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Gérard Bertrand elected Green Personality of the Year* by The Drinks Business Green Awards competition
The Drinks Business Green Awards is the world's largest competition aimed at raising awareness of green issues in the drinks industry and rewarding those who set an example in sustainability and environmental performance.
*Gérard Bertrand is named Green Personality of the Year.
The Drinks Business Green Awards is the largest environmental competition on the wine planet. The jury of sustainability and beverage industry experts, chaired by Patrick Schmitt MW, aims to reward leaders committed to the environment in order to encourage the entire industry to follow their sustainable path. For this 11th edition, the jury awarded prizes in 11 categories and distinguished the Green Personality of the Year.
Gérard Bertrand is the Green Personality of the Year. This award recognizes the person who demonstrates exemplary commitment to the environmental cause and who acts to inspire his company and a wider audience.
Gérard Bertrand also received a special mention from the jury for the Best Organic Initiative category to reward all of the activities he carries out to build a better world.
“ I am very honored to be named Green Personality of the Year. For over 30 years, I have worked and managed all of our vineyards’ projects in a dynamic of sustainable and environmental performance, which I seek to perpetuate. I am convinced that viticulture in harmony with nature is the best way to produce great wines that reflect all the nuances of their terroir and that it is also the right way to demonstrate our deep consideration for nature. I aim for a positive impact and I am very aware of my responsibility as a winemaker towards the environment and biodiversity. I am very happy with this award which demonstrates my commitment. Be the Change! ” - Gérard Bertrand
“ I am very honored to be named Green Personality of the Year. For over 30 years, I have worked and managed all of our vineyard projects in a dynamic of sustainable and environmental performance, which I seek to perpetuate. I am convinced that viticulture in harmony with nature is the best way to produce great wines that reflect all the nuances of their terroir and that it is also the right way to demonstrate our deep consideration for nature. I aim for a positive impact and I am very aware of my responsibility as a winemaker towards the environment and biodiversity. I am very happy with this award which demonstrates my commitment. Be the Change! ” - Gérard Bertrand
To go further, Gérard Bertrand created a research and development department to further the search for greener methods. To share his convictions and know-how and support the organic momentum in the South of France, he developed a unit dedicated to sealing long-term partnerships over 10 years to support winegrowers converting to organic farming or already committed.
880 hectares of vines are cultivated biodynamically, 70% of which are already certified
Gérard Bertrand owns 16 Châteaux and estates in the South of France . He began converting his estates to biodynamics very early in 2002 on the Domaine de Cigalus . From then on, Gérard Bertrand decided to acquire total mastery of this cultivation method and to gradually convert his teams and all his vineyards. Today, all the Châteaux and estates are cultivated in biodynamics. A rare know-how for a winemaker on such a surface area. These 880 hectares divided into 16 estates , each with its own particularity of soil, climate, terroir, allow to diversify the approaches and experiences, thus increasing the know-how, making Gérard Bertrand and his teams an international reference in biodynamics.
Update on partnerships in 2020:
Since 2010, 40 partnerships with organic winegrowers, 1,600 hectares
Since 2017, 15 partnerships to support winegrowers in the production of wines without added sulfites , 600 hectares
Since 2018, 25 partnerships with winegrowers converting to organic farming , 600 hectares
Since 2020, 800 hectares in partnership with organic and Bee Friendly winegrowers
These partnerships consist of providing technical, organizational and economic support for the completion of projects.
The Gérard Bertrand wine offering is unique in the world in the category, with 6 levels of certification (Conversion to organic farming, organic farming, Bee Friendly, Vegan, No added sulfites and biodynamic). This includes the wines Change, Autrement, Naturae, Prima Nature, Solar6, Pollinat and the wines of the Châteaux and estates. Each wine is systematically accompanied by an educational effort that presents the viticultural approach.
6 levels of certifications
Change is a dynamic. New projects within the framework of this commitment will see the light of day in 2021.
