Veterans of Bordeaux commit memories to tape

The memories of winemaking veterans such as Philippine de Rothschild and Andre Lurton are to be preserved as recorded interviews in a new project set up by the Academy of Bordeaux.

As part of Commission Jeune, as the project is called, the region’s best-known young winemakers interview their more mature counterparts. There are plans to turn it into a TV documentary for release in 2007.

Young winemakers with such hallowed last names as Chadronnier, Dubourdieu, Schyler, Rolland and Cruse, have recorded interviews with almost 30 ‘legends’ of the industry.

Jean-Guillaume Prats of Chateau Cos d’Estournel, who co-ordinated the project, told decanter.com, ‘The Academy wanted to record the memories of some of our most influential figures, and I was asked to liaise between the groups.’

He added, ‘I’m somewhere in between the two – I’ve still got all my own hair, but I’m just holding on to membership of the Commission Jeune.’

Subjects covered include the 1961 frost, the 1976 Paris tasting, changes in the vineyard and the cellar, and the globalisation of wine.

Prats interviewed Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, and other pairings include Severine Bonnie interviewing Andre Lurton, Fabrice Dubourdieu interviewing Pascal Ribereau-Gayon and Emmanuel Cruse interviewing Anthony Barton.

There are plans to publish the interviews in book form.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux