From the purchasing office in the Chartrons district to a Bordeaux family empire
The roots of the Sichel family lie in England. The entry into the wine business dates back to 1856, when Hermann Sichel founded a wine trade in Germany at the age of 65. In 1883, the family opened a purchasing office on the Quai de Bacalan in the Chartrons district of Bordeaux – still the company's headquarters today – and from there supplied the Sichel houses in Mainz, London, and New York. Since then, Maison Sichel has remained a family business, now with the seventh generation at the helm.
In 1938, Allan Sichel, together with three friendly négociant families, acquired the third Grand Cru Classé Château Palmer in Margaux, at that time a heavily neglected estate. In 1961, Diana and Peter A. Sichel bought Château d'Angludet in Margaux, where they raised their six children. Today, brothers Charles, James, Benjamin, and David manage the company's affairs together with Allan Sichel as managing director, while sons Alexander and Max have been working in sales since 2012 and 2014, respectively.
Négociant, winemaker, and cellar master in one person
Maison Sichel sees itself as a négociant, winemaker, vinifier, and refiner all in one. In 1967, the house became the first Bordeaux négociant with its own vinification cellar for purchased grapes – a step that enabled control over every production step. For over forty years, Sichel has maintained close partnerships with carefully selected winemakers whose grapes are purchased annually and processed into in-house brands. In 1985, an in-house bottling plant, Sicsoe, was added, which is now also open to other Bordeaux trading houses.
At Château d'Angludet, Benjamin Sichel manages the vineyards according to biodynamic principles. Château d'Argadens was one of the first Bordeaux estates to receive ISO 14001 certification in 2011, and HVE-3 certification was added in 2014 – an expression of a working method that aims to preserve soil and terroir in the long term.
An assortment between everyday wine and Grand Cru Classé
The family's viticultural heritage now comprises around 200 hectares of vineyards spread over several estates, and the house's wines are exported to over 50 countries. The assortment spans a wide range: in 1985, Peter Sichel created the Sirius brand to prove that the care of the great Bordeaux crus can also be transferred to less prestigious terroirs. The 1883 cuvée bears the name of the founding year and stands for an accessible, fruit-driven Bordeaux style.
At the other end of the spectrum are the family's own estates: Château Angludet delivers wines that are appreciated for their elegance, while Château Palmer is considered one of the most important estates in the Médoc. The entire Sichel assortment moves between these poles – from uncomplicated everyday wine to classics with classification history, always with the aim of making craftsmanship from the vineyard to the bottle tangible.
