Two barrels of Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay “Secret de Famille,” classic 2024, set sail aboard the cargo ship Grain de Sail II. One of many first wine homes to make the leap, Albert Bichot ventures into a novel sensory expedition, with mineral and saline notes.
January 16, 2025 (Saint-Malo) — Firmly moored to the deck, the 2 228-liter barrels will cross the Atlantic Ocean to the rhythm of currents and sea variations. With a primary stopover in New York, adopted by a second in Pointe-à-Pitre, the yacht will sail the Atlantic Ocean for 2 months earlier than returning to Saint-Malo in early March.
For Albert Bichot, the intention of this experiment is to check variations within the evolution of white wines.
About Maison Albert Bichot:
Albert Bichot owns 107 hectares of vines unfold throughout six distinctive Domaines, 4 of that are licensed natural, in Bourgogne’s most prestigious appellations. Backed by its experience as a winemaker, Albert Bichot additionally selects and buys grapes and musts from loyal companions, vinifying them with the identical care at its personal Domaines. This philosophy ensures the manufacturing of nice wines that replicate their terroir of origin and convey the emotion that has made the Home one of many biggest names in Bourgogne.
Wines Matured at Sea: An Astonishing Sensory Tasting Expertise!
This 12 months, Albert Bichot seeks to take the transatlantic voyage a step additional, finding out the affect of the ocean on wine ageing, which is regarded as accelerated by publicity to the weather.
Put in on deck, the barrels can be immediately uncovered to temperature variations, humidity, salty air, and extra sudden actions than within the cellar. These components enable for extra intense pure stirring of the wine and micro-oxygenation.
To review these phenomena intimately, Albert Bichot has partnered with Onafis, a Nantes-based “Wine Tech” firm. Onafis develops related techniques for wine maturation. A probe outfitted with greater than seven sensors will consider the evolution of the barrels and exterior situations in actual time. Along with measuring temperature, dissolved gases, risky gases, and humidity, the probe will enable Matthieu Mangenot, the corporate’s Technical Director, to watch the evolution of the barrels mid-Atlantic.
Albert Bichot & Grain de Sail: Burgundy (Re)Units Sail!
The venture started in March 2024, when Albert Bichot, conscious of its environmental footprint, entrusted the cargo ship Grain de Sail II with the transport of a pallet of wines to New York. This voyage, 99% of which was powered by wind, enabled eco-responsible transport, decreasing CO2 emissions by 95% in contrast with typical freight. Primarily wind-powered and outfitted with hydro-generators, wind generators, and photo voltaic panels, the Grain de Sail II cargo ship gives a sustainable transport various.
A Journey Stuffed with That means
With this experiment, Albert Bichot goals to return to the transport situations of the nineteenth century. This initiative aligns with the corporate’s dedication to the preservation and enhancement of residing organisms, echoing the assist supplied to the Tara Océan Basis, which Albéric Bichot accompanied on the Microbiomes Mission to Antarctica.
All that is still now’s to await the sailboat’s return and uncover the outcomes of this journey throughout a comparative tasting. Two different barrels of the identical wine have been left within the Maison’s cellars in Beaune for comparability.
“Merroir”: The Analog of Terroir
The place terroir refers back to the distinctive affect of soil, local weather, and setting on a wine’s traits, merroir refers back to the affect of water high quality, algae, currents, tides, and the mineral content material of the seabed.
