Ian Hocking
Winemaker at Château Shuette.
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I want to make truly modern Bordeaux wine. I am not driven by a desire to make a particular style or to replicate a previous wine. I want to match what has grown with a style that intrigues me and allows the fruit’s natural beauty to shine.
I believe that natural winemaking is the only way to unlock a wine's individuality and potential. An alive, evolving, dynamic wine is the true expression of terroir.
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Ian jointly owns Château Shuette with his wife Shu Min Ho.
About Shuette
Shuette is a regenerative vineyard and farm.
This means we try to work in harmony with nature and use symbiotic farming practices that help to regenerate and improve the ecosystem through human scale agriculture.
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The farm is 12ha in total, with a large duck pond, over 280 fruit trees, 8 bee hives and more than 200 bird, bat and owl boxes. The vineyard covers 4.5ha, planted in one block next to the Dordogne River. Its proximity means we benefit from deep clay and mineral schist soil, constant breeze and significant diurnal temperature changes leading to rolling fog throughout the summer mornings. Great conditions for a long maturation period and focused acidity.
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Our vines have been organically cultivated by hand for the last 30 years, and we grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillion and Cabernet Franc.
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This year we will also plant Malbec, Chenin and Souvignier Gris a Piwi varietal that should be more resistant to disease and could become the foundation of our future winemaking.
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Continuing to look forward, we hope to launch a 2ha market garden focused on organic Asian vegetables, increase the number of free range ducks and geese and plant an additional 400 fruit and nut trees in silvopasture in the next couple of years.
Shu Min Ho
Co-owner at Château Shuette.
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I am a lawyer by profession and a foodie at heart.
Shuette is the realisation of a dream shared with my husband, Ian, to craft exceptional wine and produce that respect and reflect the land we call home. Our vision is also shaped by modern, forward-thinking philosophies that are inspired by the cultures and experiences we have gathered from living and traveling around the world.
Watching our vineyard and farm grow has been an incredibly exciting and fulfilling journey. I couldn’t be prouder of the wines we have created so far, and I am so thrilled to share them with all of you.
Meet the Team
NOT YOUR GRANDAD’S BORDEAUX
Making truly modern Bordeaux wine. I am not driven by a desire to make a particular style or to replicate a previous wine. I want to match what has grown with a style that intrigues us and allows the fruit’s natural beauty to shine. I believe that natural winemaking is the only way to unlock a wine's individuality and potential. A living, evolving, dynamic wine is the true expression of terroir.
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Shuette is a regenerative vineyard and farm. This means we try to work in harmony with nature and use symbiotic farming practices that help to regenerate and improve the ecosystem through human-scale agriculture.
The farm is 12ha in total. The vineyard covers 4.5ha. Located next to the Dordogne River in Entre-Deux-Mers. Soil: Deep clay and mineral schist. Organically cultivated by hand for the last 30 years. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Cabernet Franc.
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We tend the vineyard by hand, working each vine individually, and use strict organic farming techniques. One month before harvest, we begin maturity checks, looking for colour, pH, aromatic ripeness, and sugar content. Only at this time do we select the wine style we will make. This allows us to choose the right grapes for the right style. At harvest, we hand-pick each bunch, placing them into small crates early in the morning to maximise the sugar levels and quality of the fruit. In general, the grapes are then destemmed and placed directly into stainless steel fermentation tanks.
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More than wine:
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We have more than 280 fruit trees interplanted around the vineyard, from which we make jams, condiments, infusions, and brandy. Each tree has its own bird, bat, or owl box to provide habitats for wild birds. We have free-ranging ducks, geese, and chickens to help with insect control. We will soon launch a market garden producing organic fruit and vegetables.
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New products coming soon: Organic umeshu made with our wine brandy and plums grown in the vineyard. Oloroso cask-aged organic brandy.​
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We make classic and lighter styles that are very versatile. Applying various winemaking styles that may not be typical of the region, but that intrigue customers and push what is possible and expected from Bordeaux.