Since 1842, the family heritage has flourished.
At each generation, the heirs of Georges Thienpont
weave a little more their canvas in the vineyards of Bordeaux.
Today they look after nearly twenty properties.

1842

Early days

A long history of family winemaking was beginning. Camille Thienpont founded a wine trading company in Hof te Cattebeke in the Flemish Ardennes.

1921

Château Troplong Mondot

Georges Thienpont established a foothold in the wine region by buying Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion. The estate would later be sold in the 1930s. Georges is François’ grandfather.

1924

Vieux Château Certan

Vieux Château Certan

Vieux Château Certan was acquired in 1924 by Georges Thienpont and became one of the jewels in the family’s crown.

1946

Château Puygueraud

Château Puygueraud

George (without the s), Georges’ son, settled in a 15th-century property atop the village of Saint-Cibard with his wife Monica. This was Château Puygueraud, which would become a haven for their thirteen children.

1979

Le Pin

Le Pin

Belgian cousin Jacques acquired just a hectare and a half of land in Pomerol, and worked with Alexandre to create a small-scale wine. Le Pin was born. The estate would become a standard-bearer for the appellation over the course of just a few years.

1981

USA

After studying winemaking and commerce, François left his native Bordeaux for the USA where he remained for four years, and presented the still-unknown Le Pin to Robert Parker.

1983

First vintage of Puygueraud

First vintage of Puygueraud

François Thienpont’s brother Nicolas was behind the first vintage of Château Puygueraud, establishing himself as an outstanding winemaker. Today, Nicolas looks after Château Les Charmes Godard and Château La Prade, and manages a portfolio of prestigious right-bank estates including Chateaux Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse.

1985

Alexandre at Vieux Château Certan

Alexandre at Vieux Château Certan

Alexandre succeeded his father at the helm of Vieux Château Certan. He continued his pursuit of excellence, minimising interventions and striving to take a back seat to the vintage’s particular story and the terroir’s natural characteristics. He now runs the estate with his son Guillaume.

1995

Wings takes flight

François Thienpont founded Wings as a way of standing on his own two feet. The company became a recipient of a Grand Cru allocation, and markets the family’s wines.

2009

After Le Pin came l’If

After Le Pin came l’If

Jacques embarked on a new adventure by buying eight hectares at the top of the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau. After Le Pin, he named his new estate L’If. 2011 was its first vintage.