Located in La Londe-les-Maures, on the Var coast, Château Sainte-Marguerite is one of the historic estates of the Côtes de Provence appellation. Classified Growth of the region since 1955 and owned by the Fayard family since 1977, the estate has gradually established itself as a benchmark for premium Provençal rosé, while also developing high-quality white and red wines.
To understand what sets Château Sainte-Marguerite apart, we need to look back at its history, discuss the vineyard’s terroirs, and explore how its various wines have built the estate’s reputation.Follow the guide!
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The history of Château Sainte-Marguerite
The modern history of Château Sainte-Marguerite began in 1929, with the creation of the wine estate in La Londe-les-Maures. However, the real turning point came in 1977, when Brigitte and Jean-Pierre Fayard acquired the estate, which at the time had only about seven hectares of vines.
The couple gradually undertook to restructure the vineyard and chose early on to position their wines in a premium segment. Rather than focusing on mass distribution, the Fayard family relied in particular on wine merchants and the restaurant industry, helping to build the estate’s high-end image.
Over the decades, the estate expanded and the family developed new winegrowing activities. In 1999, they notably acquired Château Hermitage Saint-Martin, in Cuers. The new generation, with Olivier and Enzo Fayard, then took on an increasingly important role in managing and developing the estate.
This family continuity remains one of the guiding principles of Sainte-Marguerite, even though the estate has grown significantly in recent years.
Château Sainte-Marguerite, in La-Londe-Les-Maures
The terroirs of Château Sainte-Marguerite
The historic cradle of Château Sainte-Marguerite is located in La Londe-les-Maures, in the Var region, facing the Golden Islands and just a few kilometers from the Mediterranean. It is in this particularly maritime area of the Côtes de Provence that the estate built its identity, before gradually expanding its influence to other parts of the appellation.
Since 1977, Sainte-Marguerite has indeed grown considerably. Following several acquisitions, including that of Terres de Ravel, the entire vineyard now covers over 500 hectares of vines, spread across numerous plots between La Londe-les-Maures, Cuers, Pierrefeu, and other areas of the Côtes de Provence. This geographical diversity allows us to work with a wide variety of soils, exposures, and microclimates, and to adapt the blends to the desired profile for each cuvée.
A strong Mediterranean influence
Around La Londe, the vines are strongly influenced by their proximity to the sea. The Mediterranean climate here benefits from regular sea breezes, which temper the intense summer heat and help preserve the freshness of the grapes.This maritime influence is one of the sector's most distinctive features and contributes to the precise, balanced style sought by the estate.
The soils are also highly characteristic. The plots notably feature a significant schist and silica, component, complemented in certain areas by clay, pebbles, and clay-limestone formations. These soil differences allow Mediterranean grape varieties to express themselves in diverse ways depending on their location.
The La Londe terroir also benefits from a complementary geographical designation within the Côtes de Provence AOC, highlighting the uniqueness of this coastal area.
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle at the heart of the blends
The estate's grape varieties are largely based on the historic varieties of Provence. Grenache Noir generally brings fullness, fruit, and a generous character to both reds and rosés, while Cinsault adds finesse and delicacy to the rosés. Syrah brings a more pronounced structure to the reds.
For the white wines (and also a little in the rosés), Rolle, the Provençal name for Vermentino, plays a major role thanks to its freshness, citrus aromas, and its ability to retain tension.
This complementarity between grape varieties, soil types, and exposures is one of the estate’s main levers for crafting wines of the highest quality.
Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, and Rolle: the grape varieties at the heart of the estate’s signature blends
Certified organic and vegan viticulture
Organic farming is central to the philosophy at Château Sainte-Marguerite. The estate has been certified organic since 2003 and excludes the use of herbicides, insecticides, and synthetic fungicides.Work in the vineyard aims to preserve soil balance and to obtain healthy grapes, harvested at optimal ripeness according to the needs of each plot and each cuvée.
Sainte-Marguerite also holds a vegan certification, which means that no animal-derived products are used during the winemaking process.
The Symphonie rosé cuvée from Château Sainte Marguerite
What is the style of the estate's wines?
The identity of Sainte-Marguerite is expressed primarily through its rosés : wines with a pale, delicate color. The desired profile favors finesse, freshness, and a beautiful minerality, with aromas of white fruits, citrus, and a floral touch. These are rosés crafted as gastronomic wines, able to accompany a full meal rather than being limited to an aperitif.
The winemaking philosophy also aims to preserve the fruit and freshness as much as possible : cold skin maceration before gentle pressing, temperature-controlled vinification, then aging on fine lees for the rosés. Whites and reds may benefit from barrel aging for 12 to 24 months depending on the cuvée. The estate emphasizes grape quality over yield, with the goal of a healthy harvest.
While the various rosé cuvées remain the estate's signature, the whites, characterized by floral and citrus notes with a finish that is often slightly salin, and the reds, elegant and structured, complete a full and high-quality range.
The estate's wine range
The production at Château Sainte-Marguerite is now organized around three main collections: Symphonie, Fantastique, and Collection Marguerites, each expressing a different positioning and level of ambition.
Symphonie
Symphonie is one of the historic signatures of Château Sainte-Marguerite.Long associated with its rosé, the range now also includes a white.
Symphonie rosé fully embodies the gourmet vision developed by the estate: a delicate and fresh rosé, yet structured enough to pair with a meal. The focus is as much on balance as on length, with a more ambitious style than a simple aperitif wine. A wine of great aromatic elegance!
Symphonie blanc extends this philosophy with a floral, citrusy, and subtly exotic expression, where freshness and finesse also play a central role.
Fantastique
Fantastique represents the estate's most complete range.
Available in rosé, white, and red, the range seeks greater depth, structure and length.
Fantastique rosé remains the most iconic expression, with a particularly gourmet profile and a more pronounced character.
Fantastique white and Fantastique red allow this same standard to be expressed in all three colors, each with its own balance between complexity and aromatic richness.
Marguerites Collection
The Marguerites Collection is the most recent of the three ranges and completes the estate’s universe with wines produced in limited volumes designed to explore more unique expressions of its terroirs.
This collection holds a special place in the range and is aimed more at enthusiasts looking to discover rare selections that embody the excellence of the estate and the region.
In summary
As you can see, Château Sainte-Marguerite has managed to evolve its image without losing what makes its identity: a strong connection to La Londe-les-Maures, a family story carried by the Fayard family since 1977, and a committed approach to organic farming.
While rosé naturally remains the color that built the estate’s reputation, the property now presents a much broader profile, with excellent white and red wines. This evolution clearly reflects the desire to no longer be recognized solely as a leading name in Provençal rosé, but as a true producer of generous gastronomic wines.
Ready to put theory into practice? Discover on La Cave Éclairée our selection of wines from Château Sainte-Marguerite!
