Château La Grace Dieu Les Prieurs’ first Chardonnay goes artisanal

Article from Luxe Packaging Insight (Formes de Luxe) published on 01/06/2021

By Alissa Demorest

For Cuvée Elena, its limited-edition 2019 millésime Chardonnay, Château La Grace Dieu Les Prieurs designed a custom magnum bottle. Produced by French glassmaker Waltersperger, the handcrafted bottles will be auctioned off for charity this year.

Described as the “very first Chardonnay to come from Saint-Émilion” — traditionally red wine country — Cuvée Elena is estate Château La Grace Dieu Les Prieurs’ first foray into white wine. The limited edition of just 1,300 bottles comes exclusively in magnum formats manufactured by Waltersperger, the last glassworks in France to remain specialized in semi-automatic production.

The custom bottle, whose form is visibly squatter and wider than that of a classic wine bottle, comes in both transparent and opaque frosted versions. The name of the cuvee is embossed in relief on the facing, while a floral motif, also embossed, is hand-painted along the base. Devoid of both label and foil, the cork (Amorim), fully visible, is capped with yellow wax seal. Amorim’s NDtech technology was used to screen the presence of TCA, which can impart a musty ’corked’ flavor to the wine.

“We wanted this product to be entirely handcrafted; in addition to the semi-automatic glass production, the magnums are painted, stoppered and sealed by hand at the estate,” notes Laurent Prosperi, Director of the Château La Grace Dieu Les Prieurs.

The magnum comes in a transparent acrylic coffret (Wildcat Packaging).

Soon to be auctioned off, the 2019 millésime bottle will have a starting price of €250; all funds are being donated to charity.

Cuvée Elena took home a gold medal at The Global Chardonnay Masters 2020 in the Premium category for Best Chardonnay aged in oak casks.