A redundancy plan convinced me to turn my passion into my profession.

A former insurance executive, Dominique Guffond left the comfort of his Parisian life to pursue his passion and become a winemaker at Château Le Sèpe in the Bordeaux region, within the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation. He shares with us his atypical, challenging, yet inspiring journey…

Dominique Guffond realizes his dream of becoming a winemaker following a redundancy plan

Originally from Normandy, I was immersed in agriculture from childhood. While cider production was the main focus there, I was fortunate enough to always be introduced to wine at the table. This passion for wine has remained with me, and I've had the pleasure of counting winemakers among my friends. However, it was a company restructuring that finally convinced me to turn my passion into a career. That's how I ended up going back to school and leaving Parisian life behind!

News from Château Le Sèpe

We are currently bottling the 2014 Entre deux Mers ! And we are about to start bottling the 2012 red. Bottling the reds two years after their harvest is a deliberate choice.

Dominique Guffond's favorites, winemaker at Château Le Sèpe

Without hesitation, if I had to embody a wine, it would be a Margaux wine, as I had the opportunity to complete one of my internships at one of these estates. The cellar master taught me everything about our wonderful profession.

My favorite time of year: harvest time in good vintages! And 2014 was a very good year for our estate, both in terms of quality and quantity! We are more than confident about 2015, which should produce some very fine, well-structured, and balanced wines. There's a belief in Bordeaux that years ending in 5 promise great wines, and it's proving true once again!

Confessions of Dominique Guffond, winemaker in Bordeaux

If I had to describe myself in two words, I would say that I am a thoughtful and passionate person. Two character traits that allow me to anticipate daily challenges while putting all my passion into my wine.

My wife and I were incredibly fortunate to receive a warm welcome upon our arrival at the property. We were two Parisians arriving in the Gironde region to produce Bordeaux wine, and the people were very supportive and receptive to our project!

A meeting that left its mark on me: without a doubt my internship supervisor in Margaux, who not only taught me everything but also gave me my own vision of wine and its production.

What I find unbearable about the world of wine: clearly, label-obsessed drinkers. There are so many little-known appellations that produce fabulous wines, sometimes far better than some of the big names. Wine is a world of discovery, so it's a shame to rely on hearsay…

Find Château Le Sèpe wines on Les Grappes

Loïc Tanguy ( Les Grappes )