Winemaker Christophe Gualco, from Château Étang des Colombes, the flagship of Corbières, is the new president of the independent winegrowers of Aude. Encounter.
Christophe Gualco, 4e of the name on the emblematic estate of Château Étang des Colombes in Corbières, was elected head of the independent winegrowers of Aude, succeeding Alexandre They. The latter, owner of Château Vieux Moulin in Montbrun-des-Corbières, was propelled on May 23 to the presidency of the regional federation.
With Christophe Gualco at the department, Alexandre They at the Region and Fitounais Jean-Marie Fabre at the head of the national confederation, it is a trio from Aude who pilots and defends this very complex profession. This triple mandate consolidates the finesse of the expertise expected by winegrowers in this current unprecedented period. Because the Aude path was traced from the very beginning with support as close as possible to the interests of winegrowers, under the leadership of strong personalities like Henri Gualco, Christophe’s father, Jean-Charles Lalaury or even Xavier de Volontat who all climbed the levels of the federation to access the European market.
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A cradle in the vineyard
Christophe Gualco was born among the vines, as was his father, Henri, a pioneer in the bottling of Corbières wines from the end of the 70s: at Château Étang des Colombes, the first bottles were classified as quality wine superior, before the creation of the AOC Corbières in 1985. “Henri led all the battles with the professional organizations and he was the initiator of the wine palace” specifies Robert Coustal, treasurer and member of the steering committee for 23 years. Historic turning point that director Jean-Luc Fabry in turn highlights: “In 1989, Henri Gualco, with the wine palace, brought together all these women and men in a common house, around a unifying project, at a time when there was talk of piquette in Languedoc!”
An honest and courageous man, who embodies dynamism
Robert Coustal continues by praising “the courage of Christophe who takes up the torch in an unfavorable economic context”, describing an upright, honest and true man whose DNA does not lie. Christophe Gualco, very laughing during this press conference, conveyed an image marked by dynamism.
“I want to make you want to want to!” he smiles, with an emphasis on wine and tourism, the two strong areas of the department.“I am a man of sharing and I will surround myself with both young people and “wise” people, who bring their expertise within the federation.”
Winegrowers rich in their differences
For the brand new president, the work is built on exchanges and is nourished by the diversity of facets of independent winegrowers, their contradictions and their riches: “We need the height of the points of view of the oldest, and the more modern vision of the young”. Christophe Gualco reminds in passing that he surrounds himself with Audrey Lalaury, vice-president.
The new president is enthusiastic about the task that awaits him: “Defend the common values of the wine artisan, in a world dominated by industrialization, those of history, of the heritage anchored to its land”, while keeping an eye on developments: “We don’t drink today like we drank in 2010, it is imperative to adapt and address new consumers in our way of communicating.” As a frequent winemaker at general public sales meetings, he adds: “I see more and more young people aged 25 to 35 at trade fairs. They are very curious, eager for answers about grape varieties, breeding, etc., and want to become informed amateurs…”
Christophe Gualco expresses his desire to take on challenges with this deep conviction: “independent winegrowers, you have to understand them to respect them”.
