What if we talked about wine in a different way?
With Let’s Talk, the idea is simple: to create sincere, curious and sometimes unexpected conversations, far from the overly technical discourse that often surrounds the world of wine. Here, there are no overly analytical tastings or complex wine jargon. Instead, the goal is to leave room for exchange, spontaneity and the stories behind great wines.
Because behind every bottle there are, above all, people — their visions, their journeys and their passion. Through these conversations, Let’s Talk invites us to discover great estates and their wines in a different way: through the experiences, memories and dedication of those who bring them to life every day.
In this fourth episode, Marie-Caroline Ringot speaks with Florence Cathiard, co-owner of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Grand Cru Classé of Graves located in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyard. Alongside her husband Daniel Cathiard, she has profoundly transformed the estate since the 1990s, bringing an ambitious entrepreneurial vision and a strong commitment to nature and innovation.
Throughout the conversation, they revisit the history of the estate, the central role of terroir in shaping the identity of its wines, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the Cathiard family. Together, they reflect on how Smith Haut Lafitte has gradually established itself among the great wines of the world while remaining deeply rooted in its territory.
Between nature, innovation and the art of living, this exchange reveals another way of talking about wine — more human, more spontaneous and deeply connected to the terroir and the people who shape it.
Smith Haut Lafitte: A Great Wine Born from an Exceptional Terroir
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “How would you describe Smith Haut Lafitte in a few words?”
Florence Cathiard: “Above all, it is a great terroir.”
For Florence Cathiard, the identity of Château Smith Haut Lafitte begins first and foremost with its terroir. Located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, in the heart of the Graves, the estate benefits from a natural environment particularly suited to viticulture.
The gravel soils that give the appellation its name play a crucial role in the expression of the estate’s wines. Composed of pebbles and gravel deposited by the Garonne River over thousands of years, these soils provide natural drainage and encourage deep vine rooting, contributing to optimal grape ripening.
This unique terroir gives rise to wines that are structured, complex and capable of remarkable ageing.
But terroir can only fully express itself when accompanied by careful and precise work in the vineyard. At Smith Haut Lafitte, every plot is carefully observed and cultivated in order to respect the natural balance of the vineyard and reveal the richness of the soil.
Over the years, the estate has also developed environmentally respectful viticultural practices, paying particular attention to biodiversity and soil health. This approach helps preserve the identity of the terroir while allowing a more authentic expression of the wine.
The result is reflected in the style of the estate’s wines: cuvées renowned for their depth, precision and elegance, where power and finesse are perfectly balanced.
A Family of Passionate Entrepreneurs
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “You are first and foremost a family of entrepreneurs…”
Florence Cathiard: “Yes, we have always had the desire to build and grow projects.”
The recent history of Château Smith Haut Lafitte is closely linked to the entrepreneurial spirit of Florence and Daniel Cathiard. When the couple acquired the estate in the early 1990s, the château already had a solid reputation, but its full potential had yet to be revealed.
Driven by a long-term vision, the Cathiards undertook a profound transformation of the estate. Their ambition was clear: to restore Smith Haut Lafitte to its rightful place among the great wines of Bordeaux, while highlighting its exceptional terroir and modernizing the estate’s infrastructure.
This dynamic was reflected in numerous investments. The vineyard was gradually restructured, the cellars were modernized and new winemaking techniques were introduced to work the grapes with ever greater precision.
Every decision was guided by the same goal: improving the quality of the wines while respecting the identity of the terroir.
This entrepreneurial vision is also accompanied by a deep attachment to nature. Early on, the estate committed to sustainable viticulture and developed environmentally respectful practices.
Today, thanks to this vision and dedication, Smith Haut Lafitte has become one of the leading references in the Bordeaux vineyard, internationally recognized for the quality of its wines while preserving the family spirit that has guided its revival.
Nature at the Heart of the Estate
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “Nature seems to play a central role at Smith Haut Lafitte…”
Florence Cathiard: “We have always wanted to work in harmony with our environment.”
At Château Smith Haut Lafitte, nature is not simply part of the landscape — it forms the very foundation of the estate’s philosophy.
Since Florence and Daniel Cathiard took over the property, particular attention has been paid to respecting the environment and preserving the terroir.
Over time, the estate has become one of the pioneers of sustainable vineyard practices in Bordeaux. The work in the vineyard follows a holistic approach in which every decision aims to preserve the natural balance of the ecosystem.
In the vineyards, this philosophy translates into careful attention to soil health, biodiversity and vineyard life.
This approach not only protects the environment but also allows the terroir to express itself with greater precision. Living, balanced soils help produce high-quality grapes capable of expressing the full complexity and finesse of the Pessac-Léognan terroir.
At Smith Haut Lafitte, nature is therefore not just scenery — it is central to the daily work of the teams and to the identity of the estate’s wines.
The Art of Living at Smith Haut Lafitte
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “Smith Haut Lafitte is also an experience…”
Florence Cathiard: “Yes, we have always wanted to share this art of living around wine.”
At Château Smith Haut Lafitte, wine goes far beyond the tasting of a bottle. The estate embraces a broader vision in which wine becomes the starting point for a true art-of-living experience.
Visitors are invited to discover the world of the estate through the meeting of wine, gastronomy and well-being.
This experience is notably extended through Les Sources de Caudalie, an iconic destination combining hotel, spa and gastronomy in the middle of the vineyards.
In this unique setting, visitors can discover the estate’s wines, enjoy refined cuisine and experience moments of relaxation surrounded by nature.
In this way, Smith Haut Lafitte goes beyond the traditional concept of a wine estate, embodying a lifestyle where hospitality, gastronomy and passion for wine come together.
If Smith Haut Lafitte Were a Personality
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “If Smith Haut Lafitte were a celebrity?”
Florence Cathiard: “Perhaps someone elegant and authentic.”
Comparing a wine to a personality may seem unusual, but it often helps capture the identity of an estate.
Through this comparison, Florence Cathiard evokes a style that perfectly reflects the spirit of Smith Haut Lafitte: an alliance between elegance, authenticity and character.
Like certain great figures of the artistic or cultural world, the estate has a strong presence while maintaining great finesse.
The wines of Smith Haut Lafitte stand out for their depth and complexity, combined with an elegance that allows them to age gracefully.
The Most Beautiful Season at the Estate
Marie-Caroline Ringot: “What is your favourite time of the year at the estate?”
Florence Cathiard: “The harvest, of course.”
Like in all great wine estates, harvest season represents the most intense and anticipated moment of the year at Smith Haut Lafitte.
After months of work in the vineyard, this period marks the culmination of an entire season.
During harvest, the atmosphere of the estate completely transforms. Teams mobilize, the pace intensifies and every vineyard plot becomes crucial to the final quality of the wine.
Beyond the technical aspects, harvest is also a deeply human moment, when the entire team gathers around a common goal: harvesting the fruit of a year’s work and revealing the full singularity of the terroir.
Smith Haut Lafitte, a Unique Signature of the Graves
Through this episode of Let’s Talk, Smith Haut Lafitte appears as much more than a great wine of the Graves.
The estate embodies a holistic vision of wine, where terroir, nature, innovation and the art of living come together.
The entrepreneurial vision of the Cathiard family has played a decisive role in this evolution.
Thanks to continuous investment, a deep respect for nature and a desire to innovate, the estate has gradually established itself as one of the great references of the Bordeaux vineyard.
Through Let’s Talk, the goal remains the same: to tell these stories differently by giving a voice to the people who shape today’s great wines.
And Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a remarkable illustration of this vision.
Watch the conversation between Marie-Caroline Ringot and Florence Cathiard
