OUR STORY
17TH CENTURY
The first traces of the name “Lebègue” can be found in the region of Angoulême. The family came from a line of merchants. Through acquiring wealth, they were able to buy some seigneuries.
1861
Jean-Louis-Paul Lebègue left for London to sell cognacs and other products made at the family vineyards. He founded the “Wine Shipping Company” one of the top wine merchants in London at the time. His brother Jules joined him a few years later.
1870
Jules Lebègue returned to Bordeaux to buy vineyards for the family business. There he met Jules Jadouin, a wine merchant since 1828, in Cantenac. Jules went on to marry Marthe, the daughter of Mr. Jadouin. They settled at Château Montbrun in Margaux, a very prestigious vineyard at the time.
LATE 19TH CENTURY
Trade with the British Empire and the Wine Shipping Company began to flourish and becomes mutually advantageous. The historic wine merchant business founded in 1828 under the name “Jules Jadouin” became “Jules Lebègue”.
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The Lebègue family became well-established in the Médoc.
The in-laws of Jean-Louis-Paul, the Mackenzies took over the London house. Lebègue wine began being exported all over the world.
1949
“Lebègue Tasting” begins in London, an annual festival where the most influential people in the wine world would meet. Thus began a new period of prosperity for the House.
2006
The House was purchased by the Jeanjean family, descendants of Languedoc merchants.
2010
Jeanjean became AdVini. Jules Lebègue became the Bordeaux trading subsidiary of this company of worldwide importance in the wine industry.
2019
After years of improvements to the Saint-Émilion site, and building on over two centuries of history, the Jules Lebègue wine merchant is embarking on a radical environmental change. Driven by a young front office, strong values and a vision for the wine of tomorrow, Jules Lebègue has the vocation to become the leader of innovation and “green” wines in the Bordeaux vineyard.
VISIONARY FOUNDERS
JULES LEBÈGUE
Born in the Charentes region into a family of wine and Cognac producers, he left to join his brother in London in the late 1860s. Jules was passionate about the land, rural life and great wines. He was also a skilled horseman, as evidenced by his horseshoe-shaped tie clip.
He returned to France in 1870 to ensure the supply of wine to the London company. A humanist, a man of letters and wit, he quickly became the head of the Jadouin wine business, and ensured its prosperity by trading with his brother, who exported Bordeaux wines from London to the four corners of the British Empire.
JULES LEBÈGUE
Born in the Charentes region into a family of wine and Cognac producers, he left to join his brother in London in the late 1860s. Jules was passionate about the land, rural life and great wines. He was also a skilled horseman, as evidenced by his horseshoe-shaped tie clip.
He returned to France in 1870 to ensure the supply of wine to the London company. A humanist, a man of letters and wit, he quickly became the head of the Jadouin wine business, and ensured its prosperity by trading with his brother, who exported Bordeaux wines from London to the four corners of the British Empire.
Jean-louis-paul lebègue
Jules’ older brother, Jean-Louis-Paul left for London in 1861 to market the family wines and other wines from the South West of France. He founded the import/export company “Wine Shipping Company” which became “J.L.P. Lebègue & Co.”
As a wise businessman, it was Jules’ brother who garnered the house Lebègue international notoriety. Focusing fully on wine export and particularly throughout the British empire, Jean-Louis-Paul would receive prestigious exclusivities and allocations: Romanée Conti, Lafite, and so many others…
Known as a socialite and networker, Jean-Louis-Paul participated in the Defense of French Economic Interests in the United Kingdom. As such, he was awarded the Legion of Honour by President Poincaré.
Jean-louis-paul lebègue
Jules’ older brother, Jean-Louis-Paul left for London in 1861 to market the family wines and other wines from the South West of France. He founded the import/export company “Wine Shipping Company” which became “J.L.P. Lebègue & Co.”
As a wise businessman, it was Jules’ brother who garnered the house Lebègue international notoriety. Focusing fully on wine export and particularly throughout the British empire, Jean-Louis-Paul would receive prestigious exclusivities and allocations: Romanée Conti, Lafite, and so many others…
Known as a socialite and networker, Jean-Louis-Paul participated in the Defense of French Economic Interests in the United Kingdom. As such, he was awarded the Legion of Honour by President Poincaré.
A STORY FULL OF ANECTODES
Of Protestant faith, the family decided during the Revolution to shorten their surname to “Lebègue”. Recognized as a great family of humanists in the region, the Duke of La Rochefoucauld entrusted them with the care of his magnificent castle during his exile.
While most of the wine merchants left the vineyards to settle in the Chartrons district of Bordeaux, Jules, a landowner at heart, chose to stay in Margaux where he distinguished himself in the fight against fraud and counterfeit wines.
A skilled rider and a notable rural man from the Médoc, he enjoyed long horseback rides in the alleys of Château Montbrun. His horseshoe-shaped tie pin attests to this.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jules Lebègue company obtained exclusive rights to prestigious estates such as Lafite Rothschild in certain markets. It also distributed Burgundian wines such as those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti. It even briefly opened a branch on the quays of Bercy in Paris.
The Lebègue brand’s export history goes back at least 100 years. The first exports to Quebec of J.Lebègue wines via the Wine Shipping Company date back to the early 1920s!
Château Montbrun, the family stronghold in Margaux, burned down twice in 1930 and 1954. It was not rebuilt, leading to the relocation of the trading house to Saint-Émilion.
A STORY FULL OF ANECTODES
Of Protestant faith, the family decided during the Revolution to shorten their surname to “Lebègue”. Recognized as a great family of humanists in the region, the Duke of La Rochefoucauld entrusted them with the care of his magnificent castle during his exile.
While most of the wine merchants left the vineyards to settle in the Chartrons district of Bordeaux, Jules, a landowner at heart, chose to stay in Margaux where he distinguished himself in the fight against fraud and counterfeit wines.
A skilled rider and a notable rural man from the Médoc, he enjoyed long horseback rides in the alleys of Château Montbrun. His horseshoe-shaped tie pin attests to this.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jules Lebègue company obtained exclusive rights to prestigious estates such as Lafite Rothschild in certain markets. It also distributed Burgundian wines such as those of Domaine de la Romanée Conti. It even briefly opened a branch on the quays of Bercy in Paris.
The Lebègue brand’s export history goes back at least 100 years. The first exports to Quebec of J.Lebègue wines via the Wine Shipping Company date back to the early 1920s!
Château Montbrun, the family stronghold in Margaux, burned down twice in 1930 and 1954. It was not rebuilt, leading to the relocation of the trading house to Saint-Émilion.