5 Reasons to Visit Lalique’s Opulent New Château in Bordeaux

Lalique recently opened Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, a hotel and restaurant in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux that is befitting of the crystal house’s history and prestige. Not one to rest on its brand’s laurels, the property raises the stakes by putting up some impressive numbers.

2,500 bottles on the wine list at the restaurant. Head sommelier Adrien Cascio created the wine list along with Romain Iltis of Villa René Lalique. Executive chef Jerome Schilling finds inspiration for his dishes in the fine wines from the château’s collection.

3,000 Lalique pieces in the hotel and restaurant. Lalique’s exquisitely crafted crystal pieces make up much of the hotel and restaurant’s design, including lighting, decorative table pieces, chairs, and more. One notable piece is a replica of a pair of salt and pepper shakers from a collaboration between René Lalique and Peugeot from 1924.

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13 rooms designed by Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli. The interior designers decorated the trio of suites and ten rooms with custom-made furnishings. Green and Mingarelli are also responsible for Lalique’s Maison collection of Art Deco–inspired furniture and home accessories.

1 Damien Hirst crystal artwork in the chapel. Hirst worked with Lalique to create his crystal cross artwork titled Eternal Belief to “depict life and faith.” The chapel also features a custom red-and-black marble altar designed by Mingarelli and stained-glass windows with Lalique’s Merle et Raisins (Blackbird and Grapes) motif.

1893: Year of oldest vintage in the cellar. Below the château are underground cellars that contain 350,000 bottles of red and white wine. Visitors can come for tastings or to view the collection, as well as purchase bottles from the château’s boutique.

The restaurant’s ceiling is decorated with 120 gold crystal Sémillon leaves, and the windows look out onto the vineyard. Photo: Agi Simoes and Reto Guntli

Crystal tableware and desserts at the restaurant. Photo: Anne-Emmanuelle Thion

Wine cellars. Photo: Agi Simoes and Reto Guntli

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey’s Premier Grand Cru Classé wine features engraved ‘Femme et Raisins’ first created by René Lalique in 1928. Photo: Hervé Lefebvre

The château also celebrates 400 years. It was bought in 2014 by Lalique’s CEO, Silvio Denz. Photo: Agi Simoes and Reto Guntli

Bar Lounge at Lalique’s Château Lafaurie Peyraguey. Photo: Agi Simoes and Reto Guntli

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Damien Hirst’s Eternal Belief crystal artwork on display in the chapel. Photo: Courtesy of Château Lafaurie Peyraguey

One of the guest rooms designed by Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli. Photo: Agi Simoes and Reto Guntli

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2018 Fall Issue in the section called The Artful Life. Subscribe to the magazine.