Earth Day Heroes

EARTH DAY HEROES MEDIA KIT

©G. Bonnaud -AOC Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur

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CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD Luc Planty, General Manager AOC Sauternes

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CHÂTEAU JEAN FAURE Marie-Laure Latorre, General Manager AOC Saint-Émilion

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CHÂTEAU BROWN Jean-Christophe Mau, Director AOC Pessac-Léognan

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CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT Frédéric & Anne Bellanger, Owners AOC Entre-deux-Mers

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VIGNOBLES ROUSSEAU Laurent Rousseau, Owner AOC Bordeaux Supérieur

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GROUPE GRANDS CHAIS DE FRANCE Famille Helfrich Multiple Bordeaux AOCs

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LE GDON Sophie Bentéjac, Directrice

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CHÂTEAU BRILLETTE Lucile Dijkstra, General Manager AOC Moulis en Médoc

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BORDEAUX FAMILIES Philippe Cazaux, Directeur Général

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JULES LEBÈGUE Alban de Belloy, Managing Director AOC Saint-Émilion, AOC LussacSaint-Émilion, AOC Médoc and AOC Bordeaux

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Sustainable Bordeaux The Bordeaux wine region has reached new milestones in their commitment to sustainability efforts that encompass a wide spectrum of initiatives from vineyard and cellar management, preservation of natural habitats and resources to workplace safety and supply chain efficiency.

More than 65% of the Bordeaux vineyards are certified environmental — a new benchmark for the region.

No single model of sustainability is the same, but the people behind Bordeaux wine share a collective commitment to proactively act to address climate change by preserving scarce water and energy resources; protecting fragile ecosystems; and championing biodiversity from best vineyard practices to alternative packaging. Bordeaux’s vision is an expansive one that includes efforts to sustain the wine community by enhancing worker safety, job satisfaction and training and development for current and future generations.

We are pleased to share the stories of 10 Earth Day Heroes from Bordeaux who exemplify sustainability-inaction. Our Earth Day Heroes showcase a full spectrum of choices that address today’s significant environmental and societal agenda, including why certification matters; how to inspire their teams; the challenge of educating and engaging consumers; pioneer efforts to develop ecofriendly packaging and supply chain efficiency; and how sustainability and organic winemaking impact the taste and quality of their cuvées.

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Château Guiraud AOC Sauternes

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“Organic certification is part of the continuity of our history, but we will always have to persevere in our efforts to enhance our terroir and our wine.”

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hâteau Guiraud was the first Grand Cru Classé from the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines to attain organic certification in 2011.

Throughout its history, Château Guiraud has always embodied an independent spirit in Sauternes, and as early as 1983 the estate formally embraced the path to biodiversity. Estate Manager and Agricultural Engineer Luc Planty recalls these early days as a “cultural revolution,” one that would eventually lead to pioneering efforts in biodynamics and permaculture and the total elimination of synthetics and pesticides in 1996, a critical step on the journey to organic winemaking.

LUC PLANTY Estate Manager and Agricultural Engineer

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Pioneers in Permaculture “We started off convinced that organic viticulture was the way of the future,” Luc Planty recalls. With 272 acres to manage, the size of the property presented daunting challenges, but Luc Planty was committed to permaculture, a form of agriculture that came naturally to a terroir-driven estate. “Permaculture considers every aspect of cultivation, involving the total integration of climate, soil type, topography, water usage, rainfall and human activity,” Luc Planty explains. Through all these elements, permaculture aspires to preserve biodiversity.

Permaculture exceeded all expectations from the get-go. “In 1996 we inoculated the soil at Guiraud with micro-organisms and enriched it with natural compost,” Luc Planty shares. “Within a few years we witnessed a veritable botanical explosion: the number of species had tripled! It is difficult to grasp what a powerhouse of life there is in the soil: each plant, each and every insect plays a role.” Château Guiraud’s prime location made permaculture a natural fit; the estate is situated close to the Ciron River, a treasure of biodiversity that is essential to the Sauternes character. “It is exciting to realize that in order to produce a very great wine we must be at one with nature,” says Luc Planty.

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G de Guiraud 2019 Bordeaux Blanc

Biodiversity in Practice

Does organic wine taste better?

Château Guiraud discovered early on that soils can quickly come alive with the right approach. A reduction in the depth of planting, for example, will recharge the teeming microbial life beneath, helping soils to become more fertile. Luc Planty estimates that around 1 million different types of bacteria, 100,000 fungal varieties and 1,000 invertebrate species are hard at work in the soils. All these natural microorganisms improve aeration and enhance the decomposition of plant residue; over time, it all gives back in the form of healthier vines. The team further enhances the positive impact on plant life with natural grass covers and plants such as chamomile, comfrey, nettles, lovage, hyssop and horsetail, attracting more than 700 species of pollinators. “It’s quite a rescue team for the vines!” says Luc Planty. Château Guiraud believes that this constant renewal of the vineyard’s ecosystem enhances their wines and enables the vines to better withstand the challenge of climate change.

“It’s difficult to say categorically that organic wine has a better taste, but it is better at expressing the terroir of a vineyard,” Luc Planty articulates. “It is of course less harmful to the body and the planet.”

Chemical products are able to compensate for a shortfall in sunshine or an excess of rain, but organic viticulture does away with artificial substances that minimize the effects of terroir and vintage specificity. Luc Planty sees real impact on the quality of production at Château Guiraud: the wines are more precise with greater minerality and refinement, a great pay-off for the team’s hard work.

Château Guiraud has been known for their enterprising spirit for a long time. Luc Planty sees organic certification as one step on a continuum that never ends. “Organic certification is part of the continuity of our history, but we will always have to persevere in our efforts to enhance our terroir and our wine.” Permaculture is as the name implies, a constant in the life of Château Guiraud.

Luc Planty encourages others to embrace the big picture: “This is not the end; we are just on the road of the biodiversity.”

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Château Jean Faure AOC Saint-Émilion

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“For Jean Faure, it is about enhancing what people do not see, respecting the harmony of the landscape and integrating the estate into its cultural heritage in the village of Saint-Émilion”

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hâteau Jean Faure is an historic Saint-Émilion wine estate, owned by only six families over the past six centuries. This great stability of land tenure is a considerable asset for an estate that earned Premier Cru classification in the 19th Century. The most recent owners, Anne and Olivier Decelle, bought Château Jean Faure in 2004 to live on the property and renew their commitment to Saint-Émilion landscape.

For Anne and Olivier, this meant immediately eliminating all pesticides and embracing environmentally-friendly agriculture. Jean Faure attained official organic farming certification in 2017 and biodynamic certification in 2020. to preserve biodiversity and achieve an environmental balance between people and nature.

Marie-Laure Latorre joined Jean Faure as General Manager in 2018. An agricultural engineer and enologist by training, Marie-Laure comes from a Bordeaux winemaking family and wanted to combine her extensive experience in the wine trade with a commitment to organic and biodynamic farming. Driven by a passion for nature, Marie-Laure is helping Jean Faure adopt the healthiest methods possible in order to preserve biodiversity and achieve an environmental balance between people and nature.

MARIE-LAURE LATORRE General Manager

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Preservation and balance start with healthy vines and soils “For Jean Faure, it is about enhancing what people do not see, respecting the harmony of the landscape and integrating the estate into its cultural heritage in the village of SaintÉmilion,” Marie-Laure observes. Preservation and balance start with healthy vines and soils.

Jean Faure has eliminated all herbicides and synthetic pesticides (in favor of all-natural remedies such as copper and sulfur, which are further reduced as soil health improves). The estate further minimizes environmental impact by recycling as much as possible and through a continuous reduction of energy and water consumption. Marie-Laure also credits early adoption of deep rooting for the health of the vineyard. In 2004, with the help of Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, Jean Faure made it a priority to increase microbial life in the soils as well as the biodiversity of flora and fauna, measures that the team links directly to higher quality fruit and maturation.

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Strong Consumer Response “Bringing together a whole team of different generations around the same project has undoubtedly been one of the biggest, but also one of the most beautiful challenges that we have overcome,” Marie-Laure notes.

Official organic farming certifications such as HVE 3/ISO 14000 and Biodyvin have supported strong consumer enthusiasm and access to new markets. Marie-Laure finds that wine lovers are increasingly demanding ethically-made products, creating real commercial opportunity for certified wines. Ultimately, the wine itself makes the strongest case for organic and biodynamic practices. Marie-Laure credits responsible agriculture for the freshness of the estate fruit and responsible winemaking for great refinement. For example, she attributes initiatives such as the removal of added sulfur from most vinifications results in a greater purity of the aromas.

Château Jean Faure 2018

The Key to Success Jean Faure is passionately committed to organic winemaking and encourages others to adopt a long-term perspective to appreciate all the benefits and justify the investment. “Organic farming is often seen as a form of agriculture which leads to low yields through susceptibility to disease,” Marie-Laure observes. “For Jean Faure, if we have vintages that are low in yield, we can still be very happy. All the measures we have put in place have allowed the vines to develop natural resistance and immunity.

In 2020, we saw record returns! For us, this is undeniable proof that we can combine ecological convictions and still overcome economic constraints.” So, what is the key to success at Jean Faure? In Marie-Laure’s experience, there are no shortcuts; everyone on the winery team must be on board to work hard and make the environment a tangible reality at the center of their company’s future.

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Château Brown

AOC Pessac-Léognan

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Ecology has long been practiced in the vineyards of Château Brown. Led by Jean-Christophe and technical director Bruno Patrouilleau, the estate is not organically-certified, in favor of a more holistic approach centered on two pillars: (1) Biodiversity in every aspect of vineyard management, and (2) Eco-responsibility, a commitment to reduce their carbon footprint from production to packaging.

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ean-Christophe Mau started his career in finance before embracing his true vocation in winemaking and viticulture. A member of the 5th generation of a distinguished Médoc family, Jean-Christophe is a true vigneron, and the force behind Château Brown in Pessac-Léognan, one of the most historic estates in Bordeaux with plantings that date back to the Middle Ages. The vineyard extends over 148 acres, comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Merlot (45%) and Petit Verdot (2%) for the reds, and Sauvignon Blanc (60%) and Sémillon (40%) for the whites.

From the outset, Jean-Christophe has been motivated to produce the quality one expects of a classified growth at Château Brown, without compromising an inherent kindness and respect for the planet, which he likes to remind us, “we only borrow from our children.” It is an ecological approach that JeanChristophe learned from his father, a man deeply attached to nature who taught his son to respect and preserve it above all things.

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE MAU Director

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A Flower Farm and Fruit Trees Only 55% of the estate is planted to vines, a healthy balance which Jean-Christophe strives to maintain. Biodiversity in the vineyard includes proven initiatives such as reducing treatments and optimizing soil management to strengthen microbial life through plant cover and natural fertilizers. What happens in the uncultivated areas is just as meaningful to biodiversity. Château Brown has been actively planting trees and hedges since 2015; set up an apiary in 2017; and most recently, installed an orchard and flower farm in 2020. The orchard includes 36 fruit trees (apple, cherry, pear and plum) planted next to the apiary. “The trees do not undergo any treatment and the fruits are not intended to be harvested,” explains Jean-Christophe.

“Trees are refuges for biodiversity; they attract bees, insects and birds, and act as natural carbon traps.” The flower farm is a collaboration with a local grower to produce seasonal French blooms. “When Pauline contacted us to present her project to us, we were won over,” recalls Jean-Christophe. “The flower farm is in line with our values and is one more action to increase biodiversity.”

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Château Brown Rouge 2015

From Vineyard to Bottle “One more action….” is a recurring theme at Château Brown. Packaging has been a significant focus to reduce the estate’s carbon footprint worldwide, including the adoption of a locally-made cardboard shipping box derived from sustainable materials. 100% recyclable and printed with eco-friendly inks, the packaging is visually exciting and designed as a communications vehicle to engage consumers everywhere in recycling and waste reduction. To that end, Château Brown believes in a very transparent and educational approach to promote earthfriendly practices and regularly updates their website on new initiatives. Whenever possible, Château Brown also persuades trade partners to follow their sustainable lead. During the 2019 en primeur campaign, the estate actively encouraged merchants to choose cardboard packs over wooden crates: easier to recycle, cardboard boxes are the best choice for the environment.

The Consumer Challenge Jean-Christophe sees evidence of biodiversity at work throughout his estate. After all, to be a winegrower is to work with nature. “I never imagined how positive the results would be,” he shares. “Each year, the fauna grows and becomes denser at Château Brown. We see roe deer, hares and wild boars, together with birds such as woodcock, woodpecker, and hoopoe that all testify to the quality and good health of the vineyard.” Unfortunately, consumer reactions remain mixed. “When we take the time to explain our approach to a consumer, they are often receptive to our environmental certification and appreciate what we do for biodiversity at the estate,” Jean-Christophe acknowledges. However, for many consumers the choice comes down to organic or not organic. It’s a binary vision that can be hard to overcome, and for some consumers, organic certification is the only standard of environmental merit.

The Path Forward Jean-Christophe Mau believes that the path forward is to give back to nature and let the results shine forth. Nature is generous, but also capricious, and questions remain at Château Brown in the face of climate change: these include big picture decisions such as whether to cultivate new, more resistant grape varieties and whether Bordeaux winegrowers should have more permission to irrigate. The choices are not easy, and in some cases, profitability goals are at odds with biodiversity. “When you get involved in an environmental project, you have to do it first by conviction, not for profitability,” JeanChristophe admits. Thankfully, there are other rewards. “What I’m most proud of is the cohesion of my team. They are all committed to biodiversity at Château Brown.”

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Château Roquefort AOC Entre-deux-Mers

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We do not inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our children

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estled in a sprawling green valley between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, Château Roquefort has served as a center of farming life in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers since the Neolithic era. Named after the rocky limestone soils that lie underfoot, Château Roquefort– literally “strong rock” in Old French–and its historic ramparts have undergone significant evolution in recent years. Owners since 1976, the Bellanger family has worked meticulously to restore and enhance the natural heritage of Château Roquefort, always with a respectful eye to the site’s rich legacy. Sustainability and organic practices rank high for Frédéric Bellanger and his wife, Anne.

They balance their mission to produce exceptional cuvées with biodiversity; ISO 14001 certified since 2017, the Bellangers have converted their entire 262-acre estate to organic farming practices and are working to complete the next level of certification by eliminating all synthetic treatments.

FRÉDÉRIC & ANNE BELLANGER Owners

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A Forest through the Trees A significant tenet of the Bellanger’s approach to sustainability is to find the balance between cultivated vines and natural growth, with a large portion of the estate dedicated to forests.

Only 45% of the estate is for the vineyard, the rest is forest, woods and fields. The family expanded their commitment to forestry in 2020 by working with a trained ecologist to protect vulnerable plant and animal species living on their land.

Château Roquefort Bordeaux Blanc 2019

“We do not inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our children” The words of French poet and aviation pioneer, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, inspire the Bellanger’s approach to sustainability: Frédéric and Anne Bellanger consider Château Roquefort a living legacy to pass on to their four daughters. As Frédéric’s shares: “We must respect what the earth has given us.”

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Conscious Choices At Château Roquefort, biodiversity in action means not using chemical weed killers, a choice which protects the health of the soils as well as vineyard employees.

Long-time estate manager, Samuel Mestre, has worked with at Roquefort for the past 15 years and has played a pivotal role in enlisting the whole team to reach sustainability milestones. The next step in organic viticulture will involve discontinuing the use of all synthetic products, a layered project that takes years of commitment.

“The environmental project has been central to our vision of vineyard sustainability for the past forty years,” Frédéric explains.

“The first step began with the launch of the ISO 14001 environmental approach in 2012 and certification in 2014. By 2017, we had ceased chemical weeding and obtained the HVE 3 label. In 2020, we launched the full conversion of our vineyard to organic.”

One of the best outcomes of the organic initiative has been the collective support of the Roquefort team – as well as clients and consumers – who all place a high value on organic farming.

A Benchmark for Biodiversity The Bellangers and the team at Château Roquefort are incredibly proud of their journey towards organic farming. Frédéric and Anne realize that the transformation of the estate involves significant work, but the outcome makes it all worthwhile: to reaffirm the legacy of Château Roquefort and become a benchmark for biodiversity in Entre-deux-Mers.

From Lighter Bottles to Eco-Conscious Tourism In addition to organic farming, the Bellangers have reduced carbon emissions in post-bottling operations. They opt for lightweight bottles for more than 95% of their range and are working on an ecofriendly series that includes recycled paper labels, natural inks and innovative, superlight bottles. The family has also piloted a “slow tourism” program that offers private tours of Château Roquefort in the company of a trained ecologist, allowing visitors to discover the pristine life of the estate and the beauty of Entre-deux-Mers 21

Vignobles Rousseau AOC Bordeaux Supérieur

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Classified land as wildlife reserve- with protected status and 3 miles of giant bamboo hedges to act as a protective, natural barrier to potentially harmful elements.

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amily-owned since 1830, Vignobles Rousseau is located on the gravelly plateau of Abzac, on the border of Lalande de Pomerol and Lussac St. Emilion.

Abzac is known for exceptional terroirs such as Grand and Petit Sorillon composed of extremely deep gravel plots that support powerful wines with great cellaring potential. Current owner Laurent Rousseau studied viticulture and enology and has been immersed in Abzac since 1993. Laurent took over management of the family’s growing business in 2006, encompassing 138 acres of AOC vineyard and 89 acres of meadows and woodlands (including 12 acres of beehives). The Rousseau family holdings span multiple estates, including Château des Rochers, Château Haut Sorillon, Château Laborderie Mondésir and Château Pont Cloquet.. They all support a commitment to sustainable agriculture and advancing human equity.

LAURENT ROUSSEAU, Owner

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Giant Bamboo at Work in Bordeaux After almost 200 years in farming, the Rousseau family has always valued nature. Modern developments in Abzac have forced unprecedented changes. In 1998, the completion of the A89 motorway introduced significant emissions to the landscape. In order to protect the ecosystem, Laurent took immediate action to reclassify his lands as wildlife reserves with protected status and planted nearly 13,000 square feet of giant bamboo and 3 miles of hedges to act as protective, natural barriers to potentially harmful elements. Minimally invasive to the soil, bamboo requires limited water resources and is cut and crushed every year for mulch. Vignobles Rousseau has also taken direct action to protect soils by restricting the use of weedkiller to the months of April to July and by investing in mechanical weeders and compacters that leave no traces in the soil.

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Château Haut-Sorillon 2018

Human Dignity as a Sustainable Value At Vignobles Rousseau, people come first.

As President of the Labor Court, Laurent has extensive training in occupational health and safety. He feels a deep sense of responsibility for the people who work under his direction and considers their safety a critical component of sustainability in practice. “In 2002, I put in place a clear and strict discipline to protect our employees by keeping our equipment up to standard and providing increased training and purpose to our team so that everyone understands their role and can perform it safely,” Laurent shares. “Our biggest challenge is to ensure the financial sustainability of our business while continuing to protect the environment, our neighbors and our team. We work in collaboration with other companies to facilitate strong and lasting impact.”

Environmental need is often closely linked to what works best for the team at Vignobles Rousseau; for example, a recent decision to change the planting process supported better maturation of the fruit and required fewer treatments, while also reducing worker stress and labor injuries.

Support for Young People with Disabilities In October 2012, Vignobles Rousseau signed an agreement with the Centre Jean Elien Jambon Etablissement Public Médico Social Départemental (EPMSD) to support programs for young people with disabilities.

The winery trains fifteen young adults each year in the vineyard, allowing them to work with a special educator and participate in harvesting and other practices from November to June. The partnership has resulted in real friendships and enrichment for everyone involved, including a year-end celebration to toast the young workers.

Vignobles Rousseau believes companies thrive if everyone is working in a pleasant environment. No number of medals or certifications can compensate for a deficit in this area. In 2014, the Aquitaine Region and AFNOR selected Vignobles Rousseau to join a pilot group dedicated to “Equality” (as related to gender) and “Diversity” (discrimination) action, an effort that continues today. Human dignity and responsible environmental management are a life’s mission that Laurent Rousseau is proud to have inherited from his late father to pass along to the next generation.

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Groupe Grands Chais de France (GCF) Multiple Bordeaux AOCs

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The company’s Bordeaux bottling and logistics center is one of the largest, most modern and efficient operations of its kind.

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ounded in 1979 in Alsace

by Famille Helfrich, Groupe Grands Chais de France (GCF) is one of the most prominent wine merchants in France. The company has more than 2,500 employees and is the largest exporter of French wines worldwide, representing more than 20% of French wine exports to 177 countries. GCF first established their Bordeaux business in 1994 and now manages more than 1730 acres of vines throughout the region, including 2 Crus Classés and 2 crus bourgeois supérieurs.

The company’s Bordeaux bottling and logistics center is one of the largest, most modern and efficient operations of its kind. GCF considers it a privilege to represent French wine and terroir around the world–it is the company’s raison d’être–and sustainable best practices are key to their business model.

FAMILLE HELFRICH (Joseph, Laurence, Frédéric, Anne-Laure)

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Global Reach Means Global Impact GCF’s global reach allows the company to significantly impact the well-being of their consumers through the reduction of harmful additives and other environmental best practices. GCF has attained numerous certifications for their products (including HVE, BIO, Committed Winegrowers, ISO14000 and Energy Management ISO50001) through a decisive environmental commitment to reduce consumption of scarce natural resources. The company believes that respect for the environment is central to their consumer approach and corporate governance. Employees drive environmental action through meaningful Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that promote quality products and a quality workplace.

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Château du Bois Chantant 2018 Bordeaux Supérieur

Proactive Initiative for Real Results Proactive management policy is key to sound environmental practices at GCF. GCF’s vineyards in Bordeaux are equipped with their own weather stations specially designed to manage vine health and optimize treatments.

To cite one measure, GCF has reduced their IFT levels (Phytosanitary Treatment Frequency Index) by more than 34% as compared to the French national average. In addition, herbicide IFTs represent less than 10% of treatments, while bio-friendly IFTs account for over 50%.

Training the Team Quality of life on the job is highly valued at GCF, and sustainable training has emerged as a key perk for employees. Over the past decade, more than 500 people have been trained intensively on the bottling lines (on average 35 hours per week for 3 to 4 weeks), afterwards receiving a Professional Qualification Certificate (CQP). The training encompasses energy conservation efforts that engage employees in direct action such as the systematic control of cooling units and boilers and recycling up to 90% of waste through facilities such as the company’s wastewater treatment plant in Bordeaux. Employees also contribute to high performance bottling and logistics facilities at Landiras and Petersbach to manage more than 70% of transportation and product delivery with incredible efficiency. GCF is well-known for their freight consolidation efforts or “piggyback transport,” which account for container shipments chartered by the company.

Over a Decade of Environmental Action GCF has pursued responsible policies for more than a decade. The company’s goal is to improve quality through sustainability.

All of this is made possible by training and involving their employees in every aspect of responsible environmental practices from vineyard management to logistics and product distribution. GCF advises others to center their environmental approach firmly in CSR to succeed. The company believes that environmental actions contribute directly to the social good and sets high internal standards as part of their dynamic corporate culture. GCF’s global presence allows them to put meaningful action into training and share their strong environmental results for all to learn and forge a better path ahead.

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Le GDON

(The Group for the Defense against Harmful Organisms of the Vine)

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“Our efforts rely on the residents and communities of wine-growing areas. The objective is to better monitor the vineyard by raising awareness and involving local actors to prevent vine diseases.”

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e GDON (the Group for the Defense against Harmful Organisms of the Vine) is a regional organization committed to the prevention of flavescence dorée, a catastrophic vine disease spread by the leafhopper insect.

Highly invasive, flavescence is fatal for vines and will spread exponentially if left untreated.

The French authorities require uprooting contaminated vines, on of several compulsory treatments that prevents the spread, but at great cost to local growers.

In 2011, the winegrowers of 13 AOC Bordeaux regions organized a collective known as le GDON with the primary goal of proactively monitoring for signs of the flavescence disease by counting the number of leafhopper larvae in their vineyards. Director Sophie Bentéjac is one of four full-time employees of le GDON charged with mobilizing teams of seasonal employees and volunteers to walk the vineyards and monitor for detection, a prophylactic measure that drastically reduces the need for harmful pesticides.

In 2019, 108 vineyard monitors from le GDON teamed up to cover an astounding 19,539 miles – a distance practically equivalent to the earth’s circumference!

SOPHIE BENTÉJAC, Directrice du GDON des Bordeaux

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Profound Impact Led by local winemakers, le GDON impacts the people of Bordeaux in a profound way, to reach 183,000 acres of vineyard cultivated by 5,000 winegrowers. The walkers of le GDON visually monitor the vines for disease and also install leafhopper traps. Both greatly reduce the risk of outbreaks, making it possible to cover a huge ground and treat only where the insect is really observed. In 2016, le GDON introduced additional professional training measures designed to better inform the region and volunteers on best practices in monitoring and management.

Since then, le GDON has diversified to prevent outbreaks of Pierce’s disease (a scourge of California) and grapevine trunk diseases.

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Château des Matards Blanc Tradition 2018

A Strategy for the Wine World Le GDON seeks to mobilize Bordeaux in a collective effort that sets a high standard for the wine world. The more the watchers and walkers learn, the more effective their methods, making it possible to adapt and improve yearafter-year. It is an effort that requires the active participation of the people of Bordeaux, and which share with other wine regions looking to reduce disease and minimize harmful pesticides. As Bentéjac notes: “Our efforts rely on the residents and communities of wine-growing areas. The objective is to better monitor the vineyard by raising awareness and involving local actors to prevent vine diseases.”

Reducing the Need for Pesticides Sophie Bentéjac observes that there is a direct correlation between her work at le GDON and environmental protection through the reduction of pesticides: “This fight is grounded in sustainability,” Bentéjac shares. “The training of all professionals (winegrowers, employees, consultants, nurseries, students) would ultimately be a guarantee of sustainability.

With so many professionals able to recognize symptoms, the vines benefit from greater vigilance and early intervention that minimize harmful insecticide treatments.” Le GDON also shares their findings for the benefit of all in the wine trade and is open to innovation; since 2015, researchers from the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) have studied their data to improve control strategies and other research entities (IFV, IMS) are contributing to early detection of symptoms via cameras installed on harvesting machines.

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Château Brillette

AOC Moulis en Médoc

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A true natural setting, ideal for biodiversity!

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ituated in the Moulis region of Médoc, Château Brillette has belonged to the Flageul family since 1975. The highly regarded property is situated on 247 acres, with vines planted on the best gravel soils of Moulis and more than 120 acres of native forest. Estate Manager Lucile Dijkstra finds Château Brillette an inspiring place for the sustainablyminded: “a true natural setting, ideal for biodiversity!”

LUCILE DIJKSTRA General Manager Started in 2017

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What is the Sustainable approach?

In the Vineyard Château Brillette believes in working with their natural environment by modifying it as little as possible through minimal impact. It’s a philosophy that inspires the whole team, and which has awakened real appreciation of the natural beauty that surrounds the estate. “As soon as I arrived in 2017, I acted to reduce all additives,” recalls Lucile Dijkstra. “No more chemical weedkillers, no more insecticides, no more CMRs, no more anti-botrytis treatments, all with the aim of eliminating unwanted traces in the wine. In 2018, I surrounded myself with interns and we made lists of everything that we could feasibly do to support biodiversity.” Many positive initiatives resulted, including planting more than 1,500 trees on the estate; mowing late in the meadows; leaving dead wood in the forests; and allowing more grass cover between the rows. The team also added beehives and birdhouses, while encouraging a growing colony of bats and cluster worms which reduced the need for pesticides (and resulted in savings of 2000 € per year).

In 2019, Château Brillette was awarded a First Prize Trophy by Terre de Vin and Sud Ouest, taking top honors in Bordeaux for their commitment to Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora.

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Château Brillette has succeeded in shaking up the norm in Médoc, setting an example to follow in the Gironde.

Bio Packaging + Conservation in the Cellar

With the vineyard converted to biodiversity, work is now underway in the cellars, as evidenced by a 20% reduction in energy consumption costs over the past 2 years. Lucile Dijkstra credits the savings to changing habits and practices companywide – such as using less gas, water and electricity – and she is asking the same of her suppliers.

Barrels are delivered free of plastic wrappings and boxes (saving 1.5 containers of waste), a best practice which has inspired many followers in the Gironde. As part of her vision to create a 100% eco-inspired cuvée created with minimal carbon footprint, Lucile Dijkstra has turned her attention to the bottle package, in favor of a lightweight alternative made from all-natural and 100% recyclable materials, including shorter natural stoppers, water-based ink and plant pigments.

Even the label is biodegradable.

A First Vegan Wine Release Inevitably, biodiversity has also taken hold in the wine itself. In September 2020, the winery team released their first all-vegan wine: 2018 Brin de Brillette is an eco-driven cuvée that represents the culmination of biodiversity in action. It is a collective effort, further evidence of Lucile Dijkstra’s belief that “making everyone participate equally” is the way forward. The whole team takes pride in their wine and has won accolades like the National Ecodesign Trophy from Adelphe. 2018 Brin de Brillette is truly a beautiful wine, one which Lucile Dijkstra credits first to the character and quality of their terroir, and second to the expression of many eco-changes from vineyard to bottle.

Best of all, it is a wine that has been successful in the market of public opinion, convincing more and more suppliers to take note of biodiversity.

“It’s so good on the inside that it shows on the outside,” shares Lucile Dijkstra. She offers encouragement to any winery that wants to follow her lead: “With limited investment and lots of common sense, we can do great things.”

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Bordeaux Families

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The Bee GIEE’s honey farm and many other efforts at Bordeaux Families honey farm project stems from the desire of wine growers to implement environmental practices at every level.

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ordeaux Families is a leading cooperative of growers comprised of 300 members and spanning 12,355 acres in Sauveterre-BlasimonEspiet. More than 10% of the group holdings are planted organically, and the goal is to increase to 20% organic production within 5 years. Since 2019, Bordeaux Families has been overseeing a collective of 13 farms as a Group of Economic and Environmental Interest (GIEE). The participating winegrowers affectionately refer to themselves as “Les Bee GIEE’s,” and aspire to complete integration between farming and their natural environment. As the name implies, the honeybee is a central protagonist in their ambitious “Bee Plan.”

PHILIPPE CAZAUX, Directeur Général

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A Honey Harvest Bordeaux Families encourages biodiversity by deploying the very resources nature provides. The Bee planners have planted more than 1,150 feet of hedgerows and 7 acres of flowering plants to support a variety of local bees that share the same ecosystem as the vines. Pollen measurements are taken regularly to determine which plants perform best in attracting natural pollinators. This summer marks the first honey harvest for local winegrowers who have trained as beekeepers. Their first honey cuvée aims to educate consumers about 21 agro-ecological best practices in place to promote biodiversity by seeking harmony between viticulture, beekeeping and the natural landscape of Bordeaux.

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Crémant Louis Vallon 2018 Bordeaux Brut

Conservation Starts with Observation Bordeaux Families believes that conservation starts with observation. The cooperative is working to classify local flora and fauna over a diverse landscape in Bordeaux that ranges from the edge of the Dordogne hills to woodlands and plains, with the goal of preserving natural surroundings and bird habitats. In the vineyard, biodynamic practices are in place to reduce the use of copper, and a network of weather stations monitor conditions to minimize treatments.

Green composting (the practice of tilling greens such as field beans, mustards and cereals between rows) further stimulates the microbial life of the soil.

Training and Development Conscious of the need for more viticulture respectful of the environment, Bordeaux Families supports training and development workshops on all aspects of biodiversity. The Eco-responsible Organic Winegrowers workshops involve full-day immersion with expert speakers; visits to farms support direct observation of biodiversity in action, such as green composting, mechanical weeding and organic treatments.

Bordeaux Families also manages experimental “teaching plots” during the growing season to showcase organic farming methods; monitor for vine diseases; and to promote productive networking between members.

Environmental Stewardship The Bee GIEE’s honey farm and many other efforts at Bordeaux Families honey farm project stems from the desire of wine growers to implement environmental practices at every level. Bordeaux Families is in the midst of a profound ecological transition. A cooperative cellar, Bordeaux Families take the word cooperation to heart in their united stand on environmental stewardship. Their efforts demonstrate a shared commitment to offer organic practices to a growing consumer market.

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Jules Lebègue

AOC Saint-Émilion, AOC LussacSaint-Émilion, AOC Médoc and AOC Bordeaux

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“Sustainable development has become the raison d’être of the Jules Lebègue company; it guides us in our choices, our development and our strategy.”

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ounded in 1828 in the Médoc, the Jules Lebègue trading firm started with a flourishing export business that shipped Bordeaux wines throughout the British Empire, earning a prestige reputation that extends to the present. In 2006, Jules Lebègue was acquired by AdVini, a global wine leader that sources fine wines in France and South Africa. Under the leadership of Managing Director Alban de Belloy, the firm took a radical turn towards sustainable development in 2019.

ALBAN DE BELLOY Manager Director

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Eco-Friendly Partners As a négociant, Jules Lebègue is in a unique position to positively influence sustainable initiatives on multiple fronts, from their core business of sourcing wines from top growers to every aspect of blending, marketing, bottling and distribution. The firm encourages all their partner winegrowers to adopt environmentally-friendly practices and provides direct assistance to obtain HVE3 and organic certification. Jules Lebègue favors certified organic, biodynamic and bee-friendly wines that are made without pesticide residues and CMR. Eco-design also factors heavily into the company’s sustainable mission. All packaging materials such as lighter bottles with recyclable caps meet strict criteria for minimal environmental impact, as do bottling lines and distribution channels.

And, every aspect is monitored by a Product Life Cycle Analysis process that measures the company’s impact by multiple criteria, notably carbon impact, water usage, waste management and energy consumption.

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Jules Lebègue Saint-Émilion Bio 2019

Sustainability is our raison d’être

Bordeaux Leads the Way

Project leader Alban de Belloy shares that in just a few years “sustainable development has become the raison d’être of the Jules Lebègue company; it guides us in our choices, our development and our strategy.” The results are good for business on every level. Jules Lebègue recorded an 100% growth in sales of organic wines in 2020. Even more favorably, employee engagement in sustainable projects is extremely high, providing a source of meaning that extends from eco-actions such as planting community vegetable gardens and meeting daily recycling goals to minimizing waste at every phase of production. The company is proud of their collective efforts to reduce carbon impact through everyday choices. When employees get involved, meaningful change happens; Jules Lebègue consumes 40% less water and 3X less electricity and gas resources than their peers in Bordeaux.

Jules Lebègue is also working to drive awareness throughout the supply chain, by encouraging distributors to respond to heightened consumer demand for environmentally-conscious action.

Changing long-established behavior is always challenging, but De Belloy finds that that his arguments are resonating more than ever and wants to get the word out: “Bordeaux wines are already well advanced in terms of environmental protection. It is up to us to let people know!”

De Belloy underscores that organic practices are the right thing to do on just about every level, from greater employee and customer satisfaction to new commercial opportunity and product quality. “Our increased focus on organic wines has pushed us to be more demanding and selective, and the quality has never been higher,” de Belloy notes.

2020 was a banner year for Jules Lebègue wines as evidenced by critical acclaim and medals. Perhaps most noteworthy: a 95-point score from Decanter Magazine for 2019 Jules Lebègue Saint Emilion Bio, a 100% organic wine that exemplifies their environmental mission.

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EARTH DAY HEROES AT A GLANCE CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD (SAUTERNES) — Pioneers in Permaculture Château Guiraud is Bordeaux’s first Grand Cru Classé to attain organic certification in 2011. Luc Planty and his team are committed to permaculture, a form of agriculture that involves total integration of climate, soil type, topography, water usage, rainfall and human activity. Grass covers and plants such as chamomile, comfrey, nettles, lovage, hyssop and horsetail attract more than 700 species of pollinators to the vineyard. Luc Planty estimates that around 1 million different types of bacteria, 100,000 fungal varieties and 1,000 invertebrate species are hard at work in the soils; over time, it all gives back in the form of healthier vines.

CHÂTEAU JEAN FAURE (SAINT-ÉMILION) — Healthy Vines and Soils Château Jean Faure is an historic Saint-Émilion wine estate that attained official organic farming certification in 2017 and biodynamic certification in 2020. MarieLaure finds that wine lovers are increasingly demanding ethically made products, creating real commercial opportunity for certified wines. Ultimately, the wine itself makes the strongest case for organic and biodynamic practices. Marie-Laure credits responsible agriculture for the freshness of the estate fruit and the removal of added sulfur from most vinifications for greater purity of the aromas.

CHÂTEAU BROWN (PESSAC-LÉOGNAN) — A Flower Farm and Fruit Trees Led by fifth-generation winemaker Jean-Christophe and technical director Bruno Patrouilleau, Château Brown in Pessac-Léognan commits to biodiversity in every aspect of vineyard management. Only 55% of the estate is planted to vines; planted trees and hedges, an apiary, and, most recently, an orchard and flower farm form the ecosystem of the estate. The orchard includes 36 fruit trees (apple, cherry, pear and plum) and is a refuge for biodiversity: it attract bees, insects and birds, and acts as natural carbon trap. The flower farm is a collaboration with a local grower to produce seasonal French blooms.

CHÂTEAU ROQUEFORT (ENTRE-DEUX-MERS) — A Forest Through the Trees Owners since 1976, the Bellanger family’s approach to sustainability has been finding the balance between cultivated vines and natural growth, with a large portion of the estate dedicated to forests. Only 45% of the estate is for the vineyard, the rest is forest, woods and fields. Frédéric and Anne Bellanger consider Château Roquefort a living legacy to pass on to their four daughter and firmly believe that, “We must respect what the earth has given us.”

VIGNOBLES ROUSSEAU (AOC BORDEAUX SUPÉRIEUR) — Giant Bamboo at Work Family-owned since 1830, Vignobles Rousseau family has always valued a commitment to sustainable agriculture and advancing human equity. 1998, the completion of the A89 motorway introduced significant emissions to the landscape. In order to protect their ecosystem, Laurent and his team have planted nearly 13,000 square feet of giant bamboo hedges to act as a protective, natural barrier to potentially harmful elements. Minimally invasive to the soil, bamboo requires limited water resources and is cut and crushed every year for mulch.

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GROUPE GRANDS CHAIS DE FRANCE — Global Reach Means Global Impact Founded in 1979 in Alsace by Famille Helfrich, Groupe GRANDS CHAIS de FRANCE (GCF) is the largest exporter of French wines worldwide, representing more than 20% of French wine exports to 177 countries. GCF’s global reach allows the company to significantly impact the well-being of their consumers through the reduction of harmful additives and other environmental best practices. GCF has attained numerous certifications for their products (including HVE, BIO, Committed Winegrowers, ISO14000 and Energy Management ISO50001) through a decisive environmental commitment to reduce consumption of scarce natural resources.

LE GDON – Walking the Vines Le GDON (the Group for the Defense against Harmful Organisms of the Vine) is a regional organization committed to the control of flavescence dorée, a catastrophic vine disease spread by the leafhopper insect. Director Sophie Bentéjac is one of four full-time employees of le GDON charged with mobilizing teams of full-time and seasonal employees to walk the vineyards and monitor for early detection, a prophylactic measure that drastically reduces the need for harmful pesticides. In 2019, 108 vineyard monitors from le GDON teamed up to cover an astounding 19,539 miles – a distance practically equivalent to the earth’s circumference!

CHÂTEAU BRILLETTE (MOULIS EN MÉDOC) — Bio Packaging + Conservation Château Brillette believes in working with their natural environment by modifying it as little as possible through minimal impact. With a 20% reduction in energy consumption costs over the past 2 years, Brillette credits the savings to changing habits and practices companywide – such as using less gas, water and electricity – and asks the same of suppliers. Barrels are delivered free of plastic wrappings and boxes (saving 1.5 containers of waste), a best practice which has inspired many followers in the Gironde. In September 2020, the winery team released their first all-vegan wine: 2018 Brin de Brillette is an eco-driven cuvée that represents the culmination of biodiversity in action.

BORDEAUX FAMILIES — The “Bee GIEE’s” in the Vineyard Bordeaux Families is a leading cooperative of growers comprised of 300 members and spanning 12,355 acres in Sauveterre-Blasimon-Espiet. More than 10% of the group holdings are planted organically, and the goal is to increase to 20% organic production within 5 years. Since 2019, Bordeaux Families has been overseeing a collective of 13 farms as a Group of Economic and Environmental Interest (GIEE). The participating winegrowers affectionately refer to themselves as “Les Bee GIEE’s,” and aspire to complete integration between farming and their natural environment.

As the name implies, the honeybee is a central protagonist in their ambitious “Bee Plan.”

JULES LEBÈGUE (AOC SAINT-ÉMILION, AOC LUSSAC-SAINT-ÉMILION, AOC MÉDOC AND AOC BORDEAUX) — Sustainability as the Raison d’Être Under the leadership of Managing Director Alban de Belloy, the firm took a radical turn towards sustainable development in 2019. As a négociant, Jules Lebègue is in a unique position to positively influence sustainable initiatives, from their core business of sourcing wines from top growers to every aspect of blending, marketing, bottling and distribution. The firm favors certified organic, biodynamic and bee-friendly wines that are made without pesticide residues and CMR and encourages all their partner winegrowers to adopt environmentally friendly practices and provides direct assistance to obtain HVE3 and organic certification.

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About

BORDEAUX WINE COUNCIL (C.I.V.B) Bordeaux Wine Council (C.I.V.B.) was created by the French Law dated August 18, 1948. It unites representatives from the three families in the Bordeaux wine industry: winegrowers, merchants and traders.

The CIVB’s 4 missions: • Marketing mission: stimulate demand for Bordeaux wines, recruit new, younger consumers and ensure their loyalty to the brand.

Provide education for the trade and strengthen relationships.

• Technical mission: build knowledge, protect the quality of Bordeaux wines and anticipate new requirements related to environmental, CSR and food safety regulations.

• Economic mission: provide intelligence on production, the market, the environment and sale of Bordeaux wines around the world.

• The industry’s general interests: protect the terroirs, fight counterfeiting, develop wine tourism.

To request samples or more information, please contact our press relations team.

MEDIA CONTACT – US Helen Gregory (helen@gregoryvine.com) Emma Mrkonic (emma@gregoryvine.com) MEDIA CONTACT CIVB – INTERNATIONAL Cécile Ha (cecile.ha@vins-bordeaux.fr)