Soil & Vineyards

Daily Love and Respect for this land

The Listrac-Médoc appellation is situated in the north-west of the Gironde County. This area, baptised “The Roof of the Médoc”, reaches a height of 43 metres above sea level, and the specific characteristics of its soils and its grape varieties have made this appellation an absolute must, such is the quality of the wines produced here.

In actual fact, thanks to the temperate climate, the grapes, soaking up the sun and blown on by the wind, are protected from late frosts, and thus reach optimum maturity every year.

The vineyards of Château Fourcas Hosten consist of 47 hectares of vines which are completely drained and which also benefit from a unique microclimate found between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, the combination of which is very good for making great wines.

60% of the vineyards is planted on gravelly soil in the area called “Le Fourcas” (from which the Château took its name), and the remaining 40% is found on a clayey-chalky soil opposite the Château. The vines have an average age of 30 years.

This large variety of soils and grape varietals allows the making of a remarkably balanced wine which is one of the hallmarks of the Listrac-Médoc appellation.

The planted grape varietals fit perfectly well with the soil types: Cabernets on gravelly Pyrenean soil and Merlots on clayey-chalky soil. The vine density is 8333 vines/ hectare.
Château Fourcas Hosten is one of the forerunners in the battle for sustainable development to protect both the vineyards and the environment.

Leaf-thinning, general clearing of the vines and letting grasses grow in the plots have become essential practices in order to obtain a healthy mature harvest with a perfectly mastered yield.