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Château Dudon
1875
2007
In 1655
Bernard Dudon de Boynet and his son Blaise, counsellors in Bordeaux's
parliament, are owners of the castle. From
1755, until the French Revolution the property's surface increased
from 9ha to 12.15ha (in 1793). In
1789 Jean Baptiste Dudon took over the counsellor parliament duty
when his father died. Staying faithful to the King, he was
guillotined in front of Barsac's church in November 1793, despite of
the payment of an outrageous ransom (50 Louis!) requested by
the Talliens. After
this confused period the Castle belonged to Pierre Nicolas de
Pichard who was also the owner of an other Castle, "Château
Lafaurie Peyraguey" in Sauternes. It is at this time that Thomas
Jefferson, future
president of the United States, making a tour
in Bordeaux area, spoke in his letters about the
white sweet wines of Barsac and the manner to produce them. In 1868,
Bernard Gaussem, cooper master in Barsac, great-great-grand father
of Evelyne Allien, current owner, bought
the castle for his daughter Julia who married Alphonse
Balayé. The castle has already his present aspect, except
the greenhouse built at the end of the 19th century. Gaussem's
family in 1879 Bernard
Gaussem down left; close to him :his grandson Raoul Balayé. Standing on
the second row, 3rd by the left : Julia Gaussem
Balayé . Duffour
de la Vernède-Balayé family in 1902
Marthe and Raoul Balayé in their De Dion Bouton
The parents in law
of Marthe Duffour de Jacques Herteman,
Renée's husband, officer, was in the second world
war. During this period, the castle was occupied by 66
officers and soldiers. At the death
of Mrs Balayé, Mrs Jacqueline Saumade, her daughter, became
the owner. Since 1988, Evelyne Saumade, who has become Mrs
Allien, took full responsibility for the Castle.
A women's Castle
Each
progeny having only heiress, 5 women are successively in charge of the
Castle:
Ø Julia Balayé, spouse of Alphonse, who received the Castle as dowry ,
Ø Marthe widow of Raoul Balayé when 24 years old,
Ø Renée Herteman, daughter of Marthe and Raoul,
Ø Jacqueline Saumade-Herteman,
Ø Evelyne Allien Saumade
The revival
Evelyne and Michel Allien since 1988, are applying themselves to give life back to the building and the vineyards around. Carrying on with the traditional method since 1868, no weed-killer has been used in the vineyard till now. The Château produces now an organic wine. A Bacchus gîte was built in 1994, open to the adepts of œnotourism. In November 2006, Château Dudon was awarded by silver Best of oenotourism in Great Wine World Capitals.
The future
The Castle and the gîte
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