Our history
Long before our personal story began, vineyards were already present in the Blayais region. In the book Le vin de Blaye – Les Cahiers de Vitrezais (Johel Coutura), vineyards at Gratte Cap (1581) and a wine cellar in Mazerolles (1641) are mentioned.
Our family winemaking history, located between Cars and Saint-Martin-Lacaussade on the plots “Les Rousseaux” and “Mazerolles,” spans from 1850 to the present day.
Today, we are committed to continuing this winemaking tradition passed down through generations, producing high-quality wines while respecting our land.
"Souvenir des Vendanges 1912, Les Rousseaux, Cars", Archive personnelle (AP)
On the right, standing with his hand in his pocket, Alexandre Ardoin, 2nd generation. Standing to his right, Adrien, his eldest son.
1850
Mariage of Laurent Ardoin (1822 - 1905)
and Elisabeth David
They settled at Les Rousseaux in Cars
with only a few hectares of vineyards.
Together they had two children: Jeanne,
who sadly passed away at 13, and Laurent, known as Alexandre, born in 1866.
For 50 years, the estate gradually expanded,
and Alexandre worked on the property
alongside his parents.
Marriage certificate of Laurent Ardouin and Elisabeth David, November 4, 1850,
Personal archive (AP).
1904
Alexandre Ardoin (1866 - 1940) purchased the Mazerolles Estate
Alexandre acquired a 5-hectare estate in the locality of “Mazerolles,” in the commune of Saint-Martin-Lacaussade. The two properties (Les Rousseaux and Mazerolles) are only about one kilometre apart. The quality of this terroir was already recognized: in 1868, the second edition of *Ferret – Bordeaux et ses vins listed the estate as a Cru Bourgeois.
Built in 1856, the residence—overlooking the Gironde estuary—is a typical bourgeois house of the region. Behind it, a semi-underground barrel cellar provides ideal conditions for aging the wines.
Alexandre marketed his wine under the name “Cru Gayet,” still visible on the lintel of the vat room built in 1928. With his wife, Marie Brignon, he had two sons: Adrien, who died in 1919 after the First World War, and Jean (Pierre), born in 1909.
Alexandre Ardoin en 1913, AP
Mazerolles estate through the years
Année de construction gravée sur la maison, AP
1920, On aperçoit Alexandre Ardoin au loin, AP
Les chais ne sont pas encore construits et il y a des vignes dans le jardin.
Etiquette "Cru Gayet", années 1930, AP
Années 1950, AP
L'électricité est arrivée à Mazerolles !
1932
Pierre Ardoin (1909 - 1950) took over from his father
In 1932, Pierre and Laure married and settled in Mazerolles. Together, they developed the estate through the purchase of several vineyard plots and buildings.
From their union, Laurent was born in 1933.
Mariage de Pierre et Laure Ardoin en 1932, AP
Pierre, Laure et leur fils Laurent devant la maison de Mazerolles en 1944, AP
Années 1950, AP
Vue des vignes de Mazerolles et des chais accolés à la maison, construits en 1928.
1957
Laurent Ardoin (1933) restructures the estate
After his father’s untimely death, Laurent took over at a very young age with the help of his mother. Indeed, he has been the head of the estate since 1957.
After his marriage to Jeanne, Pierre was born in 1962. In 1968, the estate expanded with an additional 3 hectares located on a beautiful ridge, just behind the estate buildings.
Following the 1956 frost that destroyed almost all the vines, Laurent and Jeanne worked to restructure the entire estate and the winery buildings in order to make it a more functional property.
After a dispute with another winemaker using the name “Gayet,” Laurent Ardoin created the name “Cap Saint-Martin” in 1966. The name comes from part of the name of a plot located at “Gratte Cap” and from the name of the commune “Saint-Martin.”
Mariage de Laurent et Jeanne Ardoin en 1958, Archives personnelles
1956, AP
Vue de la maison sous la neige depuis le portail lors de l'hiver glacial de 1956.
Laurent dans le chai à barriques,
Vendanges 1982, AP
1964, AP
Le petit Pierre s'amuse devant la maison.
1973, AP
La maison en couleur !
1983, AP
Etiquette "Château Cap Saint-Martin" 1968, AP
1990
Pierre Ardoin (1962) returns to the estate
In 1990, after earning a degree in oenology, Pierre, son of Laurent and Jeanne, returned to the estate. Béatrice, his wife and also an oenologist, joined him in 2000 to continue the work of several generations.
From 2013 to 2024, they expanded the property, which now covers 27 hectares of vineyards located all around the house (the furthest plot being less than one kilometer away).Over the past 25 years, they have worked to establish the quality of our wines by developing commercial distribution.Today, all of our production is marketed in France, Northern Europe, and Asia.
While the lineage had until then consisted mainly of sons, often sole heirs, Pierre and Béatrice opened a new chapter by welcoming three daughters: Myriam, Hélène, and Laure.
Pierre et sa mère, Jeanne, vendanges 1985, AP
Pierre et Béatrice Ardoin dans le chai à barriques, en 2022 © Nicolas Duffaure photographe
Pierre, Béatrice et leurs 3 filles, devant la maison,
en 1998, AP
2006, AP
Myriam, Hélène et Laure devant la maison, en 2015
© Philippe Castex photographe
2026
Laure Ardoin-Melin (1995) succeeds her mother
In 2026, I return to the family land to carry on a legacy passed down through six generations, taking over from my mother, Béatrice. My father, Pierre, continues his work as a winemaker with passion.
Supported by my husband, Corentin, I am committed to developing and bringing life to the estate, with the hope of offering our two sons the freedom to find their place there one day, should they wish to.
There is still so much to imagine and build to introduce our château to a wider audience: the challenge of my generation is to carry forward what has been patiently built, while embedding it within contemporary dynamics—digital communication, environmental responsibility, and diversification of activities.
Laure, vendanges 2002, AP
Laure dans le chai à barriques, en 2015
© Philippe Castex photographe
Laure et ses grands-parents, Jeanne et Laurent,
en 2015 © Philippe Castex photographe
Laure et Corentin avec leur fils aîné Augustin,
en 2022 © Nicolas Duffaure photographe