Quick Conversations In Wine – Vanessa Aubert From Aubert Vignobles
As a prelude to who you’ll meet and what you’ll learn at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, we’ve got some interviews with the principals and winemakers! Here’s a few fun facts from France’s Vanessa Aubert from Aubert Vignobles in our speed round of Q + A with her. There’s also more on the Vancouver International Wine Festival here.
Proudest moment?
When I bought and created my own estate.
Favorite grape variety?
As I’m from the Bordeaux area, where we have a culture of blending, perhaps my favorite is Malbec (Cot in Bordeaux) with Cabernet Franc coming second.
Favorite wine you make? Why?
Château d’Anielle as it’s my own wine and I’m free to express myself. (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru)
Favorite food? Meal?
Fish that I’ve caught, with mushrooms that I picked in my own woods.
Funny thing happened on the way ?
When my husband was covered in wine, from head to foot, at his first vinifcation with me!
Yoga? Meditation? What keeps you going?
Meditation, take time to look around the landscape and let my mind go.
Blundstones or Blahnik?
Definitely blundstones
What are you looking forward to this year?
Continuing the family story and creating a new estate with my husband who doesn’t come from wine background, but who fell in love with this way of living through me.
Organic, biodynamic, vegan, low alcohol wines. What are your thoughts on these?
I already work with respect for my land, and the life inside and around it. It is an everyday reflection with a long-term vision. In this perspective I am thinking about which certification to choose as there is a wide choice. This is an important commitment that comes from its own convictions and especially not from what’s “in fashion”.
Advice for women in the industry?
Trust in yourself
Vanessa Aubert
Vanessa Albessard-Aubert is descendant of winegrowers who have been producing wine since 1732 on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. She was raised on the property of her ancestors, Château Saint Antoine, between vineyards and cellar, rocked to the rhythm of the vintages.
She start working with her family in the family firm, Vignobles Aubert, in 2004 after her studies: Oenologist from Bordeaux University, “DESS Management commercial vin et spiritueux”. She is in charge of production and the North America market.
In 2015, she created the Château d’Anielle Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, a name she chose in honour of her father, Daniel, who passed on to her his passion for wine.
Oenologist, combining her know-how and her experience, her philosophy is to elaborate wines of high potential by retaining the purest expression of the terroir.
Aubert Vinobles
Aubert Vinobles has 100 hectares under production, 65% Merlot and 35% Cab Franc. The average age of the vines is 35 years in these clay-limestone soils. The vineyards are leaf thinned, bunch thinned and sorted by “trie baies machine.” The wine is made in stainless steel vats, cold macerated and aged for 12-16 months.
