Domaine viticole Pomerol : familial - Château La Croix Taillefer

The Rivière Family and Château La Croix Taillefer

The Rivière family has been involved in winemaking in this region for generations. Although there was a time when this tradition was interrupted, the spirit of winemaking was never forgotten. Romain Rivière’s father, Claude, gradually acquired more vineyards and, in 1994, the family owned vineyards in the village of Pomerol. Then, in 1997, Château La Croix Taillefer had to be sold by its previous owner, marking the beginning of the history between the Rivière family and Château La Croix Taillefer.

In 2000, Romain Rivière, who was working as an engineer at the time, began studying oenology at Bordeaux University and joined the family business. The family then made a significant shift toward organic winemaking, becoming the second organic winery in Pomerol and the first in Lalande-de-Pomerol.

In 2021, Romain’s wife, Ikumi, came from Japan to join the Château, bringing a fresh perspective. The pairing of wine has since expanded beyond just French cuisine to include traditional Japanese home-cooked dishes. "No matter how busy we are, I support my husband, who dedicates himself fully to the vineyards and winemaking. I wish for him to stay healthy and continue making delicious wines," says Ikumi.

L'histoire de notre domaine viticole familial

Making wine organically

In 2000, Château La Croix Taillefer decided to transition into an organic winery. After achieving positive results from trials in Bordeaux Supérieur, the conversion of all vineyards began in 2002. The vineyards in Pomerol and Lalande-de-Pomerol were certified by Ecocert in 2005, while the Bordeaux Supérieur vineyards received certification in 2010.

The Fusion of France and Japan

The meeting between Romain and Ikumi began in 2019 when Ikumi, who was working in an office in the center of Tokyo at the time, came to Romain’s friend’s château for a one-and-a-half-month experience in harvesting and winemaking. After the chaos of the pandemic, they got married, and Ikumi moved to Pomerol. From high heels to rubber boots, her life changed 180 degrees. Despite various challenges, she feels every day that she is becoming closer to nature and the essence of humanity. Now, she stays in the winery during the harvest season, assisting with winemaking while learning her husband's philosophy and the craft of winemaking.

Currently, she is in charge of accounting and media. Together, Romain and Ikumi will continue combining the best of France and Japan, building their own château with your continued support.

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