Chateau Gruaud Larose is located in the St Julien appellation, southerly end of the plateau close to the village of Beychevelle. This is a large property with some 82 hectares under vine in a single block on a soil of deep quaternary gravel on a tertiary subsoil and planted with 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. The average age of vine is around 45 years with a planting density of 10,000 per hectare and a rootstock consisting of 3 309 and 101-14 Riparia. Gruaud-Larose has its own meteorological station and monitors the vineyard as 66 separate parcels.

Grapes are hand-picked and sorted, then fermented for 21 to 35 days in a combination of temperature controlled wooden vats and cement tanks. Maturation takes place in French oak barrels for 16-18 months, using at least 50% new oak. Since 1989 they have produced a second label named "Sarget de Gruaud Larose" that undergoes similar vinification to the Grand Vin but without any new oak aging. The wine is sourced from the younger vines between 3 to 20 years of age that cover around 55% of the vineyard.