Design
Joséphine Fossey Has Transformed Lestang 1573 into an Estate Merging History and Ushering into a New Chapter

Rémy Graillot loves to entertain and is keen to share the incredible history of his property, while continuing to write it. He called on Joséphine Fossey, head of the eponymous research and design studio, to provide artistic direction for this project

Joséphine Fossey’s approach is characterized by a desire to strike the right balance between history and new chapter, heritage and contemporary. Her goal is to make the Château de Lestang a place dedicated to art in all its forms, starting with literature, which occupies a special place in the history of the estate. Ancient correspondence between Hyde de Neuville and Chateaubriand inspired the name of the special cuvée, "L'illustre voyageur". The label illustration was entrusted to American artist Michael McGregor, who paid homage to this special friendship by imagining a lunch on the grass between the two men. The estate will also host literary residencies in the future.

For the winery, epicenter of the Château de Lestang - a place of sharing and creation, Joséphine Fossey has designed a singular décor, guided by a principle of total art, mixing vintage and contemporary, favoring noble materials, natural materials and know-how. The work of Pauline Esparon, for example, a young emerging designer, catches the eye: starting with raw linen fiber, Esparon reveals the raw qualities of this material and questions the transformation process, favoring local production to create new potential. An exploratory approach aligned with the DNA of Lestang 1573. Her linen-fiber screen stands alongside the Pigreco chairs designed by Tobia Scarpa for Tacchini, while the rope suspension by Audou & Minet dialogues with the sculpted plaster fixtures by designer Pierre Castanier and Mathias Kiss’ bespoke rug.

Joséphine Fossey

The décor responds not only to the natural setting, but also to the in-situ installation by artist Kiss, conceived as the first highlight of an ambitious art collection. A perennial work of art, contrasting with the environment while complementing it. Both indoors and out, Mathias Kiss delivers a free and personal interpretation of the vine, using mirrors to reflect and transform space and capture light. An installation that blurs the boundaries between art and craft, reality and illusion, and hijacks the traditional function of the mirror while questioning it at the same time. Other artists will be invited to intervene on the property, making it evolve with the seasons and creations.

Overall, the choice of bottle, the design of the label, the visual identity of the brand, the decoration of the winery, the artistic collaborations and the events, are all elements that participate in creating the perfect balance, between historical roots and contemporary aesthetics, for Lestang 1573, culminating in true art of living. See more of this stunning space https://lestang1573.com/en/lestang-sancerre/

Words: Emily Leung & Nikey Cheng
Photos: Alice Mesguich
Published on February 07, 2024