Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves
Classical music encounters in the Graves vineyard
About Rencontres Graves
The Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves is both a classical and chamber music festival and a summer academy that takes place every summer in the Bordeaux vineyards of Graves and Sauternes. Seven concert evenings are hosted in prestigious châteaux (Rochemorin, Haut Nouchet, Château de France, Domaine de Chevalier, Maison des Vins de Graves, Latour-Martillac, Carbonnieux), with each concert followed by a tasting of the host estate's wines.
Founded in 2005, the festival welcomes internationally renowned artists and young talents trained by the associated academy. The 26th edition (2026) is under the honorary presidency of violinist Maxim Vengerov, with Max Zorin as artistic director and Vincent Balse for cultural mediation.
A festival in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards
Since 2005, the Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves has offered a unique encounter between classical chamber music and the wine-growing region of Graves and Sauternes. Seven concerts per edition, given at 8:30 PM in exceptional châteaux south of Bordeaux, in Léognan, Martillac, and Podensac, followed by a tasting of the host estate's wines.
Festival and academy
Alongside the public festival, the summer academy welcomes young musicians for a week of masterclasses, chamber music workshops, and auditions supervised by guest artists. This dual dimension makes the Rencontres an event for both the general public and professionals.
Artistic Direction
The Rencontres Musicales des Graves association (KINOR DAVID association, based in Villenave d'Ornon) organizes the event. Artistic direction is provided by violinist Max Zorin, with Vincent Balse for cultural mediation. Maxim Vengerov is Honorary President of the 2026 edition.
Partner Châteaux
Seven châteaux and heritage sites host the concerts: Château de Rochemorin, Château Haut Nouchet, and Château Latour-Martillac in Martillac, Château de France, Domaine de Chevalier, and Château Carbonnieux in Léognan, Maison des Vins de Graves in Podensac.
Rencontres Graves — edition 2026
26th edition of the Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves, from July 16 to 24, 2026, in seven châteaux of the Bordeaux vineyard. Under the honorary presidency of violinist Maxim Vengerov, with an exceptional evening « Maxim Vengerov & friends » at Château Carbonnieux on July 24 and a recital by Thomas Enhco on July 22 in Podensac.
26th Edition — July 16 to 24, 2026
For its 26th edition, the festival presents seven evenings of concerts in the châteaux of Graves and Sauternes, in Martillac, Léognan, and Podensac. Maxim Vengerov is the Honorary President; Max Zorin is the artistic director.
Headliners
- Maxim Vengerov & friends at Château Carbonnieux (Léognan) on July 24 — closing concert featuring works by Prokofiev and Brahms.
- Thomas Enhco, pianist and composer, in concert on July 22 at the Maison des Vins de Graves (Podensac).
- Max Zorin (violin) and Vincent Balse (piano) in recital at Château de France (Léognan) on July 20.
Châteaux and tastings
Each concert is followed by a tasting of wines from the host estate (Château de France, Domaine de Chevalier, Latour-Martillac, Carbonnieux, Maison des Vins de Graves, Haut Nouchet, Rochemorin).
Programme Rencontres Graves 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026 — Château de Rochemorin (Martillac)
Opening concert at 8:30 PM. Detailed program announced by the organizer on the official website.
Friday, July 17, 2026 — Château Haut Nouchet (Martillac), 8:30 PM
« Bach Revisited » — a jazz ensemble revisits Bach, blending improvisation and classical writing.
- Violaine Despeyroux (viola)
- Matthieu Delage (baritone saxophone)
- Benjamin Garson (guitar)
- Baptiste Dolt (drums)
Monday, July 20, 2026 — Château de France (Léognan), 8:30 PM
Violin & piano recital with Max Zorin (violin) and Vincent Balse (piano).
- Edvard Grieg — Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor — Deep River
- George Gershwin — Rhapsody in Blue
- Béla Bartók — Romanian Folk Dances
- Ernest Chausson — Poème, Op. 25
- Pablo de Sarasate — Caprice basque
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — Domaine de Chevalier (Léognan), 8:30 PM
« Klezmer Mosaic » — a program at the crossroads of classical music, liturgical chant, and klezmer (works by Mendelssohn, Bloch, Bartók, Casals, Bruch, and traditional pieces).
- Julien-David Petit (saxophone)
- Béatrice Reibel-Petit (cello)
- Stéphane Unger (bass guitar)
- Raphael Petit (mandolin & guitar)
- Vincent Balse (piano)
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — Maison des Vins de Graves (Podensac), 8:30 PM
« Beethoven in Connemara » — Irish melodies arranged by Beethoven, Archduke Trio, and traditional pieces. Special evening with Thomas Enhco.
- Thomas Enhco (piano, composer)
- Lydia Becker (violin)
- Joëlla Becker-Harrow (cello)
- Federico Ercoli (piano)
Thursday, July 23, 2026 — Château Latour-Martillac (Martillac)
Wine tasting at 7:30 PM, concert at 8:30 PM. Ensemble Millésime 2026.
- Franz Schubert — String Trio
- Luigi Boccherini — Flute Quintet
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Quintet in C major
With Evgenia Epshtein (violin), Sandrine François (flute), Joëlla Becker-Harrow (cello), and the Millésime 2026 ensemble.
Friday, July 24, 2026 — Château Carbonnieux (Léognan), 8:30 PM
« Maxim Vengerov & friends » — closing concert.
- Felix Mendelssohn — Trio No. 1
- Antonín Dvořák — Four Miniatures, Op. 75a (for two violins and viola)
- Robert Schumann — Piano Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 47
With Maxim Vengerov, Gary Levinson and Max Zorin (violins), Iakov Zats (viola), Béatrice Reibel-Petit (cello), Kazuko Hiyama (piano).
Highlights Rencontres Graves 2026
- Maxim Vengerov, Honorary President of the edition, in concert at Château Carbonnieux on July 24
- Thomas Enhco, pianist and composer, in concert on July 22 at the Maison des Vins de Graves
- Seven châteaux in the Bordeaux Graves and Sauternes vineyards, in Léognan, Martillac, and Podensac
- Each concert followed by a tasting of wines from the host estate
- Summer academy in parallel with the festival, with masterclasses and auditions for young musicians
Prices Rencontres Graves 2026
Practical information — Rencontres Graves
Concert venues: Graves and Sauternes châteaux in Léognan (33850), Martillac (33650), and Podensac (33720). Precise address communicated for each concert on the official website.
Times: concerts at 8:30 PM. On-site ticket office opens at 7:30 PM (Château Latour-Martillac: tasting at 7:30 PM then concert at 8:30 PM).
Tickets: online at musique-en-graves.com, on-site before each concert, and via Sud Bordeaux Tourisme (Martillac Tourist Office) at 05 24 73 39 90.
Organization contact: [email protected] — 06 42 47 70 15 / 07 85 82 19 47.
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