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Albert Bichot joins forces with the Tara Ocean Foundation

04/06/2021

Albert Bichot joins forces with the Tara Ocean Foundation for its Microbiome Mission

Having set sail in December 2020, the Tara Ocean Foundation’s Microbiome Mission will travel 70,000 km over the course of two years to study marine microorganisms. This first-of-its-kind mission is paired with a wine-ageing experiment for Albert Bichot, an emblematic name in Burgundy wines and a partner-patron of the foundation.

• November 2017: The meeting of two impassioned men

It was in November 2017, at the 157th Hospices de Beaune wine auction, that Albéric Bichot, Managing Director of Albert Bichot, met Romain Troublé, Managing Director of the Tara Ocean Foundation.

A strong bond was established between the two men, particularly so as Albéric Bichot had just purchased both “Presidents’ barrels”, a Corton Grand Cru Clos du Roi, for the price of €410,000, which was then divided among 3 associations, including the Tara Ocean Foundation.

• An obvious choice for Albéric Bichot, who is an explorer at heart

This encounter triggered a project that made sense for Albéric Bichot.

Before joining the family business and taking over its management in 1996, this impassioned explorer had participated in several expeditions, notably in the Great Canadian North alongside the French adventurist Nicolas Vanier and on the borders of Adélie Land in Antarctica.

In fact, he named his eldest daughter Adélie as well as the estate he created in 2005 in Mercurey that now comprises nearly 8 ha of vines.

Teaming up with the Tara Ocean Foundation is also an opportunity for Albert Bichot, whose wines have been certified organic since the 2018 vintage, to join in on a collective adventure that promotes the protection of the environment and biodiversity.

• December 2020: Launch of the “Microbiome Mission”

On 12 December 2020, the schooner Tara set sail from the port of Lorient in Brittany, for a new major scientific expedition.

For nearly two years, the sailing laboratory will travel 70,000 kilometres to study the ocean’s most fundamental fabric: its microbiome. These marine micro-organisms, the ocean’s invisible inhabitants, play a key role in the well-being of our planet.

• The experience is also in the boat’s hold!

During this mission, Albert Bichot also wanted to study the marine influences - the currents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and changes in latitude - on the maturation of wine.

And so, 12 magnums representing 6 of the House’s emblematic cuvées (including a Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017 from Domaine du Pavillon, a Chablis Grand Cru “Moutonne” 2018 from Domaine Long-Depaquit, and a Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru “Les Malconsorts” 2017 from Domaine du Clos Frantin) were loaded onto the schooner while similar magnums stayed behind to age in the House’s historic cellars in Beaune.

A unique comparative tasting session will take place when the boat returns in September 2022.

In the meantime, tastings will be organized onboard in order to welcome lovers of the great wines of Burgundy at the various ports of call.

PRESS CONTACT:
Isabelle Philippe – isabelle.philippe@albert-bichot.com
+33 (0)6 31 41 40 32