Maison Groleau

In the southwest of France, on a green hill overlooking the vineyards and surrounded by a spacious garden flourishing with oleander, palm trees and lemons, you will find Guillaume and Pierre-Louis’ guest house. After almost ten years in Hong Kong, it was time for the couple to return home and carefully renovate the historic house, which had been in the family since 1852. Their aim was to preserve its history and authentic charm, but their passion for travel and new discoveries has also found its expression within the historic walls. Furniture from the family requisites and selected antiques from local flea markets now nestle alongside art and crafts—special pieces that Guillaume and Pierre-Louis have collected from around the big wide world. While the décor is fascinating and dynamic, this place is all about relaxing and embracing a slower pace of life. During your stay, you can stroll through the vineyards, browse through the 400-page book by the pool that’s been waiting to be read for a long time, take a siesta in the shade of centuries-old trees or enjoy the evening atmosphere in the garden with a sundowner. It’s quite possible that Chantal will drop by for a little visit at this very moment. She has taken on the responsible role of “happiness manager” at Maison Groleau. When the two hosts met the homeless cat at their beer supplier, they quickly agreed that she would fit in wonderfully in this warm, friendly house. And she does. With Guillaume at the stove, conjuring up regional cuisine with an Asian touch, you have everything you need to be happy.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The eclectic design of the rooms, which skillfully combines eras and styles. Every single piece has just the right place to come into its own.
• The tasteful and creative wall design, which is different in every room: High-quality tiles in petrol or glossy black, individual areas in intense, dark shades or a wall that resembles a huge watercolor painting.
• The pool with unbeatable views over the vineyards and the park. It’s heated from May to September and in the off-peak season, depending on the weather.
• Themed stays are offered several times a year, including cooking or English courses, wellness or painting alongside the grape harvest.
• When guests sit together at the “convivial table” for a warm, culinary moment
• How deliciously the day starts here. The lovingly prepared breakfast with homemade jams, home-baked cakes, fresh seasonal fruit and fine cheeses is served in the dining room or outdoors.
• Table d’hôtes literally means “host’s table” and refers to a small menu with set dishes. Here, this means there’s a fantastic surprise menu that evolves according to the season and whatever inspires the chef, mainly using local products or even freshly harvested produce from the vegetable garden.
• How creative Guillaume is with the cooking! Would you like an example of a menu? A variety of mushrooms with marinated shoyozuke egg yolk, followed by beef with nori seaweed and roasted butternut squash puree and truffle crumble, followed by warm caramel cake with chocolate cream, cardamom and orange for dessert. Any questions?
• There’s so much to discover. There are exciting cultural sites to be visited within a 30-minute drive of the Maison Groleau: Blaye and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vauban citadel, Bourg and its pretty alleyways or the magnificent city of Bordeaux.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• The house accommodates three guest rooms, which are between 32 and 35 square meters in size. ‘Palmier’ is an ode to the Washington palms that have stood in front of the house for more than 70 years, beige and blue tones mixing with colorful decorative items. ‘Figuier’ combines powder rose with green. ‘Pin’ is in shades of green and sand, underlined by accents in black.
• Maison Groleau is open to children aged 12 and over.
• Meals are offered from Tuesday to Saturday evening (please book 48 hours in advance).
• For those who just want a snack or lunch by the pool, there are tapas to share, cheese boards and a small selection of homemade dishes. Any allergies or special dietary requirements? Please let the hosts know when booking!
• The beautiful souvenirs can be found in the hotel’s boutique: Local specialties, home-grown wines, the scent of the house (a fine creation of iris, cedar and leather) and some treasures from the region’s flea markets.
• Guillaume’s sister Aurélie and her husband Alexandre look after the vines around the house and produce the estate’s wines. Guests can take a tour of the cellars and taste the fine wines.
• The house can also be rented out in its entirety. If you have something special to celebrate, you can book the hangar with a view of the park and vineyards exclusively for your event—there’s space for up to 90 people.
• To explore the area on two wheels, two electric bikes are available for tours through the beautiful countryside.
• Bordeaux airport can be reached in 40 minutes, Bordeaux Saint Jean train station in 45 minutes and Saint André de Cubzac in 20 minutes. A shuttle to or from Maison Groleau can be organized.