{"id":23805,"date":"2022-12-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/2022\/12\/19\/inside-la-place-the-wine-entrepreneur\/"},"modified":"2022-12-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T00:00:00","slug":"inside-la-place-the-wine-entrepreneur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insidelaplace.rcassocies.com\/en\/2022\/12\/19\/inside-la-place-the-wine-entrepreneur\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside La Place – The wine entrepreneur"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jean-Guillaume Prats\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pr\u00e9sident of Ch\u00e2teau d’Estoublon<\/p>\n

Vice-chairmana of Ch\u00e2teau L\u00e9oville Las Cases<\/p>\n

Met by Gerda<\/p>\n

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Gerda: <\/strong>Can you introduce your background?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jean-Guillaume Prats<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span>I was born in the M\u00e9doc, baptized and married in Saint-Est\u00e8phe, I was President and CEO of Cos d’Estournel for 14 years. It was a great adventure during which we created Cos Blanc from scratch and brought innovation to the estate, notably with the new vat room creation, which has since been a source of inspiration for many. I left Bordeaux and for more than 5 years I was president of LVMH wines worldwide: 17 estates. An extraordinary adventure during which I revived\u00a0Cheval des Andes<\/strong> in Argentina and created\u00a0Ao Yun<\/strong> in China, and among others Chandon in India and China and Te Wahi in Central Otago. Then, I had the great privilege of being President\/CEO of Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and I have always wanted to develop projects around wine. I joined forces with my friend St\u00e9phane Courbit, our former President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni to buy Ch\u00e2teau d\u2019Estoublon<\/a>\u00a0in Provence.\u00a0The property has 200 hectares, of which 20 are planted with vines and 120 with olive trees. We produce red, ros\u00e9 and white wines in the Baux-de-Provence appellation. We have also created a Proven\u00e7al ros\u00e9 wine called Roseblood<\/strong>\u00a0and we produce high-quality olive oil (the only olive oil member of the\u00a0Comit\u00e9 Colbert<\/a>). On the property, there is an 18th-century mansion with ten luxury suites.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, I remain in Bordeaux alongside Jean-Hubert Delon, owner of the Domaines Delon: Ch\u00e2teaux L\u00e9oville Las Cases<\/strong>, Potensac<\/strong> and N\u00e9nin<\/strong>. Jean-Hubert has asked me to assist him in preparing the future of his estates.<\/p>\n

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(photo credit @morganpalun)<\/p>\n

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Terroirs, Vines & Cellar<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Gerda<\/span>: In Bordeaux, 2021 was a relatively balanced vintage with humidity. The year 2022 was extremely hot and dry and will undoubtedly have left its mark on Bordeaux winemakers. What are the main technical challenges facing Bordeaux in the coming years?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean-Guillaume Prats<\/strong><\/span>: It is very simple. We have two different challenges: on the one hand, the need to adapt plant material and viticultural techniques, and on the other, the problem of water management. I am not worried at all because Bordeaux and its vineyards have always been able to adapt. In Bordeaux, we have some of the greatest scientists and academics\/researchers in the wine world. Our vineyards are also an exceptional breeding ground for a wide variety of talents from everywhere in the world.<\/p>\n

G<\/span>: In Europe in particular, climate change is at the heart of the conversation. How do you think the most prestigious wine estates should take these new concerns into account?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean-Guillaume Prats<\/strong><\/span>: The subject is not climate change for me. It is about how to be part of the profound changes that are affecting the world. There are now 8 billion people on earth. The most prestigious estates are just tiny parts of it. The following question is more important in my opinion: how agriculture will succeed in adapting? How will it include climate, geopolitics, and macroeconomic changes in its organization? The subject is not only climate, it goes beyond that.<\/p>\n

G<\/span>: For the fine wines, is organic farming mandatory? Or does everyone do as they please?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean-Guillaume Prats<\/strong><\/span>: I don’t know what “organic” means. It is necessary to respect the soil and the generations to come. On that, we all agree.<\/p>\n

G<\/span>: In 1982, 1990, or even more recently 2009, 2010, the chateaux were making big yields and exceptional wines. Lately, the predominant feeling is that this is no longer possible. To produce exceptional wines, are the properties doomed to produce small crops?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jean-Guillaume Prats<\/strong><\/span>: Viticulture must protect its environment and by producing higher yields, the risk of developing diseases is higher. Two other parameters encourage a drastic selection:<\/p>\n