Following the French Revolution, the vines were hit by phyloxera, a devastating plant louse, and the estate changed hands several times until it was bought by Petrus Desbois in 1891 to be used as his summer residence. Since then it has remained a private family home and vineyard, carefully nurtured by each generation. The first Petrus Desbois resuscitated the beleaguered vineyards by grafting French vines onto American rootstock. Then in 1945, his son Petrus Desbois took over and it was under his stewardship that Saint-Georges began producing a world-renowned wine. Today, his son Georges Desbois presides over the estate, and creates well-balanced, elegant wines, celebrated for their ability to age well.