Our charter of commitments
We, the partner winegrowers of Vignobles Gabriel & Co collective, have written this
Charter of Commitment that unites us and guides our production of ethical wine.
OUR RIGHTS AS PARTNER WINEGROWERS
N°1 / EQUITY
Fair Pay
We are bound by a social and economic contract that provides reassurance vis-à-vis sales constraints and allows us to focus on product development that respects the balance of nature, while having a clear vision for the future. To make this ethical commitment official, the collective became in 2020 the first French wine actor committed to the Fair For Life labelling process, a fair trade certification of Ecocert.
N°2 / MUTUAL SUPPORT
Sharing Goods and Knowledge
Throughout the year we have access to personalized support in the form of advice that extends from the vine to the cellar. We share some of our production tools to ensure a quality harvest while cutting costs. As such, the cultivation equipment for organic vineyards is shared; a bottling truck travels to all the estates and a state-of-the-art system that collectively prevents and efficiently fights against hail has been put in place.
N°3 / IDENTITY
Respect for All Winegrowers and Terroirs
Respect for individual characteristics is at the heart of the charter, to protect the identity of each winegrower and value their terroir under the collective banner of Vignobles Gabriel & Co. This reliable label, built on trust and quality, is an invaluable guide to the consumer at the time of purchase.
N°4 / COLLABORATION
Strength in Numbers
Being part of a movement allows us to present a range of identities all linked by common considerations and structures. This union makes us stronger in distribution and provides access to market opportunities unimaginable without the collective.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PARTNER WINEGROWERS
N°5 / Quality
The Fruits of Continuous Improvement
The basis of any lasting collaboration is trust, and there is no trust without guarantees. Therefore, we are committed to using all the equipment, financing, and personnel necessary to produce wines of the best possible quality. Each year our wines are blind-tasted by a committee of various industry professionals: oenologists, sommeliers, restaurant and wine shop owners, wine brokers. The grade we receive after tasting joins the general average grade calculated since 2017. This score-based remuneration system allows to update our remuneration higher or lower, while still respecting fair trade requirements, meaning above the production costs. It is an additional stimulus for each of us to constantly improve the quality of our wines.
N°6 / LOYALTY
Long-lasting Partnerships
Under our three-year contracts that renew automatically we are committed to guaranteeing consumers stability in the quality and supply of Vignobles Gabriel & Co wines they buy. During this timeframe we are committed to selling the entire product line through the collective.
N°7 / ENVIRONNEMENT
Protecting the Vineyards of Tomorrow
Environmentally-friendly production is a top concern for the collective. Through our Fair For Life (Ecocert) certification, all estates commit to respect environment, biodiversity and climate using practical sustainable means (forbidding many CMR substances such as glyphosate, reducing energy consumption…). With that in mind, we encourage turning to organic farming: 64% of our partner winegrowers run their vineyards in organic and/or biodynamic farming or converting to organic farming. In order to foster environmentally-friendly or health-promoting initiatives, the purchasing price of wine is adjusted in case of labelling: organic wines, biodynamic wines, sulphur-free wines.