Château Clarke
“Wine-making is an act rooted in aesthetics... There is an undeniable beauty and elegance within it that is essential to me... Wine is about pleasure and sharing.” – Ariane de Rothschild
Château Clarke was named in 1771, for its Irish owners. Two hundred years later, Baron Edmond de Rothschild acquired the estate with the objective of creating top tier wines to rival the best of his distinguished family.
Ideal terroir
Château Clarke’s terroir resembles the right bank with its high proportions of clay and limestone. The warm, southerly location, cooled by Atlantic breezes, allows a slow, even maturation of the estate’s signature red grape, Merlot, while preserving its bright acidity.
Environment & innovation
In 2007, Château Clarke partnered with the French National Institute for Agronomic Research and the French Institute of Vine and Wine on a series of experiments aimed at significantly reducing chemical inputs in the vineyards. The estate remains a leader in the region and is currently trialing organic viticultural practices.
Community outreach
Being an engaged member of the Listrac-Médoc and Moulis-en-Médoc communities is important to Château Clarke. The estate is involved in employment programs and educational training initiatives at the Ecole de la Vigne, as well as an active participant in a variety of local events.
Perfect pairing
The style of Château Clarke’s wines has evolved over the years. Today, freshness, balance, and elegance best describe the estate’s white and red wines. A favourite pairing for the estate red is a tender beef Rossini dish (ideally from the region’s famous Bazas breed), in a chanterelle mushroom sauce.
Behind the Wines
A true citizen of the world, Ariane de Rothschild was born in San Salvador, grew up in Latin America and Africa, studied for her undergraduate commerce degree in Paris, and attained her MBA in New York. In 2015, she was appointed Chairwoman of the Edmond de Rothschild Group executive committee. With Ariane at the helm, Château Clarke has flourished. A new technical director was brought on board, as was Eric Boissenot, consultant oenologist for some of the finest Médoc estates including Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild. Their mandate is to raise quality to ever loftier levels. Alongside these impressive achievements, Ariane is also mother to four daughters.