Definition: Saint-Émilion Wine Council

Creation of the Saint-Émilion Wine Council in 2007.

The Saint-Émilion and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Lussac Saint-Émilion and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion appellation unions decided to join forces within the "Saint-Émilion Wine Council".

A new name, but one that represents true continuity. For nearly 20 years, the winegrowers and union representatives of these appellations had been working together within the Collège des Vins de Saint-Émilion, created in 1988. The Saint-Émilion Wine Council is not a new union, but rather a union of Saint-Émilion together with the two unions of Lussac Saint-Émilion and Puisseguin Saint-Émilion.

The creation of the Saint-Émilion Wine Council represents "a step forward in anticipating the future, so that Saint-Émilion can become stronger in France and around the world, and so that the name of Saint-Émilion can be promoted by as many people as possible, each with their own products, so that the winegrowers of the Saint-Émilion region can come together and be stronger, and so that they can better control their future by organising it together, rather than suffering it individually". In this context of consolidation, the order of 7 December 2006 reinforced this desire, recognising wine unions or their groups as Management Organisations (ODG) for their appellation(s) and giving them specific tasks in relation to the management of appellations.

Why join together in the same union?

• Because the environment is changing, whether it be the economic environment or the institutional and regulatory environment.

• To be stronger in changing international markets. Over the last 15 years, everyone has learned that real competition does not come from within the region. The economic environment is changing, whether in terms of national competition or foreign markets. This means that winegrowers need to be better trained, more mobile, more present on the markets in terms of sales and communication, and stronger together in order to promote the Saint-Émilion name.

• To be stronger in the face of the State. To be stronger in the face of the power of the State and public authorities and to be more recognised by administrative services as an essential professional partner, particularly for managing appellations.

• Pooling resources to achieve economies of scale and rationalise costs, while at the same time providing improved services to winegrowers with increased overall resources. Joining forces should thus enable: increased action through the pooling of resources with a greater scope for action.

The Council's office is chaired by Hubert de Bouard, Château Angélus (1999 - 2008). Then by Jean-François Quenin, Château de Pressac (May 2008).