In December 2016, INSEEC Wine & Spirits (formerly the Wine Institute) welcomed its new Patron in the person of the famous Hubert de Boüard, consultant oenologist at the head of the no less famous Château Angélus.
Hubert de Boüard de Laforest succeeds a long line of renowned Patrons.
Hubert de Boüard, a life marked from an early age by love and respect for the vines
At the age of 7, instead of giving him a bicycle, his father gave him his first pruning shears to work the vines. It was a pre-destined gift! Hubert spent his entire adolescence working in the region’s vineyards and wine cellars.
During his oenology degree at Bordeaux University, Hubert de Boüard studied under Emile Peynaud, a renowned winemaking researcher nicknamed “the father of modern oenology”. Emile Peynaud is best known for :
- All rotten grapes have been removed from the harvest in order to obtain wines of the highest possible quality.
- To have introduced crushing and fermentation in separate batches, depending on the age of the vines, the maturity of the grape varieties, the location of the vineyard, etc. Today, this method is known as “terroir selection”.
He then travelled around the world to meet new people and discover new wines and new ways of working the vines.
The Consecration of Château Angélus
Hubert de Boüard returned from his voyage of initiation in 1980 and began working on the estate with his father, in the vineyard and the cellar.
In 1985, he took charge of the family estate and became co-owner of Château L’Angélus. In 1989, Château L’Angélus became CHÂTEAU ANGELUS . A forerunner and innovator, Hubert has never ceased to apply new methods that are more respectful of the vines and the wine, and in September 2012, Angélus was promoted to the rank of 1er grand cru classé A de Saint-Emilion.
Launch of Hubert de Boüard Consulting
Fieuzal in Léognan, Meyneyin St-Estèphe, Grand-Puy-Ducasse in Pauillac, Chantegrives in the Graves, Cambon La Pelouse in the Médoc, and Ixsir in Lebanon are just some of the 76 estates where Hubert de Boüard works as a consultant via Hubert de Boüard Consulting, with the motto: “Balance and respect for people and nature”. A close friend of Michel Rolland, he supports him in his thinking and helps him to set up new experiments.
Its approach is also resolutely scientific. For example, the consultancy is linked to an oenological analysis laboratory, which carries out in-depth analyses of the wine and the vines.
It might seem surprising for a Château owner to help other Châteaux to produce their wine, to help his ‘competitors’. On the contrary, Hubert de Bouärd believes that competition in wine is a good thing: ” it makes the wine better and raises its profile “. These consulting sessions around the world not only help to raise the general standard of wine, they also teach him a great deal and enable him to constantly challenge himself. In short, a kind of positive emulation.
Finally, the Godfather gave the following advice to his godchildren: “Life is always short when you do something you love! Don’t forget that loyalty with yourself and people is the most important”!
After the lecture, the students were able to taste : La Fleur de Boüard, Le Lion de La Fleur de Boüard, Château Puy Redon Chardonnay and Petite Laurence “Hubert de Boüard.
Thank you to our wine association, Wine About, for organising this magnificent event!