Portraits of winemakers

BRUNO FRANÇOIS, CLOS DES AMÉRICAINS: FROM BIOTECHNOLOGY TO WINE

Voici la traduction en anglais du texte avec les balises H1 et H2 pour le SEO :

An 18th-Century Building

Grandson of a winemaker, Bruno François grew up with wine. Later, this passion would never leave him. In 1982, while pursuing a degree in biotechnology engineering, he enrolled in oenology courses at the Montpellier Pharmacy Faculty. After 12 years working as a marketing director at the Swedish biotechnology company Novaseptic, Bruno felt a strong desire to fully commit to the wine industry. He took the plunge in 2008 and acquired a vineyard set in a dilapidated 18th-century building. "Everything needed to be done… We rebuilt the roofs and renovated the living spaces as there was neither water nor electricity. Only the cellar was still functional," recalls Bruno.

A Vineyard Between Sea and Mountains with Ideal Climatic Conditions

Located halfway between Nîmes and Montpellier, the Clos des Américains estate covers 20 hectares of vines. The vineyard offers a diverse range of grape varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo, Vermentino, and Viognier. "The climatic conditions are ideal: an exceptional terroir, rolled pebble soil, the Mistral wind, generous sunlight, and constant humidity thanks to the Camargue ponds," explains Bruno.

"Wines of Character with Great Freshness"

Nearly all of the 1000 hectoliters produced annually at Clos des Américains are classified under the AOC Costières de Nîmes. Only one cuvée made from the Spanish Tempranillo grape is classified under the IGP du Gard. "We strive to create wines of character with great freshness, consistent from one vintage to the next. Except for the cuvée Songes de Bacchus, which is enjoyed young, all our other wines are meant for aging. We let them age for at least two or three years before marketing them," highlights Bruno.

Conversion to Organic Viticulture

In preparation for the 2016 harvest, which will not start until mid-September at Clos des Américains, Bruno plans to modernize his cellar. He is particularly looking forward to the arrival of thirteen brand-new stainless steel tanks. But the major project for the estate is its conversion to organic viticulture, which has just begun. "In three years, all our wines will be certified organic," Bruno proudly declares.