Portraits of winemakers

CHÂTEAU SAINCRIT, FLORENCE PRUD'HOMME: A SELF-TAUGHT WINEMAKER

"I Wanted to Create My Own Business"

Florence Prud’homme is one of those who follows her dreams. In 2003, while working as an executive assistant at the Marie Brizard Group (liqueurs, wines, and spirits), the Girondine felt the urge to start her own business and reconnect with her roots. “I was born in the village of Saint-Gervais, right next to the village of Saint-André de Cubzac, where Château Saincrit is located,” Florence explains. Deeply attached to the world of wine, the young woman decided to take the plunge and manage her own vineyard.

Discovering the Perfect Vineyard

For months, Florence devoted her free time to visiting properties in the Bordeaux region in search of the perfect gem. When she discovered Château Saincrit, it was love at first sight. “The terroir is very rich and interesting. Additionally, the location of Château Saincrit was ideal, as it is close to my parents' home and about thirty kilometers from Bordeaux, which allowed me to keep my job at Marie Brizard before I resigned to fully dedicate myself to the estate.”

Familiarity with the Vineyards

Upon arriving at the estate, Florence knew nothing about winemaking. “I trained on the job. I started alongside the winemaker who was at Château Saincrit when I bought it. He taught me to master the entire winemaking and bottling process. When he retired, I consulted with oenologists who advised me,” Florence recounts. However, the winemaker wasn't starting from scratch. “My father owned vineyards. So, this world wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me.” Thirteen years later, Florence produces her own wines and manages her estate with unparalleled passion and commitment.

Château Saincrit: Commitment to Environmental Policies

Covering an area of 20 hectares of vineyards, Château Saincrit primarily produces red wines. “Since 2012, I have dedicated 1.5 hectares of my vineyard to white wine production,” the winemaker emphasizes. The vineyard extends over the Montalon hillside, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding plains and the meanders of the Dordogne River. “This diversity of terroirs gives each of my wines its own story and uniqueness,” Florence explains. Over the vintages and her learning journey, Florence has crafted a range of wines with a varied aromatic palette that she describes as “spontaneous” and “friendly.” This mindset is reflected even in the names of her cuvées (Fougue, Love, L’Éphémère…).

Bordeaux Amazons and Environmental Stewardship

At Château Saincrit, the vines are worked using biodynamic methods. While Florence waits the mandatory three years to achieve organic certification, she already applies all measures aligned with this approach: no pesticide use, accessible facilities, and partially hand-harvested grapes. Highly invested in environmental preservation and biodiversity, Florence engages in large-scale projects, including an environmental policy aimed at preserving biodiversity within her vineyard.

In addition to advocating for environmental preservation, Florence champions feminist values and thrives in wine tourism. An active member of the Bordeaux female winemakers group "Les Bordeaux Amazone," she organizes themed meals at her estate and regularly participates in open days alongside other "Bordeaux Amazons" (Château L’Insoumise, Château de l’Hurb, Château des Arras, and Château La Gatte). The name “Amazon” fits Florence perfectly: this equestrian enthusiast chose to adorn her bottles with a label featuring a unicorn, rather than the usual château image common in the Bordeauxwine region