fait l’acquisition de 2,7 ha de Moulin à Vent cette année.
A Terroir of Exception
Facing Mont Brouilly, a well-known pilgrimage site, the Château and its vineyard of a single parcel of 27 acres extend full south. Overlooking the Ardières valley, this hill of porphyry, which is a crystal rock extremely rich in raw minerals, makes of La Terrière a Terroir of Exception.
The Château’s foundations were on an ancient gallo-roman mas and evidence points to a probable wine-production at that time.
Today, the Château’s vineyards average age is over forty years.