Château Shuette

Overview & Philosophy

Château Shuette is a family-owned regenerative vineyard and natural wine project located in Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France.
The estate is led by Ian Hocking (winemaker & co-owner) and Shu Min Ho (co-owner), who envision “modern Bordeaux wine” made with minimal intervention and ecological integrity.
They aim to evolve the region’s wine narrative by focusing on regenerative agriculture, natural winemaking, and freedom from restrictive appellation rules by producing under Vin de France.
Château Shuette was formally launched in the 2020s, with first commercial wine releases beginning in 2024, though the land and vineyard work predate that.

Vineyards & Terroir

  • The estate spans about 12 hectares, with 4.5 hectares planted to vines in a single block adjacent to the Dordogne River.

  • The soils are composed of deep clay and mineral-rich schist, offering both water retention and mineral complexity to the vines.

  • Its location next to the river brings benefits of frost protection, cooling breezes, morning fog, and moderation of temperature swings (a helpful diurnal range).

  • Vineyard work is done exclusively by hand — from pruning through harvest — with dry farming (no irrigation).

  • The estate maintains organic cultivation (the land has been farmed organically for ~30 years) and employs regenerative / permaculture principles: interrow cover crops, flowering plants, habitat features (bird, bat, and owl boxes), fruit trees, free-range birds, and integrated biodiversity.

  • Vineyard layout emphasizes low density and low yields: vines are trained with two growing vines per side, four shoots each, to limit crop load and enhance ripeness concentration.

Grapes, Wines & Winemaking Practices

  • Grape Varieties Planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc. The estate is also planning future plantings of Malbec, Chenin Blanc, and a disease-resistant PiWi variety (Souvignier Gris).

  • Wine Styles Produced: A mix of natural styles — red (claret / Bordeaux blends), orange / skin-contact whites, clarets (lighter reds), and experimental wines.

  • Production Volume: Approximately 16,000 bottles per vintage from the 4.5 ha planted vines.

  • Fermentation & Techniques:

    • Spontaneous fermentations using native / wild yeasts, without inoculation.

    • No additions — no added enzymes or chemical must corrections.

    • Minimal use of sulfur in early releases (0–14 mg/L), transitioning toward Zero / Zero (no added sulfur, no filtration) in future vintages.

    • Wines are bottled unfiltered or with very minimal filtration to preserve texture and phenolic integrity.

  • Aging & Maturation: The estate does not formally tier wines by classification — each cuvée is crafted to best express site and vintage. Aging may occur in stainless steel, neutral oak, or older barrels, depending on wine style and blend decisions.

  • Biodiversity & Regeneration: Beyond viticulture, the estate includes ~250 fruit trees, ~280 bird, bat, and owl boxes, free-ranging ducks, geese, chickens, and plans for a market garden, silvopasture, and further ecosystem integration to regenerate soils and biodiversity.

  • Naming / Identity: The name “Shuette” marries its owl symbol (reflecting “Chouette” in French) with the co-owner “Shu,” making the estate visually meaningful.

Strengths & Distinctive Qualities

  • A regenerative natural wine pioneer in Bordeaux, challenging traditional appellation boundaries to free expression of terroir.

  • Unified vineyard block adjacent to the Dordogne River yields consistency and ease of management.

  • Organic & regenerative viticulture with emphasis on biodiversity, habitat complexity, and soil renewal.

  • Hand farming, dry cultivation, low yields, and no mechanized intervention ensure purity and precision in fruit.

  • Future-forward planting (e.g. disease-resistant varieties) indicates resilience to climate pressure.

  • Stylistic breadth — from orange whites to Bordeaux-style reds — under one philosophical umbrella.

  • Commitment to zero / zero winemaking (no sulfur, no filtration) aligned with the natural wine ethos.

  • A narrative of place-forward identity, integrating Bordeaux tradition with experimentation and ecological responsibility.