Leoville Barton was part of a much larger estate with Château Leoville Las Cases and Château Leoville Poyferre vineyards included, making it the most extensive property in St. Julien. The Barton family are the current owners of the estate, tracing their Bordeaux roots way back to 1722, which was the year that Thomas Barton left Ireland for Bordeaux. Like many successful owners, he started out as a Bordeaux negotiant or wine merchant for Chateau Le Boscq in St. Estephe in 1745. Later, the Barton family partnered the Guestier family to create a massive and extremely successful Bordeaux wine negotiant company, called, Barton and Guestier. Today, the Barton and Guestier are still active in the Bordeaux wine trade.

Saint Julien first became famous for its Bordeaux wine back in the 17th century. At that time, St Julien was in the stage of development, to become a major Bordeaux wine producing appellation in the Left Bank when the entire area of the Medoc was discovered and populated by wealthy aristocrats. Coinciding with creating the famous vineyards we know today, the new landowners quickly began erecting massive showpiece chateaux throughout the region. Many of the original Saint Julien estates are still standing today and can be easily noticed while driving down the famous D2 highway.