To make an “unforgettable wine”: This was the dream and, eventually, the lifework of Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, who lived in the French region of Médoc in the 1700s. She presided over what would become one of Bordeaux’s greatest vineyards and gave it the name it retains to this day.

This fascinating book tells the story of the vineyard, a tale that is tied to the very origins of the Médoc winemaking tradition. It is intertwined, too, with the legacy of the great family of Pichon-Longueville, which is tinged with drama and romance. And it is the story of a grand cru that has had a strong female presence since its early days, being run by a number of remarkable women at a time when men dominated the business.

Told through the eyes of the people who built Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande over three centuries, the story is accompanied by new photographs of the chateau and portraits of its inhabitants. Although the grapes, barrels, and classifications that gave the cru its unique character are not overlooked, the book focuses primarily on the strong and often surprising personalities of those who brought the vineyard to the great heights it enjoys today.