I NEWS I ADVERTORIAL
I NEWS I ADVERTORIAL Mickaël Alborghetti, Cofounder of EthicDrinks Pioneering startup leading way in 'drink ethics' EthicDrinks has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2019 with an impressive haul of awards for its sustainable approach to winemaking Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2023 takes a look at how the small business has gained recognition for its environmental protection efforts in its first three years. Creator of organic and ecoresponsible wines, EthicDrinks has made it its mission to make the wine industry more environmentally friendly. In 2022 the French start-up, from Gironde, extended its ethical approach with new commitments in favour of preserving the environment. Mickael Alborghetti, the winemaker and founder wants to create fruity and modern organic wine. ETHICDRINKS' NEW CUVÉE IN COLLABORATION WITH SEA SHEPHERD Since its launch, EthicDrinks has supported organisations that work to protect the environment, such as WWF, Surfrider, and 1% for the planet. This year, the start-up is offering a new cuvée in partnership with Sea Shepherd, called Sous l'Océan. Sold in cafes, hotels and restaurants, this new range offers eight wines: White Muscadet – AOC Muscadet, white Grenache – IGP Pays d'Oc, white Viognier – IGP Pays d'Oc , white Vermentino – IGP Pays d'Oc, Rosé – IGP Méditerranée, red Merlot – IGP Pays d'Oc, Sauvignon blanc – AOC Bordeaux and a red Syrah – IGP Pays d'Oc. All wines are organic and ecoresponsible, with 5% of sales donated to the NGO. EthicDrinks cofounder Camille Alborghetti said: "Sea Shepherd is an essential NGO that preserves natural marine resources. We are very proud to strengthen our environmental commitments with an organisation like this. With Sous l'Océan, we offer ethical products, thanks to a partnership in line with our values, to raise consumer awareness of the environmental issues of plastic in the oceans." Previous product launches and sustainable endeavours include the brand's well-known organic pale-ale, made from unsold bread. Brewed with Elixir hops in the Loiret, the 'Bread Pale Ale' is made of bread recovered from Parisian bakeries which brings a slightly crispy cereal touch to the beer. Salt is then added which gives a subtle, mineral taste. There are also notes of clementine, orange and WE ARE VERY PROUD TO STRENGTHEN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS flowers thanks to the hops, giving the beer a burst of freshness Hall 4 / Stand J-304 ETHICDRINKS VOTED BEST B CORP LABEL EthicDrinks was awarded first place by B Corp label in the drinks category. The company renewed its certification with an overall score of 102.3, which places it among the leaders in the beverage industry. The international CSR label attests to the sustainable commitment of a company based on environmental, social, governance, community and customer criteria. “It's a great reward for the whole team to have reached this score and to obtain first place in our sector of activity," comments cofounder Mickaël Alborghetti. "Our commitments through our environmentally friendly packaging, our organic wines, our support for NGOs and our logic of carbon minimisation and offsetting have been important points in meeting the certification criteria." THE STORY BEHIND THE BRAND Founded in 2019 by Mickaël and Camille Alborghetti, EthicDrinks creates organic and eco-responsible wines. The winemaker is determined to make the world of wine a more respectful one when it comes to the environment. A certified green economy company, partner of the WWF and committed to the Club Entreprendre pour la Planète, EthicDrinks also participates in the Bas- Carbon label and in 1% for the planet. Adding to its impressive sustainable achievements, the brand was also named winner of the first eco-design award from Adelphe in 2021 6 • THE DAILY • MONDAY 13 TH FEBRUARY 2023 wineparis-vinexpo.vinexposium-connect.com
ADVERTORIAL I NEWS I An extraordinary heritage of forgotten Chilean vines dating back over 200 years Back from Chile : wine critic Gabrielle Vizzavona introduces a selection of craft wines produced with very old País and Carignan vines during the Masterclass “Carignan and Pais de Chile: an incredible heritage of ancient vine” She will share her experience after visiting this unique region accompanied by ProChile and the winegrowers who have worked to preserve this natural miracle. You recently went to Chile, what were your first impressions? I have been working for several years with ProChile, the state organisation in charge of promoting Chile in the world, on masterclasses in particular. Although I knew the theory fairly well, going there offers a much deeper perspective. This country is incredible in its diversity but also in its shape, which sometimes implies a certain geographical hostility: a narrow strip of land 4,300 kilometres long, 80% covered by mountains, which includes 2,900 volcanoes, 80 of which are still active. I was fascinated, once there, to see how the Andes never really leave you, permanently framing the surrounding landscape, deceiving my bearings by their omnipresence in every direction I looked. The feeling of being continually imprisoned within them, far from being distressing, was rather soothing. My journey took me to the valleys of Maipo, Casablanca, Cachapoal, Colchagua, Maule and Itata. What about viticulture? It is important to realise that two types of viticulture coexist in Chile. One, which the markets know best, is fairly industrial, dominated by a handful of giant players who produce wines built for export. The other is artisanal, in full bloom, with small winemakers with a very green approach who are still struggling to export. The latter are the new conquistadors of Chilean wine! My trip was mainly oriented towards this model, with an emphasis on the terroirs of volcanic rock and granite. In this context, I went to meet several associations - such as "MOVI", "País de Colchagua", "Vigno" or "Vidseca" in Maule - which have taken on the mission of protecting and promoting, among other things, the extraordinary heritage of old Chilean vines. CHILE'S NEW DYNAMISM LIES IN THE ADVENT OF A TERROIR- BASED, ARTISANAL AND GREEN VITICULTURE WHICH COEXISTS WITH THE ONE WE KNOW BETTER, DOMINATED BY BIG PLAYERS AND DRIVEN BY CONSUMER TRENDS This will be the theme of the masterclass that you will be giving on 15 February. What is the history of this heritage of old vines? It is an accidental heritage, because it has survived in areas that were not originally intended for intensive wine production and that were simply abandoned because of the various crises that the country has experienced. Chile is said to have the largest heritage of old vines in the world. They are again today, because of their age, which sometimes reaches almost 260 years, considered as a treasure and protected in an associative way. The oldest vines are those of País and Carignan. País was introduced to Chile in the Itata and Bio Bio Valley in the second half of the 16th century, with the conquistadors, and was chosen as the grape variety used to make mass wine to evangelise the New World. I loved some of the expressions of País which, after having been disparaged for a long time, is becoming very fashionable again, which is justified by its particularly fine, liquorice, peppery, almost spicy, smoky taste, its digestibility and its powdery tannic structure. There are some superb ones. Some of the vines that are still producing wine today date back to the 19th century when the country asked for independence from Spain, which triggered new waves of migration, accentuated by the phylloxera crisis in Europe and the exodus of many winegrowers who came to settle there. It's absolutely crazy when you think about it! I can't wait to taste these wines, some of which come from vines over 200 years old, for the Vinexposium audience on Wednesday... Hall 5.2 / Stand D-135 Gabrielle Vizzavona Wine critic THE DAILY • MONDAY 13 TH FEBRUARY 2023 • 7
