A New Generation of Innovation

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- With the 2009 harvest in Beaujolais looking
to be one of the best in recent history, these innovative producers represent
the bright future of the region's wines, which extends far beyond Nouveau.
Recognized by their peers for their dedication to the craft and respect for
terroir, these gifted winemakers are, one by one, changing the face of
Beaujolais through their unique approaches and progressive attitudes towards
the art of winemaking. Here are some of the region's rising stars:

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Perhaps the youngest emerging talent from the region, 29-year old Marie-Elodie
Zighera is already garnering praise for the first vintages from her Fleurie
estate, Clos de Mez, which began in 2006. Splitting time between her vineyards
in Fleurie, Morgon, and her house in Burgundy, Marie-Elodie's main objective
is to make a wine in the traditional Beaujolais style: "a solid, haute-couture
wine that has the potential to age well," she said. Presently concentrating on
the vines and winemaking, she is still defining her sales strategy: "I still
have plenty of things to learn. I want to be proud of what I do and surprise
myself." 

Unlike Marie-Elodie, Jean-Marc Lafont is not new to Beaujolais or to wine, in
general. Reared by hard working parents in the business, Jean-Marc sold his
first case of wine at the age of 12! Unique in that he is both a winemaker and
negociant, Jean-Marc's principal objective is to buy, sell, and produce wines
of parallel quality, which equal approximately 160,000 bottles from 25
different cuvees in production. He has worked diligently to perfect his global
business through an ultra-modernized cellar and a professional administrative
operation, while simultaneously improving the quality of his wines. With plans
to produce biodynamic wines on the horizon, Jean-Marc maintains a simple
philosophy: at the end of the day, wine is meant for sharing pleasurable
moments with friends.

While others are beginning to dabble in the production of biodynamic wines, it
has been a passion of Jean-Claude Lapalu's for years. In 2007, eleven years
after his first vintage, he officially left the co-op system behind. And, with
this newfound sense of freedom, Jean-Claude made the decision to produce all
his wines--in Beaujolais-Villages, Brouilly, and Cote de Brouilly--as
naturally as possible and to convert his estate in Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne to
biodynamic. Working as a chef before he returned to the vineyard in 1983,
Jean-Claude knew he wanted to make wine but wasn't sure what type. Eventually,
he found his way: natural wines. He limits the use of sulfur, works with
indigenous yeasts, and macerates the grapes longer to achieve full extraction
and complexity. His next project on the horizon is exploring the cultivation
of other varietals.

Another winemaker who has been exploring growing grapes other than gamay is
Vincent Audras. In 2010, he will produce his first cuvee of viognier, a grape
varietal that is not typically produced in the region. However, that is only
one experiment that sets Vincent apart; in 1994, he signed an official,
experimental protocol - which lasts through 2018 - to utilize the lyre vine
trellis system in his domaine, Clos de Haute-Combe. He is the only winemaker
in Beaujolais to vinify more than an acre of planted and cultivated gamay
according to this system. He has chosen this unconventional method because it
produces spicier wines with green pepper notes and is more logical given the
hilly slopes of the vineyard, which are difficult and often dangerous to work.
Vincent has been a longtime proponent of wine tourism in Beaujolais as well as
one of the founders of the first winemakers association in the region, which
collectively increases the business of its members.

Known throughout the world for being a forward-thinking innovator,
Jean-Charles Boisset, vice president of The Boisset Group and son of
Jean-Claude Boisset, has led the way in creating environmentally friendly
alternative wine packaging. His latest invention is a 100% recyclable,
aluminum container of wine, made in Brouilly under the Mommessin brand name.
Jean-Charles seeks to bring more practicality and value to wine drinkers
everywhere with both the Boisset Group wines and those from his family's
estate. His pioneering efforts in alternative packaging have reinvigorated the
image of Beaujolais wines, attracted new consumers, and reduced the company's
CO2 footprint.

Another winemaker who comes from a family deeply rooted in Beaujolais is
Mathieu Lapierre. Working alongside his father Marcel, a longtime producer in
the region and advocate of natural wines, Mathieu co-manages the family's
Morgon domaine, one of the most renowned in Beaujolais, with an eye towards
the future. After working as a chef and living in Canada, Mathieu returned to
Villie-Morgon in 2005 to work with his father. He is making his own mark on
the family business by using modern technology to its advantage: he has
created a Web site through which he maintains contact with clients and
communicates the domaine's efforts towards converting to biodynamic practices.
Mathieu is also a member of The Association of Natural Wines which brings
together like-minded artisan winemakers.

About Inter Beaujolais
Inter Beaujolais is the official wine-trade organization of the region. Its
primary mission is to promote Beaujolais wines in France and in key export
markets through raising awareness of the region. In addition, Inter Beaujolais
is responsible for three other major activities: research and development -
they boast the largest research facility in France - economic studies to best
position their offer, and lastly, the protection and the defense of Beaujolais
AOC. For more information, please log on to the newly launched:
www.beaujolais.com.

SOURCE  Inter Beaujolais