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Welcome
to our web site and on board the SAS Benoît Valérie
Calvet.
This is a sea-site, sea-inspired in its form and spirit.
You will come across that same spirit at the very heart
of our enterprise and in the wines we produce, select and
market.
This site also offers you a
view of our offices which you may visit through panoramic
photographs.
Do not fail to come forward and meet the crew. They are
worth the detour.
Well, good sailing. Enjoy the
wine... and have a pleasant journey. Bon voyage !!
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Our
two main targets are :
- control the wine from the source :
either through direct purchase by contract from the owners
or by providing our suppliers with technical advice and assistance
for the vinification
or again through direct investment, by becoming a shareholder
in the vineyards.
- develop a low-cost processing method
Beginners to the core, we remain
attuned to the fluctuations of the market and to the expectations
of the consumers in order to quickly respond to new trends. |
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After
he graduated from the Sup de Co Bordeaux in 1975, Benoît
at first chose to answer the call of the sea rather than follow
the family wine-growing tradition : the two areas of activity
he fancied in those days were marketing and foreign trade.
During
the two years he spent doing his military service as an officer
in the Navy, he had the opportunity of sailing round the world.
Afterwards, the call for adventure prompted him to integrate
a branch of the Lyonnaise des Eaux dedicated to the treatment
of wastes. After a few months, he was sent to the other end
of the globe to take over the running of a branch at Punto
Fijo in Venezuela where he supervised the installation of
a draining system. |
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Valerie
Bataille is a Parisian by birth and at heart although she
has her roots in Lille. After studies at Sainte-Marie-de-Neuilly
and then at the Lycée Pasteur, she obtains her DEUG
in Law from the University of Nanterre. She next obtains
a degree in Tech de Co at Paris XIII. Valérie is
urged by her passion for music to join a record producing
firm.
In
1982, the two meet : it is love at first sight and a decisive
moment in their lives. As soon as they are married, they
fly to Dubaï where Benoît heads a local branch
of the SITA. Two years of an exciting and adventurous life
in Dubaï only accentuated their taste for independence.
There,
those two years of a thrilling and adventurous life could
but strengthen Valérie’s and Benoît’s
taste for independence.
In
August 1984, the couple decide to return to France as Valérie
is expecting their first baby-girl, Charlotte.
Benoît takes advantage of this period to ponder over
his future and undergo training in oenology at the Faculty
of Bordeaux.
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This
is a significant step that leads Valérie and Benoît
to create their own wine business at 41, rue Borie in Bordeaux,
on the family property where Patrice Calvet used to practise the
same profession.
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"
The fact that we have been
working together since that time " says Valérie
and Benoît " naturally places our business right
among our life projects so that the milestones that mark
our careers are deeply entrenched into our private lives."
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1984
Return
to Bordeaux
1985
Birth
of our first daughter Charlotte
Establishment of our wine trading
company
First en primeur Bordeaux campaign
1986
Birth
of our second daughter, Bérengère
Acquisition of our first fax
machine (bought for 15,000 F !)
First participation in Vinexpo,
the world famous wine exhibition |
1987
Setting up of a new series of
château wines produced by vine growers whose high standards
equal those of the wines they produce.
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1988
Launching
of the first vintage bearing the " Le Voyageur "
trademark.
Red, white and rosé
Bordeaux the labels of which depict an original nineteenth
century lithograph.
In those days, the great wines
of Bordeaux matured in casks on their journey around the
world.
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1989
Foundation
by Patrice Calvet of the Chartrons Museum at 41, rue Borie,
in the building that housed the Chartrons cellars
Chartrons Museum: 41,
rue Borie, 33 300 Bordeaux
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1990
First reward for Le Voyageur,
selected Coup de Coeur by the Guide Hachette in 1990
Launching of " The Chartrons
Museum Collection ", the reproduction of a unique collection
of labels lithographed in the 19th century which belongs to
the Chartrons Museum founded by Patrice Calvet in 1989. |
1991
Extension of our offer of great
wines of Bordeaux to satisfy the needs of our export markets.
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1992
First exportation of the wines
of the Château Prieuré La Caussade (Bordeaux
Superieur), a family-owned vineyard.
Appointment of an in-house oenologist
to ensure quality control on the estat
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1993
Creation of the SA Benoît
and Valérie Calvet by incorporation of the Benoît
Calvet Company and purchase of the Patrice Calvet Company
founded in 1975.
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1995
Production by Valérie
of the Jazz record of Joseph Ganter entitled
" Le Voyageur "
Partnership of Benoît
in Château Franc Mayne, a Grand Cru Classe of Saint-Emilion
alongside with Georgy Fourcroy, majority shareholder.
Purchase by Château Franc
Mayne of Château Marquey, situated in Saint-Emilion,
at the foot of Côte Pavie. |
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1996
Connection
EDI
Opening of our " 44
Vins " warehouse to the public
(tel. 05 57 87 09 09) .
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1997
Further
expansion of our exports, particularly to the UK.
1998
Consolidation
of our permanent range with follow-up on the estate.
Widening of our selection of
great wines. |
1999
Change
of address, change in life-style.
Leaving the family estate of Cellier des Chartrons at 41,
rue Borie and its pure 18th century style, Benoît
and Valérie move nextdoor to 44, rue Barreyre in
old storehouses which, strongly influenced by their love
of the sea, thay have newly converted into a loft.
Internet connection
Partnership with Georgy Fourcroy
in the Château Montalbert, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.
2000
Creation
of our website.
Partnership in the tenant farm
of Château Tour de Gilet, a Bordeaux Superieur producing
estate situated at the door of the Medoc in the rich lands
of palus.
Moving of our storehouses onto
the new TBE site in Libourne in partnership with Thierry
Bergeon.
Photographs on the right :
41, rue Borie , 44, rue Barreyre before works were undertaken,
and 44, rue Barreyre now.
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2001
Coproduction of the
second record of Joseph Ganter entitled "African Mambo"
BVC granted with the Ecocert label is starting its
biorganic wines activity. This new business will bear the name
of Biorganic partner.
Our Chateau Tour de Gilet has been
awarded its first star in the Guide Hachette 2002.
BVC wines are now available in
Poland
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2002
New outastanding
packaging for our brand "Le Voyageur" Red, White,
Rosé.
Three
Organic clared has been sold in Europe.
Innovation:
The Château La Raze Beauvallet is now proposed by
Tesco in a beautifull new Bordeaux bottled sealed with the
"Stelvin" screw cap from "Pechiney".
Many
rewards and medals has been won this year by the wines we
make or distribute. You can check the list on "a bottle
at the sea" chapter. Our bottling center has been certificed
BRC by an UK law laboratory.
2003
Success of the screwcap. This revolutionnary corkage is used for no more than 8 of our wines giving an irreproachable quality.
Lauching of our website 33vins.com. Buy your wines directly from Benoit Valérie Calvet’s cellar all over France.
A new network of 20 retailers has been set up covering the Middle East of USA.
Wines : Welcome at Charles de Monteney (Bordeaux), Villa Malizia (Italy), Viña Decaña (Spain), Château Pins de Bossuet (Bordeaux Supérieur), Sieurs de Belgrave (Pauillac) et Olivier (Château Olivier).
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2004
2004
has been a good vintage for Benoit Valerie Calvet.Export has
been booming representing 80 % of our global turnover .
UK
confirmed its position of leader among our markets.
USA
has been growing faster than expected through Johnson's brothers
in Mineapolis.
New
wines: Chevalier Lascombes Margaux, Chateau Tour Leognan Pessac
Leognan white in screwcap stelvin, chateau Tour du Barrail
Bordeaux in Stelvin, Montillac red and white Bordeaux and
chateau la Dame Blanche in Haut Medoc.
Our
agency "PC UK Wine Broker International" has been
developing a full range of European wines from France, Spain
and Italy.CASA LORA Chianti Riserva, Vina Decana reserva requena
and Villa Malizia Pinot Grigio Venezie have been the best
sales of PC Uk.
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2005
Exciting year for our company !
Export sales represent 85% of our turn over, England is still our first market followed by Japan and USA.
Belgium and Danemark consolidate their position.
We have welcomed this year in our portfolio several great wines such as Château Grand Duroc Million a Pauillac and Château Tour Léognan, Pessac Léognan sealed with a screwcap for the English market.
Our brand « Le Voyageur » has been relooked. The former label was inspired by an old label dated from the XIX century !!
Our bottling centres have been accredited IFS, BRC and HACCP
Once again we have received the accreditation for organic wines.
This year has been really exciting and full of realisations for the businness side.
We have celebrated our 20 years of existence : so thanks to all our costumers and providers to allow us to live our passion for wine year after year.
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Welcome on board - The crew
- Head for our wine - Sea
charts - The stop over -
A bottle at sea
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