Château Bessan
Château Bessan, vineyard in the heart of Bordeaux, now proudly part of the Joule’s Brewery family.
Joule’s has always been about making the best beer we can, brewed with pure Shropshire mineral water and only served in our own pubs. Now, we’re bringing the same approach to wine. We’ve purchased Château Bessan, a historic vineyard in Bordeaux, and from this year, you’ll only find its wines in selected Joule’s Taphouses.
High above the Garonne River, on a sunlit plateau in Bordeaux’s Premier Côtes, Château Bessan has grown vines for more than four centuries. Clay the colour of brick, rare seams of blue clay, and limestone beneath give these wines their distinctive character. Since 1607, every bottle has carried the Great Seal, a promise of purity.
Like Joule’s, Bessan’s story is one of heritage and craft. Our beer was first brewed by monks, carries one of the world’s oldest beer trademarks, and is poured only in our own pubs. Now, our wine follows the same path – made with care, served with pride, and found only in a Joule’s Taphouse.
Our Wines
Bordeaux Blanc
ORGANIC
Château Bessan
ORGANIC
Fleur De Vigne
ORGANIC
Only in Joule’s Taphouses
Just as we never bottle our beer, we’ll never sell Château Bessan outside our own pubs. From vineyard to bar, we look after every drop, making sure the wine in your glass is the wine we intended. This is wine made for great pubs – and you’ll only find it in a Joule’s Taphouse.
What’s Next
We’ll be pouring the first glasses at the Red Lion Brewery Tap in Market Drayton from the late August, with a gradual rollout to our other pubs in the months ahead. Whether you’re raising a pint of Green Monkey or a glass of Château Bessan, we hope you’ll join us in saying “Cheers!” to this exciting new chapter.
Our story so far…
1569: The Beginning: Lucques Bessan purchases 38 hectares from Montferrand Escoussans, including the entire Tabanac parcel. He plans his noble home and a purpose-built wine chai (winemaking building) on the prime plateau.
1609: Domaine de Bessan Completed: The estate remains in the Bessan family for almost two centuries. Lucques’ personal monogram and seal can still be found on buildings today.
1786: Becomes “Château Bessan”: Reflecting the era’s fashion, the estate gains its château title. Bordeaux wine grows in reputation – sweet whites from Cadillac and rich reds from across the region become sought-after across Europe, especially by the English.
WWII: German Occupation: Many Bordeaux estates, including Bessan, are seized by German forces. Cellars are taken over and the estate falls into disrepair.
Post-war decline: The noble house is abandoned, workers operate from a smaller property (Petit Bessan). By the 1960s, much of the surrounding land is sold off, leaving only the prime plateau.
1985: Verdier Family Revival: Rémy and Sylvie Verdier purchase the estate, restoring the vineyard’s health, re-roofing the house, and protecting its historic interiors.
2005: Expansion: Acquire “La Côte,” a south-facing slope perfect for producing exceptional claret.
2015: Innovation: First in Bordeaux to plant Souvignier Gris & Muscaris – resistant varieties used to make La Résistance, a modern “natural” wine.
2024: Joule’s Brewery purchases Château Bessan to produce wine exclusively for our pubs, applying the same values we use for our beer – made ourselves, for our customers, at a fair price.
