The Vieux Château Certan estate is located in the heart of the Pomerol plateau just a few rows of vines away from Pomerol's famous church belfry. The vines are planted on the famed gunz terrace is recognised as one of the greatest wine-growing terroirs of the Bordeaux area. The soils are made up of large, round pebbles together with different clays over an iron-rich subsoil that gives Vieux Château Certan a distinctive character.

The Pomerol region is located at the northern border where viticulture was present in the area during the time of the Romans. Though it is uncertain as to the origins of the name "Pomerol", but it is speculated that the word was derived from the Latin word poma, which refers to a fruit bearing seeds and is the origin of the French word pomme, meaning apple. This theory is supported by the region's long history of polyculture with many other crops, particularly fruits and grains, being cultivated in the area long before viticulture became a primary focus.