The Secret Of Bordeaux Lies In The Soil

SGC Wines discovers hidden gems through a study of earth.

- Justin Choo

When Arnaud Christiaens founded Le Secret de Grands Crus (SGC) in 2006, he was not interested in becoming just one of the many wine producers in Bordeaux. He wanted a revolution.

The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 may have made many of the great houses today, but it also meant that many estates outside the classification would continue to be overshadowed unless the status quo was challenged. Christiaens knew that there were many unknown gems waiting to be discovered and set out to release wines that could compete with the best of Bordeaux.

To take on the mainstays of Bordeaux is no easy task, which is why mutually beneficial collaborations are essential. “We are making wine that authentically celebrates the very best that is Bordeaux and gives chateau owners the opportunity to optimise the commercial value of their land,” he explains. Christiaens claims that SGC is not only looking to unearth gems for oenophiles, but it is also looking to deliver “real change and sustained livelihoods to winemakers across the region”.

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