Château Haut-Brion is the oldest of Bordeaux's five first growths, and one of the most famous wines in the world. Located in Pessac-Léognan, south of the city of Bordeaux, the château is rather far removed from its counterparts, all of which are found in the Médoc.
The vineyards were established in the 1530s by the Pontac family, changing hands several times throughout the ensuing centuries. Historical evidence shows that Haut-Brion was drunk by King Charles II and Thomas Jefferson, and the famous London diarist Samuel Pepys was also a fan of the wine. The estate was acquired by American Francophile Clarence Dillon in 1935 and has been managed by the family since.
Haut-Brion is notable as being the only first growth in Graves – Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Latour are all in Pauillac, while Château Margaux is in Margaux. Haut-Brion's red wine is its key line, comprising most of the château's output, but it is also unusual in that it has a corresponding white wine that shares the simple "Haut-Brion" name.
