What brought Bijou to the south of France?
Founder Chris Ellis explains the mission behind Bijou, and how the vision for the producer is rooted in the south of France. The post What brought Bijou to the south of France? appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Founder Chris Ellis explains the mission behind Bijou, and how the vision for the producer is rooted in the south of France.
With many wine brands now capitalising on famous faces and well-known personalities, Bijou spied an opportunity. It was, however, in the opposite direction to the trend. Rather than bank on a celebrity partner, the brand instead decided to focus on all that goes into a wine. Bijou was developed to be more than a range of exceptional wines; it was created to demonstrate a commitment to quality, sustainability and the people behind the wines.
Founder Chris Ellis, a seasoned wine industry professional, applied his deep knowledge of the Languedoc and Provence to identify the best winemakers and terroirs. His vision was clear: to create wines that reflected the region’s potential, and a brand that cares about industry issues.
The journey began in AOP Cabrières, a remarkable terroir resting on an extinct volcano. Its mineral-rich soils and cooling hillside climate foster wines of remarkable structure and intensity, well-suited to the rosé that Bijou would make to set the standard of the brand. Fortunately, journalists began to take note, and a couple of strong write-ups helped accelerate the launch. From there, the Bijou portfolio expanded to include the most representative wines of this corner of France.
Working with dedicated local high environmental value (HVE)-certified growers and winemakers, Bijou set out to craft wines that reflect their origins while making a positive difference on key industry matters. Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose, for instance, embodies the legend of Sophie Valrose, a woman who fought for the rights of female vineyard workers at the turn of the 20th century. Carrying on her mission, Bijou has backed sponsorships, mentorship initiatives and recruitment opportunities supporting women in wine.
With many wine brands now capitalising on famous faces and well-known personalities, Bijou spied an opportunity. It was, however, in the opposite direction to the trend. Rather than bank on a celebrity partner, the brand instead decided to focus on all that goes into a wine. Bijou was developed to be more than a range of exceptional wines; it was created to demonstrate a commitment to quality, sustainability and the people behind the wines.
Founder Chris Ellis, a seasoned wine industry professional, applied his deep knowledge of the Languedoc and Provence to identify the best winemakers and terroirs. His vision was clear: to create wines that reflected the region’s potential, and a brand that cares about industry issues.
The journey began in AOP Cabrières, a remarkable terroir resting on an extinct volcano. Its mineral-rich soils and cooling hillside climate foster wines of remarkable structure and intensity, well-suited to the rosé that Bijou would make to set the standard of the brand. Fortunately, journalists began to take note, and a couple of strong write-ups helped accelerate the launch. From there, the Bijou portfolio expanded to include the most representative wines of this corner of France.
Working with dedicated local high environmental value (HVE)-certified growers and winemakers, Bijou set out to craft wines that reflect their origins while making a positive difference on key industry matters. Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose, for instance, embodies the legend of Sophie Valrose, a woman who fought for the rights of female vineyard workers at the turn of the 20th century. Carrying on her mission, Bijou has backed sponsorships, mentorship initiatives and recruitment opportunities supporting women in wine.
