Gerard Bertrand Art de Vivre Languedoc AOP (Clairette)

Gérard Bertrand formally built his wine company in 1992 on a foundation laid at Château de Villemajou in Corbières — but the defining commitment came in 2002, when Domaine de Cigalus became the first of what would grow into 17 Demeter-certified biodynamic estates, a scale of conversion unmatched by any producer globally. Art de Vivre draws on Clairette grown across Languedoc AOP's warm Mediterranean basin, where limestone and garrigue-covered hillsides concentrate the grape's naturally low-acid, broad-textured character while strong regional winds reduce disease pressure and eliminate the need for chemical intervention. Vinification follows pneumatic pressing to protect aromatic delicacy, with fermentation conducted in stainless steel to preserve primary fruit and varietal lift — every step timed to the biodynamic lunar calendar that governs all winemaking decisions across the Bertrand group. Clairette is the rare Languedoc white variety that resists malolactic conversion naturally, delivering textural weight without the need for oak or lees manipulation, which makes its appearance here — rather than the house's more common Roussanne-Vermentino-Viognier blends — the distinguishing feature of this cuvée. The current vintage reflects the warm Mediterranean growing season typical of the appellation, with early-drinking appeal and peak expression within 1–2 years of release.