Where Terroir Meets Design: The Twofold Story of Château Féret-Lambert
Where Terroir Meets Design: The Twofold Story of Château Féret-Lambert
In a wine château in the heart of the Bordeaux region, Valérie Féret has imagined far more than an estate and a décor boutique: a place for living, sharing, and inspiration. Between vineyards, a reinvented barn, and objects discovered along her travels, she cultivates an art of living where beauty meets sensitivity, and where every object tells a story. We met a passionate woman, guided by a taste for beauty, a sense of hospitality, and a desire to pass things on.
You are both the owner of a wine château—Château Féret-Lambert—and the founder of a décor boutique. How did this life project come about?
Valérie Féret: This château belonged to my husband’s family, and we bought it back in 1997, the year we got married. Everything had to be done: there were no vines left, the roof was leaking, there was only one bathroom in the whole house… It was a life project, a real journey. We started slowly, with limited resources but a strong desire to bring this property back to life.
Returning to one’s roots and a family adventure: replanting the vines and rebuilding an estate
You are originally from the region. What was your background before settling here?
V.F.: I was born in Bergerac, into a family of winegrowers, and I always wanted to work in the wine industry. I studied international business, languages, spent a year in London, and then trained in communication. I worked in Paris for nine years, notably for Baron Philippe de Rothschild, before returning to Bordeaux. Then I worked for a major wine estate owner, Lucien Lurton, handling communication for his châteaux. When I had my children and we took over the property, I decided to stop working to devote myself fully to this project.
How did you bring the wine estate back to life?
V.F.: The 25 hectares of vines had been uprooted; there were sheep on the land. We reclaimed the plots, and then my husband, a Bordeaux wine broker, and my brother, a winegrower in Saint-Émilion, gradually replanted the vines, two hectares at a time. At first, we made the wine at my parents’ place, then we built our own winery. The 1999 storm knocked down magnificent cedar trees, and we used their wood to build the cellar. It was a way of continuing the story of the place.
How did the idea of creating a décor boutique on the estate come about?
V.F.: Around the age of 45, I felt the need for a new project. I loved flea markets and was passionate about decoration, with Belgian influences such as the brand Pomax and interior designer Axel Vervoordt. I didn’t want a conventional shop in the countryside. I imagined occasional private sales to showcase the property, the wine, and offer décor pieces. I started in 2012 with a very small stock bought at Maison & Objet, and two sales the first year.
An original private-sale concept
Your boutique is not permanently open. Why this choice?
V.F.: The boutique opens five times a year, according to the seasons: in November, December, April, June, and September, with a clearance sale. Outside these periods, visits are by appointment. I wanted to create an event, a sense of discovery, a place people really want to come and see. I think showing everything all the time takes away some of the magic. Word of mouth helped a lot, and then Instagram—especially after Covid, when I decided to develop our digital communication.
Who is your boutique for?
V.F.: Everyone. It was very important to me to offer a range of prices so no one feels pressured to buy. People come, get inspired, stroll around, chat. I mix vintage and new pieces a lot, and I show that you can keep family furniture and update it. Trends always come back.
What can people find in your boutique?
V.F.: Furniture, vintage objects, rugs, tableware, lamps, paintings, tablecloths… I also bring back objects from my travels, with a particular sensitivity to African and Asian art. I do a lot of sourcing in the region with my truck, but I also work with suppliers and professionals who offer me pieces. I restore some furniture in my workshop.
Do you also offer interior design services?
V.F.: Yes, I work with an interior designer, Séverine, and we support clients, particularly through real estate agencies. We’ve decorated châteaux and private homes. It also allows me to source specific pieces or look for bespoke objects.
A place for living, art, and sharing
How do wine, the boutique, and hospitality come together on the estate?
V.F.: For me, it’s an art of living. I come from a family where visitors were always welcomed, long before people talked about wine tourism. I wanted people to discover the property, the wine, the décor, the guesthouses… During the sales, I often invite an artist—a painter or photographer. It’s a place where people meet, talk, and taste.
Your home is also your workplace. What is your relationship with this house?
V.F.: It’s my refuge, my family. I’m very attached to this house. I work here, manage the guesthouses, the garden, the boutique. There are always people around—friends, family. I believe you should feel good at home. A house should reflect the people who live in it.
Finally, you won’t escape our signature question… what is your definition of the art of living?
V.F.: It’s having a home where you feel good, where family and friends feel good. It’s sharing great moments around a good lunch, a good dinner, and, of course, a good bottle of Bordeaux wine.
