Collections - Domaine Clarence Dillon

Château Haut-Brion’s Library

Designed by Prince Robert of Luxemburg, both the library at Château Haut-Brion, as well as the museum of objects pertaining to the history of the vine and wine founded in 2009, show very clearly the importance that culture and heritage have always held for the Dillon family.

Today, it includes almost 5,000 works devoted to the history of gastronomy, agriculture, the vine and wine, all around the world. The oldest printed work in this extremely rare collection is an incunable: Martilogium der Heiligen nach dem Kalender, printed in Strasbourg in 1484. The oldest work overall is a 6th-century papyrus manuscript: a receipt written in Coptic, issued by a Christian monastery in Egypt to a local farmer for vine plants.

A vast array of historical records about the estates

The library also contains Haut-Brion’s historical harvest records from the 18th and 19th centuries, journals detailing the work carried out by the various workers and harvesters, weather forecasts over several centuries and a collection of invaluable letters written by the owners and visitors to the estate. One of these is particularly moving, as it was written by Count Joseph de Fumel in 1794, only a few weeks before he was guillotined. In this letter, he leaves instructions for Sieur Giraud, the steward of Haut-Brion, concerning the care to be given to the vines, the best dates for harvesting, the number of workers to hire, the wages to be paid, when to prune the vines and how to ensure the upkeep of the château and its outbuildings “in his absence”.

A collection of artwork and antiques

The library complements the remarkable collections of artwork and antiques gathered in the three winegrowing estates that belong to the Dillon family. As all three were built on land that has grown vines since Roman times, it is only logical that some of the very first artefacts linked to the production and consumption of wine are carefully stored here. At Haut-Brion, there are Roman, Greek and Etruscan relics, including amphorae, coins and all kinds of drinking receptacles.

La Mission Haut-Brion contains one of the largest collections of rare engravings by the German artist Albrecht Dürer. His 16th century engravings illustrate the religious and philosophical ideas familiar to the Lazarists, the founders of the estate.

The art collection, mainly from the 18th century, has grown and is perfectly showcased in the beautiful setting of the Parisian residence and Le Clarence restaurant.