Allgemein
24.02.2024
7 Fragen an César Perrin (Chateau de Beaucastel) über 'Alte vs. Neue Welt'
Wir haben zu diesem interessanten Thema einigen unseren Partnerwinzern aus Kalifornien, Frankreich und Österreich sieben spannende Fragen gestellt um ihre persönliche Sichtweise zu erfahren. In unserer Zusammenfassung findet ihr die wichtigsten Aussagen von Andi Kollwentz, Nik Krankl, César Perrin und Mark McWilliams in Deutsch. Nachstehend die ausführlichen von César Perrin in Englisch und natürlich gibt es auch die passende Weinselektion
Historically the wine world has been divided in an ‚old world’ and a ‚new world‘. What do you consider the main factors having led to this differentiation?
Apart from the geographical view of the matter, the real difference to us between the « new » and the « old world » lies in the knowledge of terroirs and the age of the vines. The « old world » had a long experience on the state of climates and micro-climates, passed down from generation to generation and an older vine heritage.
Do you think this differentiation is still valid and why (not)?
The gap is closing because old vines are not eternal. The question of transmission is central to us at Famille Perrin. The experience and know-how we inherited from our ancestors has to be passed on to the next generations: it is only way to keep added value compared to newer wine regions.
Do you think that consumer preferences in the ‚old world‘ and ‚new world’ are different and have influenced wine makers?
I think consumers are curious and like to taste different kinds of wines. There is only one way to make a great wine: a vine adapted to a specific terroir and climate, and the man or woman to reveal that terroir. It’s the Man's role to adapt and not the other way around. I think the consumer will in the end be sensible to an honest and true approach.
Being part of the old / new world, have you been influenced by trends / techniques / experiences / role models from the ‚other‘ side of the world?
We try to keep an opened mind on what is happening around the wine world. Nevertheless, what is true in Châteauneuf-du-Pape isn’t necessary true in California or in Australia. The climate and terroir, and the size of vineyards in the old world are quite different compared to Europe. And there we are back to the adaptation of the Man to its terroir. With our experience in Californian, founding Tablas Creek Estate in Paso Robles, we’ve made lots of experiments with animals in the vineyards and became the world’s first Regenerative Organic certified winery in 2020. Being in one of the most « virgin » region of the USA brings a large bio-diversity that questions us on our connection to nature.
How would you describe the style of your winery in the context of ‚old & new world’?
At Château de Beaucastel, we still have vines planted in 1909. This doesn’t only bring more concentration and intensity in the juices but although a much deeper rooting system that goes through different geological layers, bringing elements we couldn’t be enjoying from younger plants. Our location itself - Beaucastel is the northernmost parcel of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and very much subject to the strong mistral wind that cools down the ambiant air - defines the style of the winery, paired with a low intervention in the cellar and usage of large wooden foudres not to mark the wines. However, the commercialization of our wines around the world and the international distribution network that has been build over the years - Beaucastel was the first non-Bordeaux wine to be sold on the Place de Bordeaux - makes it available for wine lovers all around the globe.
How much of your wine production is going to ‚old world‘ vs. ‚new world‘ markets?
Famille Perrin has been present on the US market quite early and it is still a very important market to us. Today, around 50% of the production is sold outside of France.
Do you see new border lines in the wine world which are more up to date?
In my opinion, the real frontier now lies in the organic farming. The usage of herbicides has never diminished, despite the larger communication on organic farming and the modern knowledge on the effect of those products. Less than 20% of the appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape is farmed organically today. Thanks to the initiative of my grand-father Jacques Perrin, Château de Beaucastel has been applying organic farming since the 1950s and transitioned to biodynamic in 1974. We are still working on those initial concepts today, planting 15.000 trees in our vineyards to follow the principles of agroforestry and agroecology. The voice of a wine lies in its terroir, and a dead soil speaks no more.
Historically the wine world has been divided in an ‚old world’ and a ‚new world‘. What do you consider the main factors having led to this differentiation?
Apart from the geographical view of the matter, the real difference to us between the « new » and the « old world » lies in the knowledge of terroirs and the age of the vines. The « old world » had a long experience on the state of climates and micro-climates, passed down from generation to generation and an older vine heritage.
Do you think this differentiation is still valid and why (not)?
The gap is closing because old vines are not eternal. The question of transmission is central to us at Famille Perrin. The experience and know-how we inherited from our ancestors has to be passed on to the next generations: it is only way to keep added value compared to newer wine regions.
Do you think that consumer preferences in the ‚old world‘ and ‚new world’ are different and have influenced wine makers?
I think consumers are curious and like to taste different kinds of wines. There is only one way to make a great wine: a vine adapted to a specific terroir and climate, and the man or woman to reveal that terroir. It’s the Man's role to adapt and not the other way around. I think the consumer will in the end be sensible to an honest and true approach.
Being part of the old / new world, have you been influenced by trends / techniques / experiences / role models from the ‚other‘ side of the world?
We try to keep an opened mind on what is happening around the wine world. Nevertheless, what is true in Châteauneuf-du-Pape isn’t necessary true in California or in Australia. The climate and terroir, and the size of vineyards in the old world are quite different compared to Europe. And there we are back to the adaptation of the Man to its terroir. With our experience in Californian, founding Tablas Creek Estate in Paso Robles, we’ve made lots of experiments with animals in the vineyards and became the world’s first Regenerative Organic certified winery in 2020. Being in one of the most « virgin » region of the USA brings a large bio-diversity that questions us on our connection to nature.
How would you describe the style of your winery in the context of ‚old & new world’?
At Château de Beaucastel, we still have vines planted in 1909. This doesn’t only bring more concentration and intensity in the juices but although a much deeper rooting system that goes through different geological layers, bringing elements we couldn’t be enjoying from younger plants. Our location itself - Beaucastel is the northernmost parcel of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and very much subject to the strong mistral wind that cools down the ambiant air - defines the style of the winery, paired with a low intervention in the cellar and usage of large wooden foudres not to mark the wines. However, the commercialization of our wines around the world and the international distribution network that has been build over the years - Beaucastel was the first non-Bordeaux wine to be sold on the Place de Bordeaux - makes it available for wine lovers all around the globe.
How much of your wine production is going to ‚old world‘ vs. ‚new world‘ markets?
Famille Perrin has been present on the US market quite early and it is still a very important market to us. Today, around 50% of the production is sold outside of France.
Do you see new border lines in the wine world which are more up to date?
In my opinion, the real frontier now lies in the organic farming. The usage of herbicides has never diminished, despite the larger communication on organic farming and the modern knowledge on the effect of those products. Less than 20% of the appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape is farmed organically today. Thanks to the initiative of my grand-father Jacques Perrin, Château de Beaucastel has been applying organic farming since the 1950s and transitioned to biodynamic in 1974. We are still working on those initial concepts today, planting 15.000 trees in our vineyards to follow the principles of agroforestry and agroecology. The voice of a wine lies in its terroir, and a dead soil speaks no more.