A redundancy plan convinced me to make my passion my profession.

A former insurance executive, Dominique Guffond left the comfort of his Parisian life to live his passion and become a winemaker at Château Le Sèpe in the Bordeaux region, in the Entre Deux Mers appellation. He comes back with us on his atypical, not simple, and yet makes us dream...

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

Originally from Normandy, I have been involved in agriculture since childhood. If it was more a question of cider production there, I was nevertheless lucky enough to always be initiated to the discovery of wine at the table. So I have kept this passion for wine and that's how I was lucky enough to have winegrowers among my friends, but it was a social plan in my company that definitely convinced me to turn my passion into a profession. That's how I went back to school and left Parisian life!

The news of Château Le Sèpe

We are in the middle of bottling L'Entre deux Mers 2014! And we are going to start the bottling of the red 2012. Bottling the reds two years after their harvest is a deliberate choice.

The favorites of Dominique Guffond, winegrower at Château Le Sèpe

Without hesitation, if I had to embody a wine, it would be a wine from the Margaux appellation, because I was able to complete one of my internships at one of these properties. The cellar master thus taught me everything about our marvellous profession.

My favourite time of the year: the harvest of good vintages! And the 2014 vintage is a very good year both in quality and quantity for our estate! And we are more than confident for the 2015 vintage which should give birth to very beautiful wines, well structured and balanced. There is a belief that in Bordeaux the years in 5 promise great wines, and it is true once again!

The confidences 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 life while putting all my passion in my wine.

My wife and I were incredibly fortunate to be incredibly welcomed when we arrived on the property. We were two Parisians arriving in the Gironde to produce Bordeaux wine and the people were very sensitive and receptive to our project!

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

What I can't stand in the wine world: clearly, label drinkers. There are so many unknown appellations that produce fabulous wines, sometimes much better than some of the big names. Wine is a world of discovery, so it's a shame to rely on the so-called "on-discounters" ...