The Bertrand family
Languedoc organic wine by Gérard Bertrand
Discovering an environmentally friendly organic wine
Reconciling the production of excellent organic wines with respect for nature is a strong commitment on the part of Gérard Bertrand. This man of values and a true ambassador for environmental protection is today the world leader in organic wines.
Over the years, Gérard Bertrand has taken over 14 estates spread across the whole of Languedoc-Roussillon and guided them in their transition towards a cleaner production method. Today, the challenge has been met: all the vineyard plots are at minimum labelled AB, and the wines brilliantly express the terroir from which they originate.
What is an organic wine?
An organic wine is a wine made according to the principles of organic farming, meaning farming without herbicides, GMOs or other chemical fertilisers. This requires the winemaker to apply these principles to the entire winemaking process, from the cultivation of the vine (viticulture) to the transformation of the grape into wine (vinification). An organic wine is made from grapes that are themselves certified organic, as are all the additions (inputs) necessary for the proper transformation of the grape into wine (yeasts, fining agents, etc.).
A Bio-certified wine is thus produced from quality vines, according to environmentally respectful practices. Obtaining the Bio "AB" label requires compliance with a strict set of specifications established by the European Union (Regulation No. 203/2012). Recently, the CAB label (Conversion to Organic Farming) has appeared and allows the identification of wine growers in the Occitanie region who have undertaken the process of converting their vines to organic cultivation.
To ensure that organic producers are conducting themselves correctly, independent bodies approved by the INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité) are responsible for certifying and monitoring compliance with the Label's specifications. Among these independent bodies, we can cite, for example, for organic wines from Languedoc: Ecocert, Certisud, Qualisud, Alpes Contrôles, etc.
However, to obtain a quality wine, producing a vine without chemical products is not enough on its own. Without human expertise, grape juice would inevitably turn into vinegar.
It is thus up to the winemaker, and the oenologist, to play a predominant role in the creation of an organic wine.
Discover the full range and collection of organic wines from Gérard Bertrand.
What are the advantages of an organic wine?
As we have just seen, producing an organic wine means being more ecological and more attuned to nature, which is why Gérard Bertrand today owns more than 950 hectares of vines labelled AB or undergoing conversion.
But what are the advantages of a wine produced using organic farming? And what are the differences with a traditional wine?
The main advantage of a quality organic wine, just like a biodynamic wine, is that it expresses the full potential of the fruit. The grape, having been respected during its development, delivers all its flavours. A plot of AB-certified vine is a guarantee of being in the presence of a vine that has received consistent and balanced management, with the patience of a cultivation that works in harmony with the plant, and not in pursuit of productivity at any cost. With an organic wine, the development of the grape itself is just as important as the work carried out by the person in the cellar. But let us come to the most important point: that of taste!
It is generally observed that organic wines, when they are of quality, as with the Gérard Bertrand Languedoc wines, deliver finer and more delicate flavours than a traditional wine. The balance of flavours is thus remarkable, with very prominent floral notes. One of the reasons for this balance is that it is a wine that is built less on alcohol than a traditional wine.
Another typical gustatory characteristic of organic wines from Languedoc is their exceptional minerality. This is notably what one observes in wines produced at the Gérard Bertrand estates, such as at Château de l'Hospitalet, an exceptional property situated at the heart of the La Clape massif, a limestone terroir par excellence.
The explanation for this is that an untreated grape concentrates far more trace elements and minerals. This is what allows you, when tasting the wine, to find that mineral, fresh, almost saline flavour, particularly in white wines. An organic wine, as we have seen, is a wine crafted by being closer to the essential, to its fruit and its terroir. These flavours are subtle, balanced, and reveal its story.
If we were to sum it up, we could say that an organic wine does not lie — it simply expresses what it is.
And what about biodynamics?
We are convinced that biodynamic farming in harmony with nature is the best path to producing wines of excellence from our terroirs in the South of France. That is why we began the conversion of our estates towards biodynamic farming at the Domaine de Cigalus in 2002, and by 2023 all of the vineyards will be DEMETER certified.
Find out more about biodynamic wine in Languedoc.
Discover other types of wine:
How rosé wine is made : how is it produced?
And to find out more about:
The Gérard Bertrand wines and his expertise
The Châteaux and Estates of Gérard Bertrand
Or to contact us
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