Gerard Bertrand interview, July 2021

Marinos Skolarikos 2021-07-13

Founder

"By creating alchemy between innovation, excellence and nature, we forge the future of the world’s largest winemaking region" GÉRARD BERTRAND"

With 16 estates located on the most remarkable terroirs of the South of France, Gérard Bertrand is the Ambassador of Great Wines of Occitania all over the world. He practices biodynamics on all his vineyards and pays attention to the thousand and one details to create wines of precision and finesse. With a modern and visionary approach of the world of wine, Gérard Bertrand aims at inspiring change and supporting a drive towards agriculture in harmony with nature. Gérard Bertrand anticipates the trends of tomorrow and the wine lovers’ expectations around the world.

Two generations precede Gérard Bertrand... And a fourth generation is on the way. Gérard Bertrand learnt to work on the vineyard with his father, at the Château de Villemajou on the historical terroir of Corbières. From the age of 10, his father Georges Bertrand taught him his vision: the virtues of hard work, of paying attention to the thousand and one details and the pride of his origins. Gérard has looked for excellence ever since. He applied these values of excellence and rigour on the field, for his other passion: rugby. Wine and rugby quickly became two pillars. Gérard Bertrand even began an international career as a rugby player. A career he chose to interrupt to devote himself to the family winery, that he has been managing alone since the age of 22, after his father died. A success story with precision wines internationally recognized. Gérard Bertrand wines are now served and appreciated in 175 countries, all distribution channels combined, and are enjoyed at gourmet restaurants and in airlines’ business classes. In 2015, the “Martinière editions” published an autobiographical book «Wine, Moon and Stars» in which Gérard Bertrand explains the foundations of his convictions regarding the practice of biodynamic agriculture. Terroir lover, Gérard Bertrand perpetuates this passion and extends his father’s vision and expertise. Proud of his region, he wants to reveal its very high potential and cultivate its unique savoir-faire. His rare talent for blending is shared with his teams and passed on to his wife Ingrid, and his two children, Emma and Mathias.

The privilege of having a remarkable historical, cultural and natural heritage. The history of wine in the region takes its roots in antiquity. Since that time, Narbonne has been a strategic centre for wine production and trade. The city, a true architectural jewel, was nicknamed «the eldest daughter of Rome». The architecture of the region shows the richness of its historical heritage. The famous fortresses and Cathar castles attract tourists from all over the world. The territory also has no less than eight sites registered by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Among them are the Pont du Gard, the medieval city of Carcassonne and the Canal du Midi. Land of conquest, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Cathars all settled in the South of France and have marked its landscapes. Ancestral appellations and grape varieties have been abounding in this two-millennia-old vineyard. The South of France also inherits an exceptional nature. The region offers all the advantages for organic farming. Today, Occitanie is the first organic vineyard in France, with nearly 35,000 hectares of certified or in conversion to organic farming vines. Occitanie also has a rich cultural heritage. Lively and dynamic, the region inherits the traditions of past civilizations. Music and sharing are an integral part of the Mediterranean way of life, as the many traditional festivals testify, combining typical customs and atmospheres in the heart of small towns and villages. Its gastronomic richness also makes the pride of the region with many noble local products, enjoyed all over the world, such as the Mediterranean oyster, the Lucques olive, the anchovies of Collioure to mention just a few.