That is when a second family became owner of the castle: the Lacroix family. Louis Lacroix was a silk manufacturer, who also contributed to move the Silk Stock Exchange from London to Lyon. He actively participated in the restoration of the main building of the castle, by creating the corridor which gives access to every room, and by renovating the main hall (last renovation in 1850). His grandson, a business man who owns the Brossette company (bought by Saint Gobain), contributed in the creation of the cooperative winery of Saint Etienne des Oullieres.
The third family to own the castle is our family, Descombe. An ancient link united us to the Lacroix, as it is Florent Descombe (2nd generation) who performed Ms. Lacroix’s and Mr. Bréchignac’s wedding at the town hall of Saint Etienne des Oullières in 1958 (strikes unabled the engaged couple to reach Paris).
Due to its central position in eastern France, we always have had special relationship with producers of Beaujolais, Bourgogne and the Rhône Valley region.
In 2018, the family decided to start a new adventure in the north of the Rhône Valley, by acquiring vines in the Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage appellations.
With a beautiful view on the Rhone river, the Domaine de La Haut overlooks the beautiful hillsides of this region.