The Chateau Certan de May estate's name has origins from the founding family, presumably of Scottish origin sometimes documented as Demay, who lived in France sice the Middle Ages and were established in Pomerol at the end of the 16th century.

Archives state the family by royal ordonnance became masters of the fief of Certan, or Sertan, making this the oldest vignoble of the district, an area that also encompassed present day Vieux Chateau Certan and Chateau Certan-Giraud. The French Revolution led to the division of the domain, leaving the de May family with a small parcel of the original property, then called Petit-Certan.

After the death of the last de May in 1925 the estate came to the Barreau-Badar family, the present day owners. It is currently managed by Jean-Luc Barreau.

The winery is located on the Right Bank of the Bordeaux wine region, in the commune of Pomerol in the department Gironde. As all wine produced in this appellation, Chateau Certan de May is unclassified but the estate is long estimated among the great growths of the region.