Terracotta & terroir II
9 DAY HANDBUILDING WORKSHOP
September 27 - OCTOBER 6, 2026
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Join ceramist Daphné Verley for a 9-day ceramics workshop at Château Gigault, an 18th-century château surrounded by vineyards in the Bordeaux region.
Following last year’s memorable inaugural offering, Daphné is delighted to welcome participants for another creative and cultural odyssey. This year’s workshop will be garden-centric, focusing on flat-backed, wall-mounted planters that bring together sculpture, utility, and individual expression. Designed to frame and celebrate living greenery, these terracotta pieces will explore the relationship between clay, plant life, and the handmade object.
Daphné will guide participants in designing and creating their own wall-mounted terracotta planter, with attention to composition, function, and each maker’s personal imagination. Beginning with an initial sketch, students will develop the planter’s form three-dimensionally using foundational hand-building techniques such as slab preparation, coiling, pinching, and surface embellishment. Particular attention will be paid to proportion, structure, and the practical requirements of a vessel intended to hang on a wall.
This project was chosen not only for its poetic merging of fired earth and living earth, but also because it offers a focused construction process within a consecutive multi-day format. Suitable for all skill levels, the workshop emphasizes the hands-on experience essential to creating a strong, expressive, and functional hanging vessel.
Beyond the ceramics studio, the experience includes wine tastings and vineyard tours led by our host, Christophe Reboul Salze, a former Bordeaux négociant of fine wines and the owner of Château Gigault since 1998.
“Terracotta & Terroir was so much more than a creative and cultural experience. It was total immersion into the subtle, slower paced wonder and beauty of French Country living.”
Setting
Château Gigault, perched in the appellation d'origine contrôlée of Blaye on the Gironde estuary 50 minutes north of Bordeaux, is both an historic château and working vineyard dating back to the 18th century. The estate and surrounding countryside will be a peaceful backdrop whether creating in the studio or resting by the pool.
Our host, Christophe, will introduce us to the rich winemaking traditions of the Blayais terroir—famous for its historical Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Additionally, Blaye hosts a memorable Saturday market which you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing first hand.
Each evening, preceding dinner, we will gather in the living room after a day of creative and cultural exploration for ‘apéro’, the quintessential French ritual of finger food and a beverage to converse, relax and share the events of the day.
“I’ll cherish the memories of gathering together in creativity, community, and connection — in the studio, around the dining table, or exploring the surrounding countryside.”
workshop
This workshop uniquely combines artisanal tradition with individual artistic expression. Ceramic wall planters evolved from purely utilitarian household storage containers or ‘pockets’ in the 1700’s into decorative accents expanding across Europe with prestigious potteries such as Wedgewood and Meissen producing elegant, hand painted wall vases in porcelain. These luxury items were status symbols used to display rare, imported flora.
During the 19th century, the popularity of ceramic wall pockets exploded with Victorians culturally obsessed with bringing nature into the home. Kitchen surfaces were often crowded and vertically mounted ceramic vessels, often in colorful Majolica, allowed families to root herbs and ivy or display freshly cut flowers without cluttering table space.
In this workshop, from an initial sketch we will shape and engineer your hanging planter (or pocket) employing all of the hand building techniques you may already be familiar with, flat slab preparation, pinching, coiling, and carving. Special attention will be paid to the details of fashioning organic elements of nature such as branches, shells, birds and leaves incorporated into your design. There may be periods during your process where you will be stalled allowing the clay to stiffen before you can proceed in which case you will be welcome to create small pieces such as ‘kiln fillers’ or take a break outside of the studio to pursue other pleasures.
At workshop’s end, after pieces have been glazed and fired, each participant will have a unique, finished hanging wall planter (or pair) to take home as a lasting memento enhancing your interior or exterior space.
Studios days will begin with breakfast at 8:30AM, followed by morning instruction from 9:30AM to 12:30PM. We will break for an al fresco lunch, weather permitting until 2:30.
Following lunch you will be free to continue working independently in the studio, relax by the pool or explore the surrounding countryside until apéro at 7PM followed by dinner in the dining room.
The afternoon studio session will be more self directed to implement the morning’s demonstration with Daphné present to shepherd you through any challenges.
“Daphné was there at every step of my creative process to support, suggest and advise. ”
Experiences
Nightly wine tasting
Each evening, Christophe will open his cellar and choose a curated selection of vintages from Château Gigault, Bordeaux, and beyond. His extensive knowledge and passion the for making, enjoying, and sharing of good wine elevates every evening into a memorable experience, demystifying terroir and production techniques without pretension.
chateau gigault wine production tour
Explore the estate’s hectares of Merlot-dominant vines, viticulture and winemaking traditions firsthand. Christophe leads an immersive tour, detailing the vineyard’s history, grape varietals, and meticulous production process—including harvesting, fermentation in traditional concrete vats, aging in French oak barrels, and careful bottling. Château Gigault’s renowned Cuvée Viva, praised by critics, exemplifies the excellence of the Blaye appellation.
Guided bordeaux historical tour
While the kiln is working its magic mid-workshop, students and their partners will explore Bordeaux with a guided tour of its highlights featuring 18th-century neoclassical grandeur, medieval history and modern waterfront marvels. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bordeaux will enchant you with its architectural harmony crafted from its signature golden “blond stone” and vibrant historic neighborhoods and pedestrian promenade along the quais of the Garonne River. This excursion will provide a memorable glimpse into the city known as “The Sleeping Beauty” of France.
Following our tour you are free to enjoy lunch at any number of charming brasserie or cafés which we will be happy to recommend. Afterward, enjoy exploring the city at your leisure until our meetup at 5:30PM for transportation back to Gigault
Accomodations
Participants will occupy private rooms overlooking the vines, each with their own bathroom (renovations currently in progress), and access to all areas of the chateau for meals in the kitchen and dining room or for relaxing in the living rooms, the garden or poolside, weather permitting.
Of eight available rooms, two are appointed with a twin bed, six feature a queen bed, one of which (the tower room) can accommodate triple occupancy, if desired.
Breakfast typically includes fresh croissants and pastries, fruit, yogurt, eggs, coffee and tea. Fresh figs picked daily from Gigault’s trees add an extra measure of ‘rise & shine’.
Dinner will be made from scratch each night, imbued with seasonal local flavors and always capped with a cheese course in the french tradition. Dessert or fruit will follow.
Accommodations can be made for those who have dietary restrictions, or wish to arrive early or leave later as necessary.
“At Chateau Gigault, welcoming visitors becomes itself an art form. ”
details & pricing
Sunday
september 27
Arrivals
Welcome dinner
Monday
september 28
Studio day
Tuesday
september 29
Studio day
Wednesday
september 30
Studio day
thursday
October 1
Studio day
friday
October 2
Bordeaux excursion
saturday
October 3
Saturday market
Studio day
Sunday
October 4
Studio day
monday
October 5
Studio day
tuesday
October 6
Pack up and departures
The workshop is limited to eight participants, with a minimum of six required for it to take place.
Students will arrive in the afternoon on Sunday, September 27 for a welcome dinner, and the workshop will begin on Monday, September 28th.
Arrangements for transportation to and from the Bordeaux airport are available upon request. Participants may choose to rent a car if they’d like greater freedom to explore the surrounding area, but it is not necessary.
Unless otherwise noted, workshop prices include:
Instruction, studio time, firing, materials and supplies
Private bedroom with a private bathroom
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and nightly wine paring experience
Chateau Gigault vineyard tour experience
Bordeaux historical excursion
Packing materials will be provided at the end of the workshop. Shipping to transport your finished pieces home is available with an added fee for postage.
As each queen guest room can accommodate two, spouses not participating in the workshop are welcome to join and explore all that Blaye and Bordeaux has to offer with Christophe as their guide; potential excursions include:
Les falaises de Meschers on the Gironde river, limestone cliff dwellings carved naturally millions of years ago, later expanded by humans to serve as pirate hideouts and presently homes.
La Citadel of Blaye, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The magnificent Chateau de Malleret, its vineyard and stables located in the Haut Médoc.
The historic town of Saint Emillion, with a potential visit to one of its world renowned vineyards.
The nine day board fee covering meals, wine, and excursions for included partners is €1,635 EUR (approx. $1,900 USD). Please let us know should you wish to share a room amongst multiple students participating in the workshop so we can provide adjusted pricing.
$1,700 USD deposit per student due at booking; remaining room and board fees paid on arrival at the chateau.
Twin room, private bath
Comfortable private bedroom with a twin bed and private bathroom. Includes workshop, breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine pairings, and excursions.
€3,900 EUR
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queen room, private bath
Comfortable private bedroom with a queen bed and private bathroom. Includes workshop, breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine pairings, and excursions.
€4,175 EUR
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Master Suite
Spacious master bedroom with a queen bed and attached en-suite bathroom. Includes workshop, breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine pairings, and excursions.