Welcome Bordeaux!
“Long dominated by the powerful Bordeaux wine trade (and the sociology of a bygone age), the Southwest lived in the shadow of its successful cousin who had it all, wind in its hair, convertibles, business schools, sweaters draped over shoulders and holidays in “ferret”.
For years, while the Southwest mulled over its destiny, the natural wine movement, which began twenty years ago, offered the region a wealth of ideas to promote its terroirs, with certain leading figures proposing alternative models to the young Plageoles, Causses Marines, Andiran, Da Ros and a handful of other adventurers broke free from the beauty standards of time. While the majority of winegrowers envied, resented, imitated their famous cousin in Bordeaux, they found their own way.
Meanwhile, another understanding of wine was emerging in Bordeaux; biodynamics took on a prominent role under the leadership of Paul Barre, Nicolas Despagne, Pascal Choine, Laurence Alias and Peybonhomme les Tours. Bordeaux swapped its boat shoes for a pair of boots, and the wines became even more vibrant!
As you know, Bordeaux is an easy target for cheap jokes, and this post is no exception. But the wine crisis is no laughing matter, and the winegrowers of the Gironde are in the same boat as those of Madiran, Bergerac, Gaillac and even Irouleguy. It’s tough for everyone, and for the Contrastes team, it’s high time to bury the hatchet, but not without throwing in a little joke in the form of a meme along the way :)
The wines produced in Bordeaux by the estates at Contrastes are terroir wines, reflections of the accents and ideas that we all share.
Welcome to our brothers-in-arms!
Ed. note: The list of exhibitors will be published soon.”
Translated from the French @contrastes.salon
Contrastes Natural Wine Fair Southwest France
📆 9/10 November 2025
📍Prep’Art Toulouse
