Two barrels of Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay “Secret de Famille,” vintage 2024, set sail aboard the cargo ship Grain de Sail II. One of the first wine houses to take the plunge, Albert Bichot ventures into a unique sensory expedition, with mineral and saline notes.
January 16, 2025 (Saint-Malo) — Firmly moored to the deck, the two 228-liter barrels will cross the Atlantic Ocean to the rhythm of currents and sea variations. With a first stopover in New York, followed by a second in Pointe-à-Pitre, the yacht will sail the Atlantic Ocean for two months before returning to Saint-Malo in early March.
For Albert Bichot, the aim of this experiment is to study variations in the evolution of white wines.
About Maison Albert Bichot:
Albert Bichot owns 107 hectares of vines spread across six exceptional Domaines, four of which are certified organic, in Bourgogne’s most prestigious appellations. Backed by its expertise as a winemaker, Albert Bichot also selects and buys grapes and musts from loyal partners, vinifying them with the same care at its own Domaines. This philosophy guarantees the production of great wines that reflect their terroir of origin and convey the emotion that has made the House one of the greatest names in Bourgogne.
Wines Matured at Sea: An Astonishing Sensory Tasting Experience!
This year, Albert Bichot seeks to take the transatlantic voyage a step further, studying the impact of the sea on wine aging, which is thought to be accelerated by exposure to the elements.
Installed on deck, the barrels will be directly exposed to temperature variations, humidity, salty air, and more sudden movements than in the cellar. These factors allow for more intense natural stirring of the wine and micro-oxygenation.
To study these phenomena in detail, Albert Bichot has partnered with Onafis, a Nantes-based “Wine Tech” company. Onafis develops connected systems for wine maturation. A probe equipped with more than seven sensors will evaluate the evolution of the barrels and external conditions in real time. In addition to measuring temperature, dissolved gases, volatile gases, and humidity, the probe will allow Matthieu Mangenot, the company’s Technical Director, to monitor the evolution of the barrels mid-Atlantic.
Albert Bichot & Grain de Sail: Burgundy (Re)Sets Sail!
The project began in March 2024, when Albert Bichot, mindful of its environmental footprint, entrusted the cargo ship Grain de Sail II with the transport of a pallet of wines to New York. This voyage, 99% of which was powered by wind, enabled eco-responsible transport, reducing CO2 emissions by 95% compared with conventional freight. Mainly wind-powered and equipped with hydro-generators, wind turbines, and solar panels, the Grain de Sail II cargo ship offers a sustainable transport alternative.
A Journey Full of Meaning
With this experiment, Albert Bichot aims to return to the transport conditions of the 19th century. This initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to the preservation and enhancement of living organisms, echoing the support provided to the Tara Océan Foundation, which Albéric Bichot accompanied on the Microbiomes Mission to Antarctica.
All that remains now is to await the sailboat’s return and discover the results of this adventure during a comparative tasting. Two other barrels of the same wine have been left in the Maison’s cellars in Beaune for comparison.
“Merroir”: The Analog of Terroir
Where terroir refers to the unique influence of soil, climate, and environment on a wine’s characteristics, merroir refers to the influence of water quality, algae, currents, tides, and the mineral content of the seabed.
