BORDEAUX, France (September 8, 2022) – Two years after the region’s first classification, Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, a prestigious and historic Bordeaux classification and family of château, unveils its plan to further incorporate environmental, social, and economic sustainability efforts throughout the region. Franck Bijon, the President of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, is spearheading a variety of initiatives ahead of the next classification in 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS
Climate change’s effects can be felt in vineyards around the world, including the Médoc. Crus Bourgeois works closely with each estate’s environmental goals to ensure the region operates as sustainably as possible. Eventually, HVE certification will be required on all three classification levels to simplify the criteria. “It’s essential that our family of producers incorporates a high level of environmental sustainability. Both producers and consumers alike are ready for it,” says Franck Bijon. With this objective in mind, Crus Bourgeois will continue to encourage its members to explore additional sustainability practices and certifications, paying particular attention to the larger goals as outlined by the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel de Bordeaux).
PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
With 250 individual properties in the Médoc, the Crus Bourgeois classification represents a variety of farm sizes and business practices, each with its own production and commercial challenges. To ensure each estate has the tools its employees need, Crus Bourgeois will create a library of educational materials and shared resources (for example: communal tools, virtual and in-person trainings, etc.) available to stakeholders. “One of the greatest things about Crus Bourgeois is our variety. We want to ensure everyone in Crus Bourgeois has access to the same resources, no matter what their current or future challenges in wine production may be. We’ll go farther together,” says Bijon.
DIGITAL INNOVATIONS
Looking to the future, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc will modernize its packaging and labels. The newest addition includes a QR code which will serve not only as a means of authentication but will also provide a virtual experience where consumers can explore the vineyards digitally as well as interact with a virtual tasting sheet. “We hope to incorporate a new experience for our consumers that better communicates who we are. Yes, we make wine, but it’s our classification, our unique terroir, and our producers’ passion that we really want to share with consumers,” explained Franck Bijon.
SUSTAINABILITY IN GREATER MEDOC
Environmental protection isn’t just about the vineyard – it’s about the whole of the region. The Association is committed to working with national parks, other agricultural workers, and associations of all kinds from around the region to educate and promote sustainability, biodiversity, and preservation in a variety of sectors.
GOOD WINES ONLY FESTIVAL
Crus Bourgeois is also pleased to announce a new investment in regional and national consumer marketing activations. Good Wines Only, the first Crus Bourgeois du Médoc festival, was a part of Bordeaux’s 2022 Fête de la Musique, with more exciting activations to come in the next few years.
ABOUT CRUS BOURGEOIS DU MEDOC
The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc form the largest family of Bordeaux crus from some of the most prestigious appellations of the Left Bank. This association brings together vineyards with widely differing profiles and terroirs that satisfy a drastic set of requirements. The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification guarantees consumers a standard of quality for every bottle that proudly bears the ‘Crus Bourgeois’ label.
