Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte has changed hands a number of times throughout its lengthy history, but one thing that hasn't changed is the quality of its product. For that reason and others, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc has earned a nomination for a Luxist award in the best international white wine category.

All the way back in 1365, the blue-blooded Bosq family was the first to grow grapes at what is now Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. In the 18th Century, a Scotsman named George Smith took over the estate and built the chateau that stands today. He produced wine and transported it back to the British Isles by the caseload on his own ships.

Toward the middle of the 19th Century, the estate fell into the hands of Bordeaux's mayor, who established Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte as a Grand Cru. In 1958, the company was purchased by its distributor, the Louis Eschenauer company, before finally ending up under the control of current owner Daniel Cathiard in 1990.

Today, the wine remains a favorite of oenophiles around the world, thanks to a blend of grapes as engaging as ever. Recent vintages of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc are made up of 90% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, but the house's "secret weapon" is a dash of Sauvignon Gris that gives the wine hints of peach, apricot and grapefruit – and makes it an ideal candidate for aging.

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