By Samuel Onyekwere
French wine maker, Gerard Bertrand, says making good wine is in his blood having started at the age of 10 years to assist his father Georges in his vineyard. Bertrand, who owns the Gerard Bertrand Wines Company, one of the biggest wine producers in the South of France, said he is passionate about producing good wine and that is what has kept him at the top of his game for a long time.
He said: “this job of wine making is my blood. This is the way my parents taught me and the way they tried to convince me to work. I try to do my best. I cannot work without passion. I want to create the best wine as possible and deliver the best experience for people. I want to see people happy.”
Bertrand who was in Nigeria for a Master Class on the art of wine making, admitted that Nigeria is a great country with very accommodating people. In fact, he is looking forward to coming back to Nigeria next year. Having achieved his vintage 44 years in wine making, the businessman who is also into hospitality and estate business, said a lot goes into wine making.
“A lot of passion goes into the production. Every wine has a story behind it and a lot of spirituality attached to it.”
His wine production is based on four consumption angles: the experience of emotion, the talents of terroirs, the culture of flavors and the guaranteed pleasure. He explains more: “For me, this is not just a business, but a passion, That’s why when you sell a wine, you sell the story behind the wine; why it’s unique and what you want to deliver to people. I love to experiment my wine. In the estate, we receive more than 200,000 people in other to share the image and the experience. When people visit the winery, they feel it more than they drink.”
He agrees that the French wine is better than other wines produced in other parts of the world especially the Italian wine. Whether it’s French or Italian wine, the competition has become so huge that one is no longer looking at good but excellent. I think the competition in the world is now open. People produce good wines everywhere. Good or very good is not an option, but excellent. But sometimes you go to exceptional. We fight for excellence every day, he added.”
Bertrand, at the age of 10 years, had his first experience in harvesting and winemaking with the help of his father. He continued in the winery business despite his involvement in the game of rugby, where he played for Narbonne Meditterranee and captained the French team.
He took over in 1987 and created the Gerard Bertrand Wines Company and in addition, expanded into hospitality, estate and agriculture business. Bertrand believes in nature and that is why his wines connect to his customers. As a result, every year, his wine estate welcomes over 200,000, people who come to share the natural experience.
Gérard Bertrand likes to share the exceptional diversity and characteristics of each of his vineyards. He created exceptional wines on each of his estates, made from vineyards, which were chosen amongst the most beautiful Languedoc terroirs. These vineyards, selected for their ampelographic and climatic situations, represent the quintessence of the Languedoc terroir. Here, Clos d’Ora , Cigalus, Château L’Hospitalet Grand Vin Blanc, are the representation of wine from organic farming and offer a place of choice to the Languedoc Roussillon on the viticulture map.
A lover of nature, Gérard Bertrand was convinced that the culture of vine in harmony with nature was the best way to reveal the specificity of a terroir and create great wines. Bertrand committed himself in 2002 to biodynamic approach at Domaine de Cigalus and Bizanet (Aude). This specific form of farming only provides the earth and plant with what it needs, when it needs it.
Today, Domaine deCigalus and Château la Sauvageonne are both Demeter – certified (Global Biodynamics Certifying Organization). The practice of biodynamics is a strategic priority of the Gérard Bertrand Group: In 2020, all areas (820 hectares) will be cultivated biodynamical, 550 hectares are already in 2017. Healthy vineyards, a preserved environment, balanced wines, vibrant with the intensity of the terroir demonstrate the elegance of this approach.
Having won lots of trophies to his credit, the wine maker believes every trophy pushes him to do more and encourage his team.
Apart from making wine, one other thing he is very passionate about is music; he is more passionate about jazz which he says is from the soul and that why he has been involved in Jazz a Hospitalet, a Jazz music festival ,for a couple of years now.
One obvious identity that marks him out is his logo, which is outstanding. The wines signed Gerard Bertrand have a common identity: they are wine of expression of the South of France, balanced and elegant, able to satisfy the different expectations of consumers. The Visigoths cross dates back to the 7th century and is the emblem of Gerard Bertrand wines. Doves represent sharing. Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, are a reflection of the vegetal cycle of the vine. This cross is the first version of what was to become, centuries later, the cross of Languedoc.
