Burgundy’s BIVB appoints new president

Louis-Fabrice Latour has taken over from Claude Chevalier as president of the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB).

Louis-Fabrice Latour (Photo: BIVB)

The two have swapped roles, with Chevalier now deputising to Latour as part of the wine body’s co-presidential system brought in ten years ago.

The arrangement allows both the negocé and the winemaking sides of the trade to be represented at the highest level.

“Alongside Claude Chevalier, I aim to maintain the continuity of our illustrious predecessors, some great presidents who have left their mark on our sector”, Latour told the BIVB board meeting in December, the details of which have just now been released.

In his first act as president, Latour committed to a “shift towards production”.

He said that stock-levels, land-prices, and the balance between red and white wines to match international demand were key areas that need to be addressed in the coming years.

He continued: “We also have to remain vigilant in the area of marketing, and think about our market share. These days, we no longer have many wines at less than €10, £10, or $10 a bottle. We should not be abandoning certain market sectors.”

These commitments form form the main thrust of the ‘Burgundy 2020’ plan, which the BIVB says will make it a “more political” body than before, when it was solely concerned with selling wines for the best price.