The venerable Château de la Crée estate in Santenay, Burgundy dates back to the 15th Century, when it was owned by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to Philippe the Good and founder of the Hospices de Beaune. Today the Château’s vineyards include seven rare Premier Cru blocks located entirely along the renowned Côte d’Or escarpment, home to some of the world’s most storied Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
Ken and Grace Evenstad, Founders of Domaine Serene Winery, came full circle in their passion for great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay when they purchased the respected Burgundy wine estate, Château de la Crée, in 2015. Featuring a restored 15th century château in the historic Côte de Beaune village of Santenay, the Château de la Crée estate was originally owned by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe the Good, and founder of the renowned Hospices de Beaune. Along with his wife Guigone de Salins, Rolin established a tradition of charitable giving through wine, something the Evenstads consider a foundational principle at Domaine Serene as well.
With vineyard holdings located entirely along the acclaimed Côte d’Or escarpment in the heart of Burgundy, the Château de la Crée property includes prime sites in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay, and Maranges. The Château also boasts a state-of-the-art, gravity-flow winery that was built in 2011. Both Château de la Crée and Domaine Serene are uncompromising in their dedication to terroir transparency and a focus on sustainability. Château de la Crée, employs minimal intervention farming practices to ensure maximum soil and plant health. Its talented winemaker works closely with Ken and Grace Evenstad and the Domaine Serene winemaking team to ensure that wine quality consistently meets the impeccable standards for which the Evenstads are well known.
Designed for the true aficionado, the Chevalier d'Or membership is the perfect complement to your current selection of Domaine Serene wines. Experience a curated collection of Château de la Crée wines, highlighted by some of the most rare and sought after bottlings from our Premier Cru vineyards, and selections from our extensive wine library. Chevalier d'Or members will also be treated to the highest level of wine access and hospitality at both our Burgundy and Oregon properties.
The Fraternité de la Crée membership is an ideal introduction to the wines and estates of Château de la Crée. Experience a limited collection of Château de la Crée wines from Santenay and other regions of the Côte de Beaune, with an emphasis on diversity of selection and style. Fraternité de la Crée members will also receive invitations to exclusive events and educational offerings on both continents.
Comprising 25 acres of prime vineyard blocks in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges, the Château de la Crée estate features a two-to-one varietal ratio of Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, with 40% of all plantings in Premier Cru sites. Minimal intervention farming practices are employed in all our vineyards to drive optimal terroir expression, and ensure soil and plant health.
With its elegant dual turrets and magnificent vaulted wine caves dating back to at least 1431, Château de la Crée is located in the ancient Côte d’Or village of Santenay. The original château was almost fully destroyed during the French Revolution, then reconstructed in the 19th century and completely restored more recently. Santenay’s name derives from the Latin word “sanctus,” indicating a place considered holy in pre-Christian times.
Like Domaine Serene, Château de la Crée is uncompromising in its dedication to terroir transparency. Following comprehensive upgrades completed in 2011, our state-of-the-art, gravity-flow winery is fully equipped to support a meticulous yet low-intervention approach to crafting elite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, sourced from some of the world’s most exquisite terroirs.
Beginning in 2020, the team at Château de la Crée has unveiled even more new experiences to delight their visitors from all over the world. With options for wine-centric picnics in the vineyards to biking tours of the famous parcels of the Côte de Beaune, guests of the Château are invited to discover Burgundy again and again.