Château de Monterminod, Medieval castle in Saint-Alban-Leysse, France
Château de Monterminod is a stone castle standing on a hill overlooking vineyards, with defensive walls and a central tower built upon ancient Burgundian fortifications. The estate manages around 9 hectares of vineyards producing roughly 150 hectoliters of wine each year.
The Crochet family, descendants of local nobility, owned the castle from the 13th through the 19th century, with major reconstruction work taking place around 1378. This transformation shaped the appearance of the building as it stands today.
The vineyard here produces Roussette de Monterminod wine made from Altesse grapes, a local variety grown on steep slopes that requires all harvesting to be done by hand. This traditional method shapes how people work the land throughout the year.
The castle sits on a hilltop surrounded by steep vineyards, so expect uneven ground and demanding paths as you explore. The best time to visit is during harvest season in autumn, when you can see activity throughout the vineyard.
Monks from Cluny Abbey began cultivating vines on the slopes facing Lake Bourget as far back as the 11th century. This monastic tradition forms the root of the wine production that continues at this location today.
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