A term that mainly refers to producers in the Bordeaux region. A producer that owns its own vineyards and is responsible for everything from cultivation to vinification, aging, and bottling is called a Château.
Chateau means "castle" or "mansion." It is said that the name came from the fact that a large amount of capital was required to grow grapes in one's own fields and make wine, and wine was made in a magnificent building that was literally like a castle.
Nowadays, any brewery that handles everything from cultivation to brewing and bottling can be called a chateau, regardless of the size of the building.
Currently, there are said to be over 8,000 chateaux in the Bordeaux region, and at the top of them are the five great chateaux that have been selected as first growths in the Médoc classification. They have enjoyed worldwide fame for over 160 years.
Additionally, some producers outside of the Bordeaux region use the name "chateau" in imitation of the chateaux in Bordeaux.
In Burgundy, a producer who carries out all processes from cultivation to bottling is called a Domaine.
