Our commitments

Striving to produce wines that bear the mark of great biodiversity and are free of pesticide residues

As the world becomes more and more ecologically aware, Guy Meslin has chosen not to certify his property as organic, although he was a major precursor of these principles 30 years ago. Having put these ideas to the test, he has decided to focus his energy on what looks more like a life’s cause:

Striving to produce wines that bear the mark of great biodiversity and are free of pesticide residues.

Above all else, Guy Meslin wants to pull different ideas together and make them work as a whole, so he sets up all the experiments necessary to achieve this.

Accordingly, at Château Laroze, everyday operations are not driven by trends, but by the proof of results.

Seeking out the latest winegrowing developments like an explorer.
Taking the risk of trying them out right down to the details like a research scientist.
Analysing, defining, deciding and adopting as standard practice like an expert.

And this drive to achieve results is part of a truly wholistic approach:

“Striving to make our wines pure, while never upsetting the natural balances of the winegrowing ecosystem, because in any case, you can’t have one without the other.” This could be highlighted as the “Gurchy-Meslin” motto.

This explains why the family has only ever paid attention to winegrowing innovations that show convincing results and are compatible with this sentiment.

So, the Château Laroze secret, if there is one, is that the estate is driven like an observation and development centre in support of making a great wine.

Laroze’s commitment and biodiversity in all its forms

Working on our environmental footprint

Taking our environmental footprint into account is something we do at the property, but we also share the responsibility with our providers. We therefore select our suppliers on the strength of their real and devoted environmental commitment.

Some examples:

Our bottle supplier provides us with bottles manufactured using 80% recycled glass.
Closures made of natural cork play a major role in our overall carbon footprint. Did you know that cork production cleans the atmosphere by absorbing seven times more carbon than it emits? Natural cork manufacturers therefore have a beneficial carbon footprint.
Our concrete tanks were built using spring water.
Our cooper only works with timber from PEFC-accredited, sustainably managed forests.

On the property, we pay special attention to our vine husbandry techniques.

We till our soil with ploughs; we use no weedkillers or chemical fertilizers.

Four basic principles guide our choices with regard to production technologies:

To maintain freedom in deciding and embracing choices as requirements dictate.
To protect and promote biodiversity.
Not to pursue a production specification, but to aim at making a great wine that is free of pesticide residue and beneficial for health.
To promote the expression of our terroir in our wines by highlighting their minerality and aromatic purity.

Recognition of our heritage

Since our heritage is the foundation of what we do at Château Laroze, we have applied for recognition as an Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Business).

Our 400-year-old history also gives us the opportunity in the coming months to apply for recognition as an Entreprise Familiale Centenaire (hundred-year-old family company).

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“Accepting the challenge of delivering purity in the glass without ever disturbing the natural balances of the ecosystem in the vineyard, because one cannot exist without the other.”