These are the kind of opportunities that come along once and change everything. Last week, the Bordeaux wine council proposed to winemaker Noémie Tanneau to have her production tasted by King Charles III, who was passing through the Gironde last Friday during his three-day visit to France. A privilege granted thanks to the trophy for the committed winemaker of the year 2023 won by Noémie Tanneau. This award rewards winegrowers who respect nature, a theme dear to the British monarch, as he recalls France 3.
“I thought it was a joke,” he admits, recalling his reaction upon reading the message. Images of King Charles III tasting his wine are repeated on television channels and social networks, as is the name of his estate. A few days later, they bombarded her with orders: “he is the best influencer!”
Four years without salary
After the first four years of agricultural activity without receiving a salary, this is a real boost for this former social worker who bought the six hectares of vineyards at Château Saint-Ferdinand in 2020. “It was complicated, she admits. France 3 the one who rebuilt everything with the help of her only wine worker, Chantal André. When you’re starting from scratch and you don’t have a family inheritance, it’s tough to find a banker, but once she saw that she had it in her stomach, everything was fine.”
Together with Chloé Conort, who shares her environmental fiber, Noémie Tanneau has imagined an even more committed production, which gave rise to the birth of the Source vintage in AOC. “We quickly decided to share this project and create an even broader range of vintages, something she had already started,” explains the winemaker. The absence of sulfur arose naturally because it seeks to limit the use of inputs. “We made three different vintages, including the Source vintage, which was tasted by King Charles III,” says Noémie. “It is a magnificent vintage because it is only based in fruits, we only aged in tanks.
Source: BFM TV
