A wide and articulated production that enhances the characteristics of the territory thanks to the use of the principles of biodynamics and has its flagship in the rosés of Languedoc. A human and professional path built around the concept of Art de Vivre, that combines the pursuit of excellence, hospitality and creativity
A reference name in the world of rosé wine and a pioneer of biodionamico, Gérard Bertrand is now considered the Ambassador of the great wines of Occitania in the world. In just over thirty years of activity, the former French rugby star has transformed the small family estate into the most important winery in southern France, with seventeen properties between Châteaux and estates located in the most suitable terroirs of this area, where all the main appellations of South-West France are produced.
From the high-altitude vineyards near the Pyrenees to the volcanic soils of the Terrasses du Larzac, to the coastal ones overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the company’s activity now extends over 850 hectares cultivated according to the principles of biodynamics.
In addition to producing some of the region’s most prestigious red wines, Bertrand has invested heavily in the growth of important rosé wines, distinguishing himself as one of the main promoters of the revival of rosé in Languedoc.
Today, Gérard Bertrand produces one of the best-selling rosés in the world, Gris Blanc, and its flagship products, Sauvageonne La Villa and Clos du Temple, were voted the best rosés in the world by Drink Business in 2017, 2018 (La Villa) and 2020 (Clos du Temple). Currently, Clos du Temple is considered the most renowned and expensive rosé wine in the world.
Overall, Gérard Bertrand offers a wide range of products, within which an important part is represented by organic wines, sulphite-free wines and biodynamic wines, with a view to sustainability and to meet the different expectations of consumers around the world.
The evolution of the family businessGérard Bertrand’s passion for viticulture was born in 1975 in the vineyards of Château de Villemajou, in the heart of the Corbières, where at the age of ten he had the opportunity to participate in his first harvest. The bond with the world of wine, for Gérard, is actually a deep bond that has its roots in 1920 when his grandfather Paul, born in 1900, planted the first vineyard on the family estate of Villemajou in Corbières. An activity successfully carried out by Georges Bertrand, one of the leading names in the recent history of Languedoc winemaking, whose role was decisive in the discovery of the Boutenac cru.
After twelve years at his father’s side, following his untimely death, in 1987 Gérard took the reins of the company and five years later, in 1992, he gave life to the winery that bears his name, with the aim of producing wines that were the maximum expression of the best terroirs of the South of France, in a constant search for excellence that accompanied him throughout his life and which, In the past, it has also characterized his career as a professional rugby player.
The business developed quickly and, already in the 90s, the first estate of Château Villemajou was joined by the Domaine de Cigalus and the Château Laville Bertrou.
In 2002, the acquisition of the Château l’Hospitale in the La Clape natural park, between Roman Narbonne and the Mediterranean, gave the company a wider scope and new perspectives, also becoming its new headquarters.
Over the years, Gérard Bertrand has established himself as one of the most authoritative winemakers in the world, whose rare talent for blending is internationally recognized.
A unique know-how, cultivated together with his wife Ingrid, his three hundred collaborators, and his two children Emma and Mathias, who have inherited their father’s passion and are preparing to establish themselves as the fourth generation at the helm of the family business.
Biodynamics and sustainable development
Gérard Bertrand was one of the first, and is today one of the most important, French producers of organic and biodynamic wines. A real strategic priority for the company which, starting with the Cigalus vineyards in 2002, has converted all its land over time to biodynamic cultivation in compliance with the Demeter specification, a private non-profit certification body for biodynamic agriculture.
A choice favoured, also, by the peculiar climatic conditions that characterise the area, characterised by a warm and breezy Mediterranean climate and the presence of a wide variety of resistant vines that fight parasites and fungal diseases, and which have made Occitana the largest “organic vineyard” in France, with 36% of French organic vineyards and 7% of those in the world.
Today, the Gérard Bertrand company continues its commitment to a sustainable development policy with a carbon footprint measurement project in order to reduce the impact of the entire activity on the environment. In addition, together with photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, creator of the Good Planet Foundation, the company participates in the “Objectif 10,000 Arbres” project for the reforestation of Languedoc-Roussillon.
Art de Vivre, jazz and design
Château l’Hospitalet is now a luxury property with a spa and private beach, providing guests with forty-one rooms-twenty-eight of which are suites-and offering the opportunity to discover the estate’s wines and terroir.
The project reserves a central role for cuisine led by chef Laurent Chabert and based on the use of products from the biodynamic farm owned by Céleyran in Salles-d’Aude and from small local producers and fishermen who share the company’s principles and operate with respect for the environment. Alongside the chef, the presence of sommelier and director of dining Pierre-Alexis Mengual, named Best Sommelier of Bordeaux in 2021, is essential.
At Château L’Hospitalet, the Art De Vivre is celebrated in every form, and so the resort is also a place for art and encounters, with dinner-concerts organized weekly and a Jazz Festival that has seen the greatest French and international jazz musicians perform for more than fifteen years. But the attention to art and beauty for Gérard Bertrand is also expressed in the design of his bottles, such as those of the Côte des Roses or Perles de Sauvignon wines, designed by French designer Chantal Thomass.
World-class rosés
Gérard Bertrand has been one of the main promoters of the revival of the Languedoc as an area for the production of great rosés. An ancient vocation for the area: indeed, the first French rosés were born here. A production that, however, has been partially abandoned over the years, in favor of that of great reds. Today, the flagship of Gérard Bertrand’s production are precisely the rosé wines, among which the Sauvageonne La Villa and the Clos du Temple (elected best rosé in the world by Drink Business in 2017, 2018 and 2020) stand out in particular.
Clos du Temple, in particular, is made from 100-year-old vines of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Syrah and Viognier. Very low yields, aging in bauxite-covered pyramids first, and in barrels later, give this wine a unique energy. The impact on the nose is disruptive with notes of white peach, melon and rosehip; on the palate it is enveloping, with an incredible savoriness and long finish. La Villa, on the other hand, is a wine of great structure and elegance, made from Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier and Vermentino grapes, to which the passage in wood gives considerable complexity.
Among the great rosés signed by Gérard Bertrand are also Gris Blanc, one of the world’s best-selling, made from Grenache Gris and Noir, and characterized by excellent drinkability, and Hampton Water, fruity and savory, made from Grenache, Mourvedre and Cinsault grapes, and born of a collaboration with Jesse Bon Jovi, son of the well-known singer Jon Bon Jovi
Château l’Hospitalet, an island with unique characteristics
That of La Clape is a land particularly suited to the cultivation of vines, as the Phoenicians and Romans already knew well. It is all thanks to favorable climatic conditions-the area is among the sunniest in France, where the great heat is mitigated by cool sea breezes-and the particular characteristics of the soil. Having been an island in the distant past, in fact, La Clape possesses a unique terroir, characterized by flora and fauna different from those in neighboring areas. The soil is distinguished by a perfect mix of mineral-rich marls and limestone soils that amplify the effects of sunlight and perfectly drain excess water.
Thanks to the use of biodynamic farming techniques, the sea, sun and limestone soil emerge in the personality of wines in which structure, refreshing minerality and salinity combine masterfully. Production is divided into Hospitalet Rouge and Hospitalet Blanc. Hospitalet Rouge is made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre; each varietal is vinified separately and then blended. Once the months of barrel aging are over, it is bottled following the phases of the moon as per the biodynamic calendar. Hospitalet Blanc is a blend composed of Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Vermentino. Only a portion is aged in wood, so as to preserve its freshness and that typical Mediterranean note that contradicts it also in later years.
Crémant de Limoux, historic bubbles
The appellation Crémant is used to define classic-method sparkling wines produced in France outside the Champagne region in delimited areas that have been given AOC status. These areas include Limoux (Languedoc-Roussillon), which holds the record for the oldest classic method in the world. Right here, Gérard Bertrand cultivates vines located up to 700 meters and pays homage to this historic appellation with two Crémant de Limoux made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Chenin Blanc. Staying on the lees for 12 months enhances the primary aromas and preserves great freshness, two important pillars for an excellent classic method.
