- Pass on a legacy
The young generation: outward-looking and often inspired by international work experience
Like the “Compagnons” (French organisation of craftsmen and artisans dating from the Middle Ages) who embark on a tour of France to perfect their training, the young generation of Côtes du Rhône winemakers is travelling the world.
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That must really be an eye opener… what do they bring back from these trips?
Let’s take the example of Jean-Etienne Alary who flew off to New Zealand when he was just 22 years old. His destination was Michael Seresin’s estate in the Marlborough region with 100 hectares of vines created from scratch and cultivated biodynamically. Jean-Etienne returned to Cairanne for the harvest with his father Denis, before flying off again, this time to Henschke in the Eden Valley in South Australia where they still grow some pre-Phylloxera Syrahs.
When I arrived in New Zealand I didn’t speak a word of English and I found myself on a mixed farming estate that operated completely autonomously. The preparations were crafted from their plants and their horn dung came from their own cows. They are perfectionists who are very committed to the quality of the product. It was a total immersion for me, I learned the language and shared their wine culture. In Australia, Henschke has the same grape varieties as we do (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre), but in a more arid region that may well be a foretaste of things to come here with global warming. It is a cutting-edge estate. From these work experiences, I have learned that excellent wines are being made in the southern hemisphere. These wines are different from ours, vinified according to processes that we do not necessarily use, but which have opened my mind. It was certainly a very enriching experience for me personally.
From his time abroad, Jean-Etienne has also learned that there are no general rules and that you can try anything when you are motivated by the desire to excel in your profession.
I’m the 11th generation of a family of winemakers and the experience I have acquired abroad has given me a wealth of knowledge that I can use every day in the management of the domaine.
