Wine growers Portraits of wine producers Sandra and Roch Mayé.
Sandra and Roch Mayé, young vine growers aged 33 and 35, in St Felix de Foncaude, are married both to their work and also to each other. In fact, this young couple, who have been married for five years and are the happy parents of two children, aged 7 and 1, run an agricultural enterprise of 100 hectars, 38 hectars of vines and 40 head of Bazadais cattle.Tell us how you got started in this enterprise?
Roch: from being small I was fascinated by tractors and farm materials and so quite naturally in 2000 I joined my parents on their farm.
Before becoming established I had worked for 5 years in dairy farming on a neighbouring farm in Gornac.
In fact, I have always been interested in animal farming as my parents were also dairy farmers. For this reason we have maintained this side of our enterprise whilst modifying it, we have moved from dairy farming to producing cattle for meat. This is somewhat less demanding alongside our work as vine growers. However, there are still peak working periods namely the months of May, June and July. On the other hand, I believe that a bottle of wine goes better with an entrecote steak than a pack of milk and I doubt if anyone will contradict me.
Sandra: I was in no way predestined for a farming life, that is, until I met Roch. In fact, I obtained a BTS in managing assistance. I imagined working in an office but Cupid's dart decided otherwise. Retrospectively, I do not regret my choice because I can hardly see myself sitting all day in front of a computer screen. I need the open air, space, action and contact to nature. And the life in agriculture offers all that and much more. I achieved a CCTAR in viticulture and oenology, a course of adult education which lasted 10 months, to obtain the status of a young agriculturalist. With my diploma successfully completed I joined Roch in 2004 in a SCEA (an agricultural society/company).
Was it easy for Sandra to find her place in an enterprise whose environment was little known to her?
Sandra: I had already worked in a nearby vine growing enterprise in the summer months, like all students who need some extra money and it also happened that I helped Roch and his parents during the school holidays. So, I knew the different aspects of vine growing. The hardest for me was to adapt to the working hours which are very exacting - more for me than Roch because of the children - but are obligatory at certain times of the year. Had I remained outside agricultural circles I would not have understood the rhythm and hours required in farming. It has to be experienced to be understood. In addition, Roch is very understanding and patient. Because he is an impassioned farmer, he was able to transmit tips to me with ease.
Roch: Sandra adapted very quickly to the job of vine grower and cattle farmer. She is generous in her work, dynamic and curious. She is a manager and is the one who looks after the administrative side of the business, which suits me admirably as I have a certain allergy concerning paper work. Both of us have our particular competences, which means that we are able to complement each other. So, I think that our collaboration is a success because it allows us to develop and progress. We have already been able to double the surface of our vineyard.
How do you envisage your business in the coming years?
Sandra : The world of the vine grower and animal breeder has changed significantly in the last few years and we will encounter many more changes.
You need to know how to adapt and develop, especially in the environmental and sphere of regulations, and here the Wine Cooperative of Sauveterre de Guyenne is able to support and inform us. We have to always put to the question if we want to maintain our enterprise and to that end involve oneself in order to do so. From this point of view, I am a trainee in the Administrative Council of the Wine Cooperative, as well as being on the council of our local community, because it is important to be involved in the social and economic life of the community in order to preserve our agricultural land.
Roch : I think that Sandra has said what is important. I would just like to add that farming is, in general, not easy but the love of my work and the earth gives me comfort and the idea that it is the most beautiful job there is and for me happiness is truly in the vineyard and in the meadows.
I hope to transmit this passion to my children, not necessarily to follow the same work, but through that which they will have chosen. One must not forget that we only live once and it is preferable to be master of one's destiny rather than submitting to it.
To conclude, one could say that our goal is to maintain our enterprise as it is, i.e. a manageable size, and continue to have pleasure in what we are doing, even though, for the time being, we are not remunerated suitably for the work we do. We believe in the future and hope that agriculture will again be recognized for its true value.