Located in Pessac, Graves, Château Haut-Brion is the only estate from outside Medoc to be included in the first growth classification of Bordeaux wines. The estate dates back to April 1525 when Jean de Pontac married Jeanne de Bellon, the daughter of the mayor of Libourne and seigneur of Hault-Brion, and construction of the château began in 1549.

In 1649 Lord Arnaud III de Pontac became owner of Haut-Brion and the wine began growing in popularity. The first records of Haut-Brion wine were found in the wine cellar ledger of King Charles II in England. By the end of the 17th century the estate amounted to 264 hectares (650 acres) of which some 38 hectares (94 acres) were under vine. With the death of François-Auguste de Pontac, François-Joseph de Fumel, a nephew by marriage, inherited two-thirds of Haut-Brion with a third coming to Louis-Arnaud Le Comte, Lord Captal of Latresne.

The French Revolution led to the execution in July 1794 of Joseph de Fumel after he was executed, the estate was divided. Although the confiscated property was returned to the family, de Fumel's nephews left France after selling Haut-Brion in 1801 to Talleyrand, Prince of Benevento.

A less prosperous period followed between 1804 and 1836 until Joseph-Eugène Larrieu purchased Haut-Brion and brought it back to its former size. The Larrieu family owned Haut-Brion until 1923.

After a series of unsuccessful owners during difficult times, the American banker Clarence Dillon bought Château Haut-Brion on May 13, 1935 and made his nephew Seymour Weller president of the new company Société Vinicole de la Gironde (later Domaine Clarence Dillon S.A.). Weller held the position for five decades, carrying out significant improvements and retaining Georges Delmas, the régisseur and director of Haut-Brion since 1921.

Georges Delmas retired in 1961, and was succeeded by his son Jean-Bernard Delmas. At the age of 83, Seymour Weller retired as President of the company and was replaced by his cousin's daughter, Joan Dillon, then Princesse Charles de Luxembourg and later Duchesse de Mouchy.

Manager Jean-Bernard Delmas retired in 2003, and was succeeded by his son Jean-Philippe Delmas. Prince Robert of Luxembourg who has acted as an administrator at Haut-Brion since the age of 18, became in 2008 Président Directeur Général of Domaine Clarence Dillon.

Appellation: Pessac Leognan
Areas under Vine: 109 acres
Average Annual Production: 10,000 cases per annum
Soil: Gravel soil with a subsoil of clay and sand
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (20%)
Agein: Aged in new oak barrels for 24-27 months
Top Vintages: 1945, 1959, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009