Facing a historic crisis, French sweet wines turn to dry whites
In a report by the Swiss daily Le Temps on the rise of dry whites in France, Château Clarisse illustrates the arrival of Chardonnay on the limestone plateau of Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion.
This is the gamble taken by Château Clarisse, in Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion. Not so long ago, its managing director Didier Le Calvez would probably have been branded a heretic by his peers. But the decline in consumption of traditional reds encouraged him to explore other paths. […]
For Château Clarisse, the aim is to stand apart: ‘There are 7,000 wine estates in Bordeaux; if everyone chases the same things… It is impossible to dislodge the great estates.’ A bold bet, but a successful one. The château intends to increase its production…
