Organic wine from Languedoc from the Gérard Bertrand estates

Discovering an environmentally friendly organic wine

Reconciling the production of excellent organic wines and respect for nature is a strong commitment on the part of Gérard Bertrand . This man of value and 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 Languedoc-Roussillon region and supported them in their transition to a cleaner production method. Today, the bet has paid off: all the vineyard plots are at least AB-certified, and the wines brilliantly express the terroir from which they come.

What is organic wine?

An organic wine is a wine made according to the principles of organic farming , i.e. farming without herbicides, GMOs and other chemical fertilizers. This implies that the winemaker applies these principles to the entire winemaking process, from growing the vines (viticulture) to transforming the grapes into wine (vinification). An organic wine is made from grapes that are themselves certified organic, as well as all the additions (inputs) necessary for the proper transformation of the grapes into wine (yeasts, fining products, etc.).

A certified organic wine is thus produced from quality vines, according to environmentally friendly practices. Obtaining the organic “AB” label requires compliance with strict specifications established by the European Union (Regulation No. 203/2012). Recently, the CAB label (Conversion to Organic Agriculture) has appeared and makes it possible to identify winegrowers in the Occitanie region who have undertaken the process of transforming their vines into organic farming.

To ensure the proper conduct of organic producers, independent organizations approved by the INAO (National Institute of Origin and Quality) are responsible for certifying and monitoring compliance with the Label's specifications. Among these independent organizations, for example, for organic wines from Languedoc : Ecocert, Certisud, Qualisud, Alpes Contrôles, etc.

However, to obtain a quality wine, producing a vine without chemicals is not everything. Without human know-how, grape juice would inevitably turn into vinegar.

It is therefore up to the winemaker and the oenologist to play a predominant role in the design of an organic wine.

Discover the entire range and collection of organic wines from Gérard Bertrand .

What are the advantages of organic wine?

As we have just seen, producing organic wine means being more ecological, more in tune with nature, which is why Gérard Bertrand now owns more than 950 hectares of AB-certified vines or those in the process of being converted.

But what are the advantages of a wine from 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, by being respected during its development, delivers all its flavors. A plot of AB certified vines is a guarantee of being in the presence of a vine that has received homogeneous and balanced management, with the patience of a culture that goes in the direction of the plant, and not in the direction of productivity at all costs. With an organic wine, the development of the grape itself is as important as the work done by man in the cellar. But let's come to the most important point, that of taste!

It is generally noted that organic wines, when they are of quality, as for the wines of Languedoc Gérard Bertrand , deliver finer and more delicate flavors than a traditional wine. The balance of flavors is thus remarkable, with very present floral notes. One of the reasons for this balance is that it is a wine that is built less on alcohol than for a traditional wine.

Another typical taste characteristic of organic Languedoc wines is their exceptional minerality. This is particularly noticeable in the wines produced in the Gérard Bertrand estates, such as Château de l'Hospitalet , an exceptional property located in the heart of the Clape massif, a limestone terroir par excellence.

The explanation for this is that an untreated grape is much more concentrated in trace elements and minerals. This is what allows, when tasting the wine, to find this mineral, fresh, almost saline flavor, especially for white wines. An organic wine, as we have seen, is a wine made by being closer to the essential, to its fruit and its terroir. These flavors are subtle, balanced and reveal its history.

If we had to summarize, we could say that an organic wine does not lie, it simply expresses what it is.

And biodynamics?

We are convinced that biodynamic agriculture in harmony with nature is the best way to produce excellent wines from our terroirs in the South of France . This is why we began converting our estates to biodynamic agriculture on the Domaine de Cigalus in 2002 and that by 2023 all the vineyards will be DEMETER certified.

Learn more about biodynamic wine in Languedoc .