History

Born in San Antonio in 1882, Clarence Dillon graduated from Harvard in 1905. During his career in finance, Clarence Dillon never forgot France, always close to his heart. An esthete and Francophile, he was interested in French gastronomy, and even took introductory courses at the famous Paris cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. 

When he purchased Château Haut-Brion in May 1935, he asked his nephew Seymour Weller, who lived in Paris, to manage the estate. Weller immediately began modernising the property and carried out his uncle’s refurbishment projects. He installed electricity and a new plumbing system in the house, redesigned the gardens and other outdoor areas, cut the trees, cleaned the cellars and replaced the worn out equipment with modern, high-performance systems.

He was assisted in this task by Georges Delmas, an expert winemaker who arrived at Château Haut-Brion in December 1923. His grandson, Jean-Philippe, is the current Deputy Managing Director, wines and estates, having succeeded his father Jean-Bernard – a dynasty similar to that of the Dillons.

In 1953, Douglas Dillon, Clarence’s son, was appointed Ambassador to France. His daughter Joan Dillon – Clarence’s granddaughter – has spent most of her life in France. In 1975, Joan Dillon, Princess of Luxembourg, succeeded her cousin Seymour Weller at the head of the company. In 1978, widow of Prince Charles of Luxembourg, she married Philippe de Noailles, Duke of Mouchy. From 1979 until his retirement in 2002, the Duke was Managing Director of Domaine Clarence Dillon, working hand in hand with his wife and giving her valuable assistance in managing the company’s operations.

During her years as Chairwoman, the company achieved an impressive body of work, a subtle combination of innovation and continuity, leading Château Haut-Brion into the 21st century. In 1983, the neighbouring property Château La Mission Haut-Brion and its associated wines, Laville Haut-Brion and La Tour Haut-Brion, came under the wing of Domaine Clarence Dillon. At La Mission, the company immediately initiated what was almost a second Renaissance, so ambitious was its modernisation.

Seventy years after Mr. Clarence Dillon acquired Chateau Haut-Brion in Bordeaux, his great-grandson, Prince Robert de Luxembourg, opened a new chapter in the Dillon family history by creating the Fine Wine Merchant, Clarence Dillon Wines. Clarence Dillon Wines is a major wine merchant in Bordeaux and also the creator and exclusive distributor of the first super premium brand family of wines in Bordeaux: Clarendelle, inspired by Haut-Brion. 

Named after Clarence Dillon, Clarendelle exemplifies the legacy of excellence instigated by the founder of the family company. A member of the eminent Domaine Clarence Dillon family of wines, the style of the Clarendelle wines is dictated by an expression of the Bordeaux terroir which aim to produce subtle elegance in age-worthy wines.

In June 1997, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, son of Joan Dillon and great-grandson of Clarence Dillon, became a full-time member of the company’s management team and was appointed Managing Director in 2002, before taking over as Chairman in 2008 when his mother Joan, Duchess of Mouchy, resigned as Chairwoman of Domaine Clarence Dillon, handing down the reins.

He has continued the visionary work of his great-grandfather, in the tradition of innovation and respect for values that has been the constant guiding force behind the story of Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion. In 2005, he launched the first premium Bordeaux wine brand, Clarendelle, and the trading subsidiary Clarence Dillon Wines.

He has also undertaken significant construction work at Château La Mission Haut-Brion, creating new technical areas and a tasting room, redesigning the gardens and, above all, constructing a 1,000 sq m cellar, built entirely from Frontenac stone. Once this work was completed in 2009, a vast renovation project was launched at Château Haut-Brion, with the creation of a small antiquities museum and a kitchen fit for Michelin starred chefs, perpetuating the traditional art of hospitality so dear to Domaine Clarence Dillon.

In 2011, Domaine Clarence Dillon purchased a superb property in Saint-Émilion, now renamed Château Quintus. In 2013, Château Quintus made the acquisition of another neighbouring property, as well as a third one in 2021. These three exceptional properties now form a a wine estate of 45 hectares producing one of Saint-Émilion’s finest wines.

Perched high on a limestone promontory, culminating at an altitude of 62 metres, Quintus offers a splendid 360-degree view across the Dordogne valley. Its plateau, with north, west and south-facing positions, overlooks an incredible abundance of micro-climates and limestone terroirs conducive to the finest expressions of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes varieties.

Domaine Clarence Dillon opens its new Parisian residence office, a fine wine store – La Cave du Château – and a gastronomic restaurant, logically named Le Clarence**. They are both housed in an elegant 19th century mansion located in Paris, only meters away from the most famous avenue in the world, the Champs Elysées.

Le Clarence’s identity is born out of a magical recipe. The main ingredients include the audacious concoctions of a seasoned “rebel” Chef, Christophe Pelé, mixed in with the vision of a daring entrepreneur, Prince Robert of Luxembourg.La Cave du Château is an address for the initiated, capable of satisfying anyone’s wishes, the store contains all kinds of treasures: a selection inspired by famous labels, and some secret vintages, all from the best French terroirs.

In October 2018, the family company joined Primum Familiae Vini, a unique association of historic families from the world of wine, thereby completing the group’s full complement of 12 members. PFV encourages and celebrates the exceptional, historic contribution of family estates in some of the greatest winegrowing regions in the world. Above all, PFV represents excellence in winemaking and the continuity of a long family tradition, values very dear to Domaine Clarence Dillon.

In 2021, Domaine Clarence Dillon launches the Pavillon Catelan and announces the opening of a new shop, under the brand name of its subsidiary, La Cave du Château. The Pavillon Catelan is the end result of the renovation of an old building dating back to the 19th century. It is designed for welcoming visitors in a setting that celebrates the French art of living, to offer services and bespoke reception venues, and to provide guests with access to wines of the group to be tasted on the premises or in the shop, La Cave du Château, Bordeaux. 

Intended mainly for visitors to the Domain, but also open to its neighbours of the Bordeaux region, this superb shop provides wine lovers with the possibility of purchasing the latest vintages, as well as a few gems or rarities which come directly from the Châteaux or wines of the group, notably some exceptional vertical series of vintages.