Take a breath: how winemakers unwind
Those who thrive in vineyards understand the importance of hitting pause. From playing Mahjong to taking a refreshing dip in Lake Hourtin, let’s explore how our vineyard workers find their moments of peace.
A fruitful encounter
RECIPE - From market stall to table: where the sea meets the cellar.
In each edition of The Journal, we share recipes that bring flavours and stories together. This time, the journey takes us to Bordeaux and Chablis, where Olivier de Butler and Mathieu Crosnier reflect on the fruits of their labour at Bonne Mer. They create a dialogue between the briny depth of black mullet, the crisp freshness of R de Rieussec, and the saline tension of William Fèvre’s Grands Crus.
A very eloquent nose
An interview with assemblage expert Alexandre Schmitt.
Alexandre Schmitt made a dramatic shift from the world of haute parfumerie to another field equally bound to aroma: wine blending. He shares the essence of his sensory-driven approach—and explains why training your nose is essential to tasting wine.
2025: a Five-Star Vintage
The grape harvest, that annual event, a story that is halfway human, halfway fruit.
Fermentations: The invisible revolution
An interview with philosopher Anne-Sophie Moreau.
Philosopher and journalist Anne-Sophie Moreau explores, in her latest book, Fermentations, the deeper reasons behind today’s passion for micro-organisms.
Grape glossary
ASSEMBLAGE - An A-Z of grape-related expressions and proverbs from across the world.
In our cellars, we blend grape varieties; in this article, we blend proverbs. From Japan to Italy, from Greece to Spain, the grape runs through languages and imaginations. Each line reveals a shard of culture, a flavorful metaphor, a way of naming this fruit that brings us together. Like a blend of voices from across the world.
The fruit of adversity
Earthquakes, frost and snow: when nature challenges our winemakers and vineyards.
From seismic shocks in Chile to brutal frost in Chablis and frozen ground in Shandong, our teams have weathered more than their share of extremes. These are stories of resilience behind the vines.
Late bloomers
Assemblage - Wines that defied first impressions.
In each issue’s ‘Assemblage’ section, we compose a blend of shorter snippets relating to a theme. This time, we explore forgotten or misunderstood vintages that, with the passing of time, revealed their true brilliance. Like certain songs or works of art that only find their audience years after their debut, these wines waited patiently—until the moment was right for them to be truly appreciated.
Careers: change is in the air
We’re sitting down with four people who have followed the winds of change through their career at Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite.
Where there’s light, there’s wine: illuminating the winemaking craft
Adapting to the light.