Cave de Sauveterre - Vignerons de Bordeaux

Fabien Lavergne, a young vintner, who works for the wine cooperative of Sauveterre de Guyenne, all smiles and relaxed, agreed to be interviewed for our portrait of a vine grower.

Fabien, I’ll leave it to you to introduce yourself.

I obtained a diploma as vine grower/oenologist which I complemented with a ‘Licence of Quality’. Then I worked for three years as the person responsible for quality in a Bordeaux Château.  This was a very enriching job, however, my initial idea of becoming a young agriculturist was always present in the corner of my mind.

Then I rejoined my father in his vineyard of 80 hectars in preparation for my being included in the business which, indeed, became effective in December, 2009 when my uncle went into retirement, who had been my father’s associate.

Is it easy to find one’s place in a business and team which is already established?

From the start my father decided to have confidence in me and he gave me a free hand during the first months of my joining them. This gave me the possibility to get to grips with the matter and to be confronted with many and varied situations in a short period of time.

It must be very intimidating but also very motivating to be solely responsible for the range of products.

It is very informative and I learnt so much more in a short time than if he had chaperoned me throughout, even if I made mistakes – one might say that I acquired autonomy in double-quick time.  I had to manage the personnel both administratively – pay slips, sick/holiday leave, reorganisation of timetables;  also on a level of human relations – by establishing a relationship of confidence.

On the technical side, for example, the pruning of the vines (an important time being the first link in the new production) I decided to shorten the fruit bearing branches.  We have just received a gold medal for our Château Du Plantier in the open competition at the agricultural fair in Paris.  It is most gratifying to see one’s work rewarded in such a way.  This is not the first medal we have won and I am sure that it will not be the last!

I also took the liberty to reorganise the workshop in order to make it more functional. This period of freedom allowed me to establish myself in this new professional environment and in looking back I thank my father for this.  Since that time we make decisions together and every Monday we plan the organisation of the work for the week.  My father is extremely efficient and we have the same objectives, which means, that it is easy for us to work together and our cooperation is both serene and constructive.

How do you see the development of the vine growing business.

I am curious and eager to learn about the world of viticulture in all its various facets.  Therefore, it is natural that I have become involved in different professional bodies:  Young Agriculturalists, trainee in the Administrative Council of the Wine Cooperative of Sauveterre de Guyenne also in the Union of Guyenne.  I would like to be a responsible vintner, well-informed and able to make the best of decisions for the well-being of my business and also to play a role in the future of the wine cooperative.

Nowadays one becomes a vine-grower by choice, it is no longer an automatic succession from father to son.  One needs to be not only impassioned but also technically competent, have management qualities and even be something of a visionary, more than ever a multi-function is required.

We are not JUST vine-growers!

As I have never experienced a 35 hour week, it is important for me to find some time for leisure activities in order to recharge the batteries.  With some friends a rock group was founded - NEHOM – in 2005 and every Friday evening we rehearse in a disused wine depot, which we have sound-insulated.  It is the best way for me to relax and share some really pleasurable moments with my friends.

What is your definition of happiness?

It is when I perceive that my life sounds.right, when I feel tuned to the lives of those around me just as my guitar strings are tuned to each other:  for me, simply, that is happiness.

And when will we have a rock concert in the wine depot of the wine cooperative of Sauveterre de Guyenne?