This Winemaker Is Transforming A Chateau In Southern France Into A Hub For Contemporary Art

On a mission to raise the profile of wines from his native Languedoc region, French winemaker Gérard Bertrand has proven that his wines are able to compete with those from the prestigious wine regions of Bordeaux or Burgundy. Now the owner of 17 wineries and leader of Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyards in Europe explains how contemporary art is becoming a fundamental part of Château L’Hospitalet, his flagship estate in Narbonne on the Mediterranean Coast.

Why did you decide to bring together the best sommeliers across the globe and the world of art with the Som’Art Festival? How are wine and visual art the perfect match?

Sommeliers and artists have something in common: through their sensitivity, they share messages with their audiences. We think it is a good idea to create the circumstances of a meeting between sommeliers and artists and see them resonate together.

For this year’s summer exhibition at Château L’Hospitalet, why did you decide to pay tribute to Antoine de Saint Exupéry and The Little Prince through the artworks of Jean-Marc de Pas, Cyril Kongo and Cédric Fernandez? What values do you share with Saint Exupéry?

It is important to remember that the emblematic character of the Little Prince can reside everywhere. As Antoine de Saint Exupéry taught us, the Little Prince is above all an idea, a symbol of innocence, curiosity and the search for meaning that resides in each of us. Today, as we face major challenges such as climate change and preserving our environment, the ideals of The Little Prince resonate more than ever. We must all protect nature, preserve our planet and find a harmonious balance between man and his environment. We strive to embody values of respect, sustainability and harmony with nature. As the Little Prince takes care of his rose, we take care to preserve the vines and create wines of excellence using environmentally-friendly practices such as biodynamics. With Nicolas Delsalle, Delegate General of the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation, we came up with the idea of welcoming Jean-Marc de Pas, Cyril Kongo and Cédric Fernandez and their vision of the spirit of The Little Prince.

You initially started your foray into the visual art world at Château L’Hospitalet by exhibiting works by Rodin, Jean-Marie Périer, Jean-Pierre Rives and Hubert Garnier in 2011. How did you select Robert Combas and Louis Jammes as the artists to exhibit last year?

I wouldn’t talk about me selecting artists, but more about wonderful meetings between human beings. At Château L’Hospitalet, we make the link between all kinds of arts: culinary art, painting, sculpture, photography and music! We consider our art exhibition center as a place where artists can feel comfortable to exhibit their creations or to create something special. On this topic, I have had many conversations with my friend Olll, himself a recognized artist. He and his friend Claude Guénard, who exhibited in 2021 at Château L’Hospitalet, introduced me to Robert Combas. He felt at home at Château L’Hospitalet, I fell in love with his art and we came up with the idea of exhibiting all different kinds of his creations: not only paintings but also sculpture, furniture, video mapping and even a concert that he performed with his band at the grand opening. The sculptures of my friend Jean-Pierre Rives are in the vineyards of the estate, music and jazz are celebrated throughout the year through the annual Jazz Festival at L’Hospitalet, and photographs, paintings and pictures adorn the walls of the exhibition room. I am sensitive to all these expressions, each of which brings different emotions.

What are the criteria behind your choice of visual artists? Only French artists? Why is it important for you to support the French visual art scene and bring art into your vineyards? How does visual art enrich the lives of your customers?

I find a very interesting parallel with my approach to wine. There is an element of creation in the blending that is similar to artistic creation. Above all, I have always seen Château L’Hospitalet as a meeting point for all forms of art: wine, music, painting, sculpture, photography and the culinary arts. The Jazz Fridays, the Jazz Festival at L’Hospitalet, the artists’ workshops and the Art Space are all opportunities for encounters and emotions. I do not consider it my mission to promote artists, but I am proud to open the doors of the Château to all different publics who can access the exhibitions every day for free. Finally, our exhibition center is not dedicated to French artists. We could eventually work with foreign artists. Here again, it’s a matter of encounters, as I said before.

What are your future ambitions in terms of visual art at Château L’Hospitalet? Is your aim to become a center for contemporary art like Château La Coste or The Donum Estate?

My ambition at Château L’Hospitalet is to be the most iconic wine resort in the world, committed to excellence at every level, to bring our visitors the best experience possible in terms of hospitality, well-being, wine, food and the arts.