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Château du Seuil, located 35km south east of Bordeaux, is one of the most elegant country houses on the left bank of the Garonne river. This 19th century estate overlooks the river and is in the heart of the Graves vineyards, as well as the Cérons appellation.
This region is rich in remains of Gallo-Roman vineyards and Sirione (Cérons) is the only place mentioned on Antonin's itinerary, which was a map of the road system under the emperor Caracalla (211-217) - as well as on Peutinger's Table (3rd century). This privileged region was formerly part of the ancient jurisdiction of the Royal Provost of Barsac, on which it borders. The river Ciron flowed into the Garonne river at Cérons prior to the 16th century giving the Latin name of Cirione to the village.
During the Middle Ages, Eleanor of Aquitaine gave all her property to her husband, Henry Plantagenet, as part of her dowry. This was the beginning of an international reputation for Graves wine that continues to this day. Montesquieu, a Graves winegrower, built a magnificent château not far from Labrède in the 15th century. He also promoted the region's wines in Paris and in England.
The port of Cérones was used to export both the wine that had become well known, as well as the oak barrels that would provide a good living for local artisans.
In the 1828 English edition of Paguierre's book on Bordeaux wines, it is written that the wines of Cérones "are remarkable for their attractive richness, full flavour, firmness and great mellowness".
In 1930, the wine of Château du Seuil was considered one the finest wines of Cérons and won numerous distinctions: a silver medal at the 1928 Paris Agricultural Show, a silver medal in Liège in 1930 and a silver medal in Antwerp in 1930. Recently many international medals including gold, silver and bronze have been awarded to the property's wines and one which is greatly esteemed, the Coup de Coeur from the Guide Hachette 1997 for their Château dry white wine 1995.
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