Languedoc organic wine by Gérard Bertrand

What are the benefits of organic wine?

As we have seen, producing organic wine means being more environmentally friendly and more attuned to nature. That is why Gérard Bertrand now has more than 950 hectares of vineyards that are AB-certified or undergoing conversion.

But what are the benefits of a wine made using organic farming methods? And how does it differ from conventional wine?

The main advantage of a quality organic wine, as with a biodynamic wine, is that it expresses the fruit’s full potential. When grapes are treated with care as they grow, they reveal all their flavours. An AB-certified vineyard parcel offers the assurance that the vines have been cultivated consistently and in balance, with the patience to work with the plant rather than pursue productivity at any cost. With organic wine, the development of the grapes themselves matters just as much as the work done by people in the cellar. But let’s turn to the most important point: the taste!

High-quality organic wines, such as Gérard Bertrand’s Languedoc wines, are generally found to offer finer, more delicate flavours than conventional wines. Their balance of flavours is remarkable, with pronounced floral notes. One reason for this balance is that these wines rely less on alcohol for their structure than conventional wines do.

Another characteristic taste of organic wines from the Languedoc is their exceptional minerality. This is particularly noticeable in wines produced on Gérard Bertrand’s estates, such as Château de l’Hospitalet, an exceptional property in the heart of the La Clape massif, a quintessential limestone terroir.

The reason is that untreated grapes contain significantly higher concentrations of trace elements and minerals. This is what gives the wine its fresh, almost saline minerality on tasting, particularly in white wines. As we have seen, organic wine is made with a closer connection to what matters most: its fruit and its terroir. These flavours are subtle and balanced, and reveal the wine’s story.

In short, we could say that organic wine doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t: it simply expresses what it is.

And what about biodynamics?

We are convinced that biodynamic farming in harmony with nature is the best way to produce outstanding wines from our terroirs in the South of France. That is why we began converting our estates to biodynamic farming at the Domaine de Cigalus in 2002, with all our vineyards due to be DEMETER-certified by 2023.

Find out more about biodynamic wine in the Languedoc.

Discover other types of wine:

Demeter biodynamic wine

Orange wine

How rosé wine is made : what goes into its production?

Rosé wine

best rosé wine 

Languedoc rosé wine

Organic rosé wine

And to find out more about:

 Gérard Bertrand wines and his expertise

 Biodynamics

The Châteaux and Estates of Gérard Bertrand

Or contact us