What Château Léoville Poyferré does

Château Léoville Poyferré is a Second Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux wine estate located in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France, holding its 1855 classification ranking and owned by the Cuvelier family since 1920. The estate produces a portfolio of four wines from 80 hectares of gravel terroir: the flagship Grand Vin, Château Moulin Riche (second estate on a single 20-hectare block), Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré (third wine), and M de Moulin Riche. Production is built on precision winemaking infrastructure that includes 57 thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks (27 with double walls for pre-fermentation cold maceration), optical berry sorting, CO2 capture and redistribution during fermentation, bioprotection with non-Saccharomyces yeasts, traditional Guyot double pruning, and 18-month aging in 100% French oak barrels. The vineyard has been Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3 certified since 2017, with an average vine age of 42 years and an encépagement of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

The business operates two distinct revenue streams. The primary stream is wine sales through the Bordeaux négociant en primeur system, international distribution to fine wine merchants and Michelin-level hospitality, and direct-to-consumer sales at the on-site boutique, with prices ranging from entry-level for third wines to several hundred euros per bottle for mature grand vin releases. The second stream is wine tourism and event hosting, offering five structured tasting formats (€20 to €1,250) plus event hire for up to 180 guests in a reception hall overlooking the vineyards. Customers are affluent wine collectors and investors (primary), wine tourists and hospitality professionals (primary), and fine dining/hospitality trade buyers (secondary). The estate is sold globally and reaches international markets through the family's négociant heritage relationships.

The company is closely held by the Cuvelier family, with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier as Managing Director since 2018, Oenologist Isabelle Davin (since 2000, 25 harvests), and an operations team of 50+ employees as of 2026. The Cuvelier family also owns related properties including Château Le Crock (Saint-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel 2025) and Cuvelier Los Andes (Mendoza, Argentina). Major recent strategic moves include the 2025 launch of the 'Infiniment' charitable gift set sold via Goodness with proceeds to the Gérard Basset Foundation, the 2018 leadership succession, and ongoing HVE Level 3 sustainability certification.

Name

Château Léoville Poyferré

Legal name

CHÂTEAU LÉOVILLE POYFERRÉ

Website

https://leoville-poyferre.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1840

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Château Léoville Poyferré is a family-owned Second Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux wine estate in Saint-Julien, producing grand vin, two secondary estates, and wine tourism experiences from 80 hectares of terroir, serving global collectors, wine tourists, and fine wine merchants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Bordeaux Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Fine Bordeaux wines
• Saint-Julien appellation
• Grand Cru Classé
• Wine tourism experiences
• Bordeaux vineyard estate

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-julien-beychevelle

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wine Sales (Grand Vin and Secondary Labels): Primary revenue stream from direct sales of Château Léoville Poyferré (2nd Grand Cru Classé), Château Moulin Riche, Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré, and M de Moulin Riche. Sales conducted through the château boutique, en primeur (wine futures) campaign to Bordeaux négociants, and international distribution. Prices range from entry-level to several hundred euros per bottle for mature vintages.
2. Wine Tourism and Experiences: Revenue from paid visitor experiences including guided tours, structured tasting formats (Panoramic €30, Douceurs €70, Symphonie €100, Murmures du caveau €1,250/group, Terrasse Estivale €35), spontaneous boutique tastings (€20/person), and event hire of the reception hall (up to 180 guests) and private dining room (up to 15 guests).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Château Léoville Poyferré produces and sells premium Bordeaux wines from its 80-hectare vineyard in the Saint-Julien appellation, classified as 2nd Grand Cru Classé since 1855. The estate offers a portfolio of four wines (Grand Vin, Château Moulin Riche, Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré, M de Moulin Riche) and generates additional revenue through paid wine tourism experiences including guided tastings, cellar tours, and private events.

Product overview

Château Léoville Poyferré is a Second Grand Cru Classé wine estate in Saint-Julien, owned by the Cuvelier family since 1920. The estate produces a portfolio of four named wine products: the flagship Château Léoville Poyferré (Grand Vin), Château Moulin Riche (second estate), Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré (third wine), and M de Moulin Riche (second wine of Moulin Riche). The wines are produced from 80 hectares of gravel terroir, with encépagement of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Beyond wine production, the estate offers wine tourism experiences including tastings and estate visits, event hosting services, and maintains affiliated properties including Château Le Crock in Saint-Estèphe and Cuvelier Los Andes in Argentina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Château Moulin Riche: Second estate of the property located on 20 hectares in Saint-Julien, producing wines expressing generosity and freshness of the appellation.
• Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré
• M de Moulin Riche

Products and services

• Château Léoville Poyferré (Grand Vin) Flagship Second Grand Cru Classé wine produced from 80 hectares of gravel terroir in the Saint-Julien appellation; described as voluptuous, vibrant, and precise with exceptional aging potential of 20-40+ years. Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels.
• Château Moulin Riche Saint-Julien wine produced from a single 20-hectare parcel to the northwest of the appellation; expresses generosity and freshness of the terroir.
• Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré Third wine of the estate, offering an accessible expression of the estate's style and Saint-Julien terroir.
• M de Moulin Riche Second wine of Château Moulin Riche, representing the more approachable expression of the estate's terroir.
• Wine Tourism & Tasting Experiences Guided visits and structured tastings including Panoramic (€30), Douceurs (€70), Symphonie (€100), Terrasse Estivale (€35), walk-in boutique tastings (€20), and private Murmures du caveau vertical tastings (€1,250/group).
• Event Hosting Private event hosting including a reception hall accommodating up to 180 seated guests with a 250m² terrace overlooking the vineyards, and an intimate private dining room for up to 15 guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 2022 vintage received a perfect 100-point score from critics, positioning it as a legendary Saint-Julien vintage.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• GoodnessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 June 2025Goodness is a curated fine wine e-commerce platform that served as the exclusive retailer for the estate's 'Infiniment' limited-edition gift set (2010, 2016, 2022 vintages). All proceeds from this charitable sale were donated to the Gérard Basset Foundation.
• Gérard Basset FoundationminorOthers · 26 June 2025Founded in 2021, the Gérard Basset Foundation is dedicated to education, training, and mentorship within the wine, spirits, and hospitality industries. The estate partnered with the foundation through the Infiniment gift box initiative, donating all proceeds to support scholarships and mentorship programmes for talented individuals regardless of background. The foundation won the 2025 V d'Or award for Best Education & Knowledge Sharing.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Château Léoville Barton: The third Léoville sibling, also 2nd Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Julien, producing classified Bordeaux from contiguous gravel terroir. Same appellation, same classification tier, and same négociant-distribution model as the subject.
• Château Léoville Las Cases: The parent estate of the original Léoville division (split in 1740/1840), also classified as 2nd Grand Cru Classé in Saint-Julien. Operates the same business model of classified-growth wine production with global en primeur distribution, making it the closest direct comparable in appellation and classification.
• Château Beychevelle: Saint-Julien 4th Grand Cru Classé with extensive wine tourism and event hosting operations comparable to Léoville Poyferré's visitor business. Operates in the same appellation with overlapping collector and trade customer base.
• Château Ducru-Beaucaillou: Saint-Julien 2nd Grand Cru Classé with comparable terroir and family-ownership structure (Borie family). Direct comparable for premium Saint-Julien positioning, pricing, and négociant distribution dynamics.
• Château Gruaud-Larose: Saint-Julien 2nd Grand Cru Classé. Comparable classified-growth producer in the same appellation, with similar export-driven, négociant-distributed business model and Saint-Julien terroir characteristics.

Broad incumbents

• Château Cos d'Estournel: Saint-Estèphe 2nd Grand Cru Classé and widely considered a 'Super Second' with a comparable critical reputation and pricing tier. Operates across the broader Médoc premium Bordeaux market with overlapping collector and Asian-export demand.
• Château Palmer: Margaux appellation, officially 3rd Growth but consistently traded at 'Super Second' prices and quality. Comparable biodynamic sustainability positioning, premium collector base, and family-ownership governance model.
• Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande: Pauillac 2nd Grand Cru Classé with similarly structured multi-label portfolio (Grand Vin + Réserve) and comparable en primeur pricing dynamics. Provides benchmark for classified-growth pricing across the Médoc.
• Château Montrose: Saint-Estèphe 2nd Grand Cru Classé and family-owned (Bouygues group). Comparable scale, premium positioning, and négociant-distributed business model; the same terroir-classification tier with overlapping global fine wine customer base.
• Château Lynch-Bages: Pauillac 'Super Fifth' classified estate owned by the Cazes family. Comparable in scale, premium international brand positioning, Asian-export orientation, and parallel development of wine tourism and secondary-label portfolio strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chateau.leoville.poyferre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chateau-leoville-poyferre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Château Léoville Poyferré