Françoise d' Arfeuille

About the Winery

Françoise d'Arfeuille is associated with Château Tessendey, a Bordeaux wine estate in the Fronsac appellation. The château has been owned by the d'Arfeuille family since 1972, when Martine and Paul-Bernard d'Arfeuille undertook a vast program of vineyard and winery renovations. The d'Arfeuilles are a family with deep roots in the world of wine: having lived in the Libourne area since the 18th century, during the 20th century they oversaw Château Toumalin (Fronsac) and Château La Pointe (Pomerol) while also developing a trading business on the Libourne quaysides. Martine d'Arfeuille also became co-owner of Cheval Blanc, a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, serving on the management board until the estate's sale in 1998. In 2012, Arnaud d'Arfeuille took over the reins of Tessendey, forty years after his parents, establishing new ambitions for the estate. The vineyard rests on clay soil and limestone rock, with Merlot making up 75% of plantings, followed by Cabernet Franc. The estate is focused on crafting elegant, accessible, and gourmet wines.

“The d'Arfeuille family has crafted elegant Fronsac wines at Château Tessendey since 1972, with deep connections to Bordeaux's most prestigious estates.”