Lionel Gourgue - Spain (Vinedos Alonso del Yerro)

Name: Lionel Gourgue

Currently: Enologist at Vinedos Alonso del Yerro

Sito web: www.vay.es

Questions:

Please, tell us about how you got into wine, the wine industry and how your career developed?

I grew up in Bordeaux where the wine is in the air… I studied there and learned how to make wine. Then I started to travel to increase my experience, satisfy my curiosity and above all, acquire knowledge to find out in which kind of winery, where, and how I wanted to make wine. I have been in France, Argentina, California, NZ, and I stopped in Spain where I am involved in a fascinating project since 2006.

What is your philosophy to making wine and viticulture?

I really like to read into a soil, a climate, a variety and look for the maximum purity of the wine I make with. I really believe in the great terroir and the works in the vineyard. I like to build a wine from the basis which is the vineyard, not in the winery with corrections. I think it is the only way to obtain personality in your wine which is the most important thing, because it give emotion to the consumer.

Which cultivar is your favourite to work with and why?

I like a lot of them! One variety in one place is one case with its issues. And every case is interesting if the place is good.

I am currently working with Tempranillo in a continental climate with complex soils of clay and limestone. Tempranillo is a strong boy you have to dominate but when you control it, the wine can be elegant, deep, mineral, classy.

How do you see the future of wine production and what are the challenges and the opportunities?

A lot of wines! In my opinion the real challenge will be to conserve the tradition and authenticity of small productions, working with the local varieties, planting the vines in the right places…Since the 2000´s wine became very trendy which is good because a big interest raised for the wines and a lot of countries start to produce great wines, but the danger is a globalization and a loss of identity.

Where do you see the global wine market in 2025?

I think the crisis have slowed down the wine boom for many years. We hear a lot about China, Russia even India or Brazil but they are specific markets for very cheap or very expensive wines with a lot of speculation. They are good market for the industrial or very famous French wines. But for the rest I think it will take much more time, and the US and European market still control the production.

Lionel Gourgue

@ by Dominik Kozlik – Zeitgeist Sommeliers - International Sommelier Positions - www.sommelier-jobs.com