Château Le Sèpe: A Successful Career Transition
Nathalie and Dominique were 50 years old when they decided to leave Paris to embark on a winemaking adventure. Their journey led them to Château Le Sèpe in the Bordeaux region, where they settled down and pursued their dreams.
In a calm and measured tone, Dominique tells us their story.
At age 50, Dominique Guffond becomes a winemaker
The couple purchased Château Le Sèpe in 2009 to embark on their new life project
Dominique and his wife were working in Paris when the opportunity arose to make their dream come true: to become winemakers. The couple didn’t rush into it. They thought it through and worked out the details of their move. “I wanted to do this job because you’re involved in the entire process, from the vineyard to bottling,” says the man who would become a winemaker.
In fact, fruit fermentation and wine are not entirely new to Dominique Guffond: “I’m from Normandy, the land of apples. I already knew a little about fermentation. Then, in Paris, I belonged to a wine club. I’ve always bought directly from winemakers, never from big-box stores.”
Dominique took things one step at a time: first came the training. “I went back to school, then worked as an intern in the vineyard and the winery”; at the same time, they searched for and found their dream property in 2009: Château Le Sèpe in the Bordeaux region.
The goal is to make his own wine, as Dominique points out: “We didn’t buy an estate just to hire a cellar master and a vineyard manager. I’m the only one working in the cellar and making the wine. I’m proud to make my own wine.”
Sustainable farming: a matter of course
The vineyards of Château Le Sèpe are planted on hillsides, which produces very rich and concentrated grapes.
The estate is located within the Bordeaux and Entre-Deux-Mers appellations. “The vineyards are situated on hillsides, which is ideal for the quality of the grapes. When we purchased the property, the vines were in good health. What’s more, the location is truly delightful, and there is great potential for developing wine tourism.”
Work in the vineyard is crucial. That is why Dominique switched the vineyard to sustainable farming practices as soon as he arrived. “For me… it’s a no-brainer,” says the winemaker.
In the vineyard, as in life, Dominique remains very even-tempered: “I don’t go to extremes; I tend to strike a balance. I approach things with a great deal of perspective and reflection.”
Dominique Guffond: “I want to be as hands-off as possible”
Since arriving at the estate, Dominique has been cultivating his vineyards using sustainable farming practices.
That is the winery’s philosophy: “I try to intervene as little as possible,” explains Dominique. The winemaking methods are very traditional and allow the winemaker to craft fruity wines that express dark fruit—dominated by blackberry and blackcurrant—that are powerful and highly concentrated. “I don’t make a signature wine,” he notes, “in fact, I don’t make the same wine every year; there are variations depending on the vintage.”
To ensure concentration in his wines, yields are kept low, and Dominique selects the most concentrated grapes right in the vineyard.
As for the white wine—a cuvée that remains quite rare due to its limited production—it is vinified and aged in barrels. The wine is full-bodied, with great roundness and a very pleasant palate.
It takes time to make wine. Patiently, Dominique tends to his vintages until they’re ready to be bottled. “I make wines that need a little time to age. Except for the white, which I sell from one year to the next. Otherwise, the aging process for reds is quite long. ” He adds, realistically: “Wine takes a while. These days, we’re in industries where everything is often instant. Wine is a craft with a longer production cycle. You have to take the time to make it and let it age. That’s what I do: I take my time.”
In the winery, Dominique is focused on quality and is working on a plan to diversify the winemaking process: “We want to produce smaller batches and even more single-vineyard wines,” he tells us.
Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:
Château Le Sèpe, Classic Cuvée 2012
Château Le Sèpe: Expanding the Sales Division
When Dominique bought the Le Sèpe estate, all the wine was sold in bulk. The then-novice winemaker decided to start bottling his own wine. “I wanted to create a product that could be distributed,” he explains. “I want to control the distribution chain.”
It’s a long-term project, but Dominique is persistent. “It takes a long time to secure contracts; there’s a whole system to set up. At first, I started with direct sales, targeting family and friends, then I expanded into the foodservice sector, and now I’m moving into exports. I’ve also found an agent to cover certain regions. I’m trying to explore different distribution channels.”
Undoubtedly, his hard work has paid off, but it still requires a great deal of effort. As the winemaker puts it: “The plan now is to expand our business so we can become self-sustaining.”
After these nine harvests, what does Dominique think of his career change?
“What I like is the independence. I don’t regret my decision to leave the Paris area at all. Here, I can manage my own time. Stress becomes a positive kind of stress. I love the peaceful aspect of my work,” the winemaker concludes.
Find Château Le Sèpe wines on Les Grappes here.
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