Winegrowers, dear friends, I address you today with deep conviction. The plant material of our vines — these sometimes century-old plants, these individual vines that have endured generations and viticultural crises — is an invaluable heritage. It is the living memory of our terroirs, the repository of unique characteristics forged by time and adaptation. A heritage that, unfortunately, is crumbling before our very eyes. At Château Cazebonne, we are not only aware of this, but convinced: it is urgent to act collectively to preserve it, before it’s too late.

Genetic Diversity: Our Natural Shield

Why is this appeal so important? Because the genetic diversity of our vines is our best ally against the growing uncertainties of our era. A vineyard composed of a multitude of individuals within the same grape variety is, by nature, a more robust and resilient vineyard. This heterogeneity allows it to better cope with climatic hazards — frost, drought, heatwaves — as well as disease pressure. Beyond this strength of resistance, this diversity also guarantees the maintenance and enrichment of the aromatic complexity of our wines. It ensures their deep roots in their original terroir, imparting a unique and authentic expression to each vintage. Each old vine, resulting from natural selection or ancestral peasant selection, carries within it a story, a valuable local adaptation that contributes to the typicity and greatness of our wines.

Threats to This Plant Heritage

For decades, the clonal selection approach favoured plant uniformity for reasons of increased productivity and ease of cultivation. This approach, though understandable at the time for standardising and rationalising production, had a drawback: it led to a progressive standardisation of our vineyards and, consequently, an alarming impoverishment of intra-varietal biodiversity. Our vines have become, in a sense, « genetic monocultures », more fragile in the face of aggressions. Added to this are the formidable wood diseases, such as Esca, Black-rot or mosaic mildew, which devastate our plots and force us to prematurely uproot thousands of vines. Each uprooting takes with it unique, irreplaceable plant lineages, sometimes centuries-old genetic heritages that can never be recreated. This loss is all the more critical in the face of challenges posed by climate change, where the vine’s capacity for adaptation is more essential than ever.

Our Concrete Commitment: Massal Selection at Cazebonne

At Château Cazebonne, we made the strategic choice to resolutely commit to a massal selection approach several years ago. Our conviction is that this is the way we will rediscover the strength and complexity of our vineyards of yesteryear. Specifically, when we plan to replant a plot, our approach is anything but standardised. We meticulously survey our own vineyards, with a keen eye and intimate knowledge of each vine. We carefully identify the best individuals — those that show balanced vigour, that produce the finest grapes (consistent in quality and yield), those that are naturally most resistant to diseases and water stress, and those that have a history, a remarkable longevity. Once these « elite » vines are selected, we take their grafts and entrust them to partner nurseries, experts in the art of respectful vegetative propagation. These nurseries, which share our philosophy, ensure their multiplication into grafted-rooted plants, which will then be reintroduced into our future plots. It’s a lengthy process, requiring patience, observation, and a deep understanding of our viticultural ecosystem, but we are convinced that it is essential to restore life and specificity to our Bordeaux grape varieties and the identity of our wines.

How Can Every Winegrower Act for Preservation?

So, how can every winegrower, on their own scale, contribute to this collective preservation effort? The strength of our industry lies in the sum of our individual actions. Here are some concrete ways to get involved:

• Observe your vines with renewed attention: Take the time to stroll through your plots, to identify vines with truly remarkable characteristics. Which ones best resist late frost or heatwave episodes? Which ones show good production consistency year after year, or increased natural resistance to disease pressure? Which ones bear the most balanced or aromatic bunches?
• Mark and isolate these treasures: Once identified, mark these precious vines in a durable manner. If your plot allows, or if you are considering replanting, physically isolate them to avoid confusion and minimise the potential spread of diseases by pruning tools.
• Propagate your heritage locally: Consider having grafts taken from these vines for your future plantings, instead of systematically resorting to commercial clones. Work closely with local nurseries that understand and share this vision of valuing indigenous plant material. They can support you in the process and guarantee propagation under the best sanitary conditions.
• Share information and experiences: Actively exchange with your fellow winegrowers, speak to professional organisations, the Chambres d’Agriculture, and technical institutes. Knowledge of this exceptional varietal heritage, and the best practices for its safeguarding, must be shared so that this approach can spread and gain full momentum at a regional level.

A Commitment Beyond Our Plots: The Collective Impact

By acting in this way, each on our own scale, with the will to preserve this unsuspected wealth, we do more than just preserve our own vines. We actively contribute to enriching the entire viticultural heritage of Bordeaux and, beyond that, we ensure the longevity and uniqueness of our terroirs. This is an approach deeply rooted in transmission, guaranteeing future generations access to authentic wines, wines of character, carrying the incomparable DNA of their origin and history. It is also, and fundamentally, a concrete and proactive response to the major challenges of climate change and future disease pressures. By increasing genetic diversity and resilience, we strengthen the collective adaptive capacity of our entire vineyard. It is a decisive step towards building a 21^st century Bordeaux, stronger, more adaptable, and more respectful of its heritage.

Together, Let’s Be the Guardians of Our Vineyards’ Future

The preservation of our vines’ plant material is not a luxury that only a few estates can afford: it is an absolute necessity for the future of an entire region and its viticultural tradition. It is a vital investment for the quality and uniqueness of our wines, for the richness and recognition of our appellations. I invite you, with us, to open your eyes to this often hidden, sometimes forgotten treasure that lies dormant in our vineyards, and to become its active and vigilant guardians. Together, through seamless collaboration and collective awareness, we can make a difference and reverse the trend. Your personal commitment is the indispensable key to the diversity, resilience, and vitality of our vineyards of tomorrow. To learn more about our methods, to share your experiences, or if you wish to be supported in this preservation effort, please do not hesitate to contact us. Dialogue and collective action are our best tools.