Fabrice Brunel: no more Excel files, it's time for viticulture in the Rhône

After spending ten years in Paris working in consulting, Fabrice Brunel chose to return to his family's Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate to take over from his father at Domaine Les Cailloux. At 35, this self-described apprentice winemaker ("and for a long time to come") will produce his first vintage this year. A look back at an atypical journey, from Excel spreadsheets to a return to the land.

Fabrice Brunel: from consultant for Lafarge & LVMH to winemaker at Domaine Les Cailloux

I started my career in Paris, in production management consulting. I worked for a long time for large groups like Lafarge, LVMH, etc. But I'm an only child, and there came a time when my father had no choice. At 65, he called me and said, "Listen, are you interested in coming back to the business to take over? If not, I'll have to find a successor..." My decision was immediate.

I had the "normal" life of a thirty-something Parisian consultant: I finished work late, went out, felt a bit restless… It was the perfect time to return to the estate. Making wine is, after all, about the pride of producing something real, something alive… It's something else entirely than creating Excel spreadsheets or slide presentations!

Fabrice Brunel, a Parisian in the vineyards of the Rhône Valley

I spent my childhood at the estate. My earliest memories are of the grape harvest, with the very distinctive smell of the fermenting vats. I helped my father in the vineyard during the holidays… but from a distance.

Especially since I'm not very handy. When I came back to the estate three years ago, I found myself facing a tractor, and it was quite funny. I was a real Parisian; I barely knew how to change a lightbulb! Making wine is also about learning to do things with your hands, and that's enriching.

What I love about the Rhône Valley is the sunshine! The weather is beautiful every day! And there's also the authentic feel of the Provençal hinterland, the tranquility that I appreciate and that's such a welcome change from the capital. You almost feel like pulling over to the side of the road and just taking a nap.

Fabrice draws inspiration from his father, André Brunel, a winemaker for 40 years at Domaine Les Cailloux.

When you work in the vineyard, you don't necessarily know what you're going to produce. The rhythm is dictated by the land, by the vines. A fifteen-minute hailstorm can easily ruin a year's work. When you come from consulting, like me, with its clear and orderly processes, it's a difficult aspect to grasp. But I try to take inspiration from my father, who, after 40 years of experience in the vineyard, is much more zen than I am!

The first vintage I will produce will definitely be 2016. Personally, I'm a fan of Loire and Burgundy wines. That's why at Domaine Les Cailloux, we don't try to make overly warm wines, but rather balanced ones, with a focus on fruit. We want to produce elegant wines that you simply want to finish! It's up to me now to perpetuate the quality of the wines produced at the estate for so long. From now on, my future is written here.

Robin (The Grapes)