INTERVIEW WITH A WINEMAKER - Olivier Coste - Olivier Coste

Q. Tell us about yourself, why and when you decided to become a winemaker?

A. I was born into the winery so it wasn’t even a choice, it simply came naturally!

Q. If you had to use three words, which will you use to describe your work?

A. Pleasure. Sharing. Passion.

Q. What’s your biggest fear during the whole vine cycle?

A. Hail.

Q. What’s make you happy about your work?

A. Allowing people to spend quality time with each other, since wine brings people together.

Q. Which was the top moment of your career as a winemaker?

A. The first harvest at our new property in Faugères, Château des Adouzes.

Q. What’s your vision about organic, biodynamic, and sustainable?

A. Sustainable is very good. That’s what we do…thinking and considering all angles and using the best scientifically-verified methods.
Sometimes they’re organic, sometimes not.
We live in a world where everything natural is exalted, yet anything done by man is vilified.
But not everything made in nature is “good”. Covid 19 is a current example, since it’s natural but obviously not good.
Yet, we’re all awaiting a vaccine, which science will provide.
Organic is good but unfortunately, it’s often industrialized to lower prices and increase volume. The result is that organic can be less sustainable than responsible farming.
Biodynamic works since biodynamic farmers are very close to their vines and tend to them often. But I’m more scientific and Cartesian by nature, so I’m personally not convinced by its esoteric aspects.

Q. What do you do to preserve the planet?

A. Carbon neutral – we offset all CO2 emissions by financing ecological initiatives and have put in place a plan to reduce them in the coming years.
For example, we started using more eco-friendly lightweight bottles, since glass is by far the biggest emitter of CO2 emissions in a winery’s lifecycle.
We also just became certified HVE 3, "Haute Valeur Environnementale level 3", the highest level of France's High Environmental Value certification.
It’s a result of our efforts towards virtuous agriculture: planting 2000 trees around the vineyards to preserve biodiversity, planting vineyard groundcover, mechanical soil work, pheromone dispensers, etc.

Q. If you had to use three words, which will you use to describe your wines?

A. Freshness, balance, elegance.

Q. Why your wines are different from your direct competitors?

A. Made with love since 1701, by the same family over 9 generations.

Q. Amongst your wine, which is the one you are most attached to? The one it makes you proud? And Why?

A. Rosé, since it’s our flagship and what we’re most known for Olivier Coste Cinsault, since it’s fresh and easy to drink, even during the warm Mediterranean summers!

Q. Which was the highest moment of your career as a winemaker?

A. Each harvest!