Arriving at Chateau L’Hospitalet in Narbonne in the south of France, I was immersed in the joie de vivre of the Gérard Bertrand brand. At check-in, I was handed a glass of rosé. The sun was shining, and I felt the warm Mediterranean breeze. In the south of France, in La Clape, a protected natural park of Narbonne, and on the Mediterranean, you will find Chateau L’Hospitalet, one of Gérard Bertrand’s 16 properties in the Languedoc. The property’s history dates back to the 16th century. It was a quarantine hospital run by monks who also cultivated vines on site. Now it is one of the top wine resorts in southern France.
Bertrand grew up in Corbières at Château de Villemajou, learning about wine from his father. In his youth, he took a detour as an international rugby player, but after his father’s untimely death when Gérard was 22, he took over the family winery and has never looked back. Now, the brand boasts 17 estates and 2,283 acres under vine, all organic and biodynamically farmed. Says Bertrand, “Our resort is surrounded by vines, pines, garrigue, and olive trees––free from chemicals, in line with our adherence to biodynamics.”
The Mediterranean art of living, or “joie de vivre,” is the ethos that drives everything Bertrand touches. His goal at Château L’Hospitalet is to share the South of France lifestyle with his guests but with a subtle nod to California wine country hospitality, which inspires him. Bertrand had the opportunity to meet Robert Mondavi in Napa when he was twenty-three years old. When Bertrand bought Château L’Hospitalet in 2002, he already had the Napa model in mind.
Shares Bertrand, “The Napa model greatly inspired me, particularly the innovative ideas of Robert Mondavi.” Continues Bertrand, “He built what would become well-trodden wine routes––all while fostering a collective spirit across the region in service of the proverbial California Dream.”
When visiting the property, you see the same attention to detail with hospitality you see in the Napa Valley. Many European wine regions, specifically Italy and France, have tried to capture the “Napa vibe,” but it is challenging to translate abroad. The local culture might not support it, or the model might feel out of place in certain regions. But in the south of France, the translation is seamless. Other Old World wine regions stand to learn from Bertrand and what he has been able to accomplish in his sliver of the south of France. Bertrand rightfully claims, “Château L’Hospitalet Wine Resort Beach & Spa is a paradise on the Mediterranean coast.”
The Chateau L’Hospitalet property includes a luxury hotel with 37 rooms and 11 villas, with resort interiors designed to reflect the splendor of the South of France seen outside. The spa features massage therapies and skincare treatments from Biologique Recherche. The gourmet restaurant onsite, L’Art de Vivre, was recently awarded a Michelin Green Star. There is a tasting room onsite, plus an art gallery with sensory tours and experiences around art and wine.
The château hosts the annual Jazz at l’Hospitalet festival, one of Europe’s most recognized jazz festivals. “Through culture, art, gastronomy, music, we want to be a leader as a French wine company”, shares Emma Bertrand, Gérards daughter and Creative Director of the brand.
Shares Bertrand, “I am devoted to this corner of the South of France…It’s a joy not just to see the world discover the magic of this region but also to witness my children recognize the charms of the Languedoc and want to stay anchored to the region.”
Brianne Cohen is an LA based event producer, certified sommelier, wine educator, and wine writer. During the pandemic, Brianne entertained over 7,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine classes, regularly highlighting diverse (i.e. Black, BIPOC, female, and LGBT) owned wineries. She now offers both in-person (and virtual) wine tasting experiences for her corporate clients. Brianne regularly judges at international wine competitions, including the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London and holds the WSET Diploma certificate. She writes on her own blog and for outlets such as Decanter, Vintner Project, and Kiplinger. She also holds an MBA from Loyola Marymount University. Brianne Cohen Wine & Events is a certified woman-owned business with WBENC.
