In the Bordeaux region are some of the most prestigious wineries in the world. The best wines of the Medoc (Margaux, Pauillac, Saint -Estèphe and Saint Julien-Beychevelle) and the Sauternes (sweet wines) where classified in 1855 from Premier Cru to Cinquième Cru. In this classification they forgot to mention the wines of the wine-area Graves. Finally in 1954 there was a classification made for the wine of Graves. At château Smith Haut Lafitte only there red wine is a ‘Grand Cru Classé’ (the highest classification). But their best white wine is also outstanding.
The percentage of highly classified wineries in the Bordeaux area is relatively small.
After my visit at the ‘Cité du Vin’ my wife and I were invited at the magical Château Smith Haut Lafitte (Graves). I tasted often their wines but 
never had the opportunity to visit the winery. I even met Madame Cathiard on a few tastings.
Around the château are 85 hectare of vineyard. And that is very unique because most of the famous wineries have their vineyards dispersed over the area.
Opposite the winery is ‘Les Sources de Caudalie’ with a spa, a restaurant and a hotel all from the same family of Smith Haut Lafitte; Florence and Daniel Cathiard. Since 1990 they own the château. Their daughters are running ‘Les Sources de Caudalie’.
The name of the château was given, around the second half of the 18th century, by one of the previous owners of the château, the Scotsman George Smith.
In the flag of the château are three lilies. Once the chateau Smith Haut Lafitte belonged to a relative of the French royal family.
In front of the château is an enormous bronze hare. This hare became the symbol of the winery. In the vineyard you can spot a lot of hares. 
Normally you wouldn’t be so happy about it. But if you have hares there aren’t any rabbits. Hares and rabbits don’t like each other. Rabbits will eat the grapes and hares won’t.
It takes a long time and skill to make a ‘Grand Cru Classé’ (the highest classification). From the first moment the vine-grapes are planted till the moment they actually can sell the bottles is 21 year. Their philosophy is that the vines are only mature enough to make the best wine after 19 years. Then you have to wait two more years to see the final product. The first four years the grapes are used for compost and the fifth until the 19th year the grapes are used in the second wine of the château of other cuvees.
It is an indeed an honor if you are invited because only wine-experts or famous people are getting a private tour on the property. The tasting was a great experience for me. The wines we tasted where all excellent.
I have seen some impressive wineries but this one they tell you only about in fairy-tales. The wine cellar looks like a work of art.
At the end of the tour we had to wait a little while because the room our charming guides wanted to show us was occupied. I am glad we waited. 
We entered a room with two doors in the floor. They were automatically opened and we saw stairs going down. The stairs led to the private room of the family where they stocked their old cuvees from the 19th century until now.
In the château is also a shop where you can buy all the wines they produce and of course the merchandise.
This château was even more interesting and beautiful then I could ever imagine.
www.smith-haut-lafitte.com