Why do estates from around the world want to work with a historic institution in Bordeaux? What impact have these wines had on La Place and beyond? And should fine wine producers look to La Place for distribution?

In the small world of La Place, no other change has had as many impacts as the recent growth of the Beyond Bordeaux wines category. From Almaviva to Opus One, from Penfolds to Masseto, the international icons have transformed the way the Place works, and the way we understand the fine wine category.

But in the last five years, the Place has also started to distribute what could be qualified as “anonymous brands” — wines with a surprisingly limited level of desirability, or international recognition. It’s a strategic move that left many actors in the fine wine supply chain quite puzzled.

In this fourth episode, hosts Felicity Carter and Pauline Vicard explore the origins of the Beyond Bordeaux category and explore the impacts of this growing category on the future of the Place.

With many conflicting interests at play, they bring diverse and layered opinions from all part of the supply chain. From Beyond Bordeaux producers to négociants, courtiers, journalists, distributors and importers, and Bordeaux châteaux, they all share their unfiltered opinions on the impact of the Beyond Bordeaux wines.

With: Philippe Newlin, Deidre Taylor, Tom Portet, Mathieu Jullien, Ronan Laborde, Jane Anson, Max Lalondrelle, Jeremy Stockman,  and Mathieu Chadronnier.

Inside la Place de Bordeaux is a seven-episode podcast series produced by Areni Global, a think tank dedicated to the future of fine wine. Areni Global helps wineries, distributors and retailers to understand how the world is changing, and how that creates risks to be managed and opportunities to be seized. What risks? What opportunities? 

Visit us at Areni Global to learn more about becoming a member.

Additional resources are available for this episode. You can find an edited transcript of Tom Portet’s interview. Tom is the co-founder of International First Growths, an Australian-based broker that introduces wines to La Place in Bordeaux. In this interview, Tom shares his experience of successfully bringing key Australian brands to the Place de Bordeaux, and the lessons he learned along the way.

Tom Portet’s interview:

Jane Anson’s Beyond Bordeaux tasting reports:

September release: https://janeanson.com/report/the-september-releases-2023

Mars release: https://janeanson.com/report/the-march-releases-2024

Follow Areni on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin: @areniglobal

This podcast episode was edited by Polly Hammond and the 5 forests team: https://5forests.com/ 

Inside la Place de Bordeaux was made possible thanks to the support of the CVBG, one of Bordeaux’s leading négociant house. To learn more about the CVBG:

Visit their website: https://www.cvbg.com/?lang=en

Follow them on Instagram: @cvbg_bordeaux 

Thank you for joining us today!