Long, long ago in an undeveloped land, noblemen of local origin maintained and began the transformation of a lush, fertile, and rich parcel of Irish countryside.  The timeline dates back to the 6th century when terrain was abundant and Dublin as we know it didn’t exist.  The land transferred to Maurice FitzGerald who was the Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan.  FitzGerald was a significant force in the Anglo-Norman invasion and renowned as one of the original conquerors of Ireland.  The deed stayed in the family before falling into the lap of King John I of England and then many of Ireland’s most prominent families.  But it wasn’t until 1831 that Hugh Barton secured the land and began the buildout of a fairytale estate that would be named “Straffan House.” Barton was the grandson of Thomas Barton of the Barton and Guestier wines of Bordeaux, France.  Hugh was an Irishman who relocated his family to the French countryside to continue what his family had built in the wine trade.  However, he was captured and imprisoned during the “Reign of Terror” and upon release, he escaped back to Ireland where he and his wife, Anne, purchased Straffan House.  They designed an estate that would marvel and astonish all.  Based after a château in Louveciennes, with inspiration from an Italian fortress, Straffan became the family’s permanent residence. Barton and Guestier’s day-to-day business would remain in Bordeaux with Daniel Guestier but the families remained partners and continued the winery for generations.  Fun fact - the label remains but was bought out by Seagram’s in 1986, and has since been sold back to a French company - Castel Freres.