10,000 Winemakers
Imagine10,000 winemakers who produce close to 800 million bottles of AOC wine each year. Sixty percent of them make their own wine, while the other 40% are cooperative members. Bordeaux winemakers embody centuries-old winemaking savoir-faire and make a significant contribution to developing rural areas around Bordeaux, since they cultivate vines on 100,000 ha of land.
52 Cooperatives
Some winemakers do not want to market their own wines, and thus belong to one of the 52 cooperatives that count 5,500 winemakers as members and vinify 25% of Bordeaux wines. These cooperatives play an important role in three primary areas. First, they keep up with the latest information about planting, pruning and growing techniques, which they share with their membership thus leading to the best quality grapes possible. Business-wise, they ensure a market for large volumes of wine by selling it directly or to negociants. Thirdly, they contribute to rural development by supporting small family businesses.
400 Negociants
The business motor of Bordeaux is comprised of 400 negociants whose existence can be traced back to the 17th century. They market 70% of the region's wine to 160 countries thus positioning Bordeaux as the world's leading fine wine exporter. Negociants play two roles: they sell selected crus, such as the Crus Classés all over the world and, more recently, they have successfully developed brand wines. These wines are made from wine purchased in large quantities from winegrowers or cooperatives that are then blended, aged and sold by the negociants with a guarantee of consistent quality. Négociants rely on the expertise of brokers when purchasing their raw wines.
130 Brokers
The intermediary between producers and buyers (negociants), Bordeaux's 130 brokers posses an intimate knowledge of the winemakers, their terroirs and the quality of their vineyards. They bridge the gap between supply and demand, play an important role in negotiations and ensure that each party respects the resulting agreement. They must ensure the quality of the wines until their delivery and ensure that they conform to samples previously provided. Brokers generally receive a 2% sales commission. Qualified brokers also set official prices in Bordeaux.
