The Property | The people
The owners: Patricia and Pierre BERNAULT,
she used to work as a software engineer for the CEA (Commissionership to the Atomic Energy in France) and he used to work at Microsoft France. Sharing their same enthusiasm for the world of wine, they attended classes on viticulture and oenology at the CFPPA (Professional Training and Agricultural Promotion Center) at Beaune in Bourgogne, and decided to set off on this adventure and make a dream come true. In 2004, they bought Château Beauséjour and settled there with their three children. Their goal: to rebuild the reputation of the Beauséjour vineyard, situated on the finest terroir of Montagne Saint Émilion, and produce there one of the greatest wines of the region.
The consultant: Stéphane DERENONCOURT,
is today one of the most sought-after wine consultants. His web site: http://www.vigneronsconsultants.com/
When Stéphane came for the first time to walk among the vines at Château Beauséjour, to "feel" them and estimate their potential, he was immediately attracted by the outstanding character of the terroir and by the numerous vines that were more than 100 years old and in perfect condition. He still had not left the vineyard when he gave his agreement to Patricia and Pierre Bernault to become the wine consultant to Château Beauséjour! Their first harvest with him, the 2005 vintage, proves that this outstanding terroir can produce an outstanding wine!
Stéphane, who knows the estate by heart, works very regularly at Beauséjour, and is notably involved in all the key stages of the vine-growing and winemaking cycle. He is always accompanied by...
The assistant: Delphine PIERRE,
who makes sure, almost daily, that the tasks related to the soil, the vines and the chai comply with Stéphane's guidelines: the selection, the rigour, the enthusiasm, protection of the environment, the constant improvement of the soil, the vines and the chai, in full respect of nature... and of wine!
The cellar master: David LIORIT,
is a recent graduate (French high-school diploma and Two year technical degree in vine-growing and oenology, Two year technical degree in Wine business, Three-year university degree in quality/hygiene/food safety) and has always been a wine lover. David took up his duties following an internship at Beauséjour (14 months) at the end of his studies. During his internship, he set up the HACCP method for the vines and the chai.
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