- Wine
Quality & Craftsmanship
Our dedication to perfection is at the heart of our work at Suntory. Through our efforts to provide excellence in safety, reliability, and delight, we create new value and high-quality products that enrich the lives of our consumers.
Our quality policy, “all for the quality,” means that every stage from the very beginning of product development to the moment of consumption, must pursue the highest of standards.
Between the Atlantic Ocean and La Gironde estuary is the esteemed Médoc region of France, an area renowned for its most treasured fruit – the grape. For centuries, this location has borne some of the world’s most prestigious vintages of wine. In St. Julien, the smallest of the region’s four appellations, sits Château Lagrange, where its first vines were planted in the beginning of the 16th century. Years later, Suntory became a part of its story, bringing a vision of uncompromised quality in the pursuit of perfection.
Featured prominently on wine maps since the 17th century, Château Lagrange has changed hands many times through the centuries, experiencing periods of growth and prosperity. Innovative drainage systems and mold prevention techniques were developed, a grand Tuscan tower was erected, and the estate became a gathering spot for high society to enjoy the rich varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit-Verdot. In 1855,the Paris Exposition held its first Bordeaux Classification, and Château Lagrange was officially classified “Grand Cru Third Growth” – earning the vineyard international recognition and prestige.
Then came darker years: the phylloxera outbreak that decimated vineyards across the continent, two World Wars, and financial crises that each took their toll on the estate, resulting in a steady decline in the character of the wine over decades.
In 1983, when Suntory purchased Château Lagrange, its vineyards as well as its buildings, were in a state of neglect. As the first non-Western company to manage a Bordeaux château, Suntory made a long-term commitment: make the necessary investments to strive for perfection while respecting the legacy and the local community. This marked the beginning of a 40 Year history of rebirth and innovation.
With quality of utmost importance, our first grapes (and all to follow) were treated delicately - a constant focus on precision and ripeness. The introduction of smaller fermentation tanks allowed for the production of base wines with distinct flavors, expanding the possibilities for assemblage (blending). Those first vines planted at the time of Suntory’s acquisition have now reached 40 years of age, yielding fruit ideal for winemaking.
With quality of utmost importance, our first grapes (and all to follow) were treated delicately - a constant focus on precision and ripeness. The introduction of smaller fermentation tanks allowed for the production of base wines with distinct flavors, expanding the possibilities for assemblage (blending). Those first vines planted at the time of Suntory’s acquisition have now reached 40 years of age, yielding fruit ideal for winemaking.
That same attention to craftsmanship was applied to the estate’s worn buildings and cellars, which were brought back to their previous splendor through skillfully blended French and Asian design. Through unwavering passion and by holding quality as a sole objective, Château Lagrange’s prestige was restored brick by brick, vintage by vintage.
Today, 40 years later, you will find its wines at the top of global rankings from connoisseurs, on the bottle lists of esteemed sommeliers, and in the glasses of oenophiles around the world. This prestige is all due to the respect for tradition – by maintaining the estate’s historical plots – as well as a willingness to innovate, exemplified by the seedlings planted in the 1980’s. Prestige has also required patience. It takes two to three decades for grapevines to realize the potential of their terroir. The care put into the seedlings planted by Suntory have now become the vineyard’s mainstay, finally able to express the unique character of the land.
You can taste that care in Grand Vin of Château Lagrange, which gracefully captures the elegant complexity of old vines. These wines and others are invitations in a bottle. Invitations to uncompromised quality. Invitations welcoming people to experience the flavors of the region, taste the terroir, and become part of the story of Château Lagrange, just as Suntory has.
