Sieur d'Arques

Sieur d'Arques is a wine producer cooperative located in Limoux in the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France.[2][3] It produces the Red Bicyclette brand of wine, marketed in the United States by E & J Gallo Winery.

Aimery Sieur d'Arques
Sieur d'Arques
Headquarters
Limoux
,
France
Key people
Maurice Lautard, président

Laurent Lechat, directeur général

Guilhem Marty, directeur technique[1]
Websitewww.sieurdarques.com

In 2012, Pierre Mirc retired as chairman of Sieur d'Arques.[4] Current executives include Maurice Lautard, chairman; Laurent Lechat, general manager; Guilhem Marty, technical director.[1]

History

In 1531, Benedictine monks in the Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire (a neighbouring commune of Limoux) noticed that bubbles had appeared in fermenting wine.[5]

Première Bulle wines produced by Sieur d'Arques (Première Bulle, Première Bulle Premium, Première Bulle Rosé)

Passing-off controversy
Main article: Pinot noir passing-off controversy

Sieur d'Arques were prosecuted in 2010 for passing off wines blended from other grape varieties as pinot noir in order to charge higher prices to E. & J. Gallo, for whom this was their most popular variety. The amount of imitation pinot noir sold in this way exceeded the production of the Languedoc region and this scandal was said to have damaged the region's reputation. The defendants were convicted. Jail sentences were given but suspended and fines of up to €180,000 were levied.[6][7][8][9]

Toques et Clochers
Main article: Toques et Clochers

Sieur d'Arques sponsors the annual Toques et Clochers gastronomy festival in Aude.[10]

References
  1. "Une Equipe". Sieur d'Arques. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. "Limoux. Sieur d'arques, un monde en effervescence". La Dépêche du Midi. Toulouse. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. "Sieur d'Arques à Limoux, la signature des grands vins". La Dépêche du Midi. Toulouse. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. Tastavy, Michéle (17 April 2012). "Sieur d'Arques : Pierre Mirc passe la main" (in French). Vitisphere. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  5. "histoire - 1531 - l'origine historique du brut : Le premier vin à bulle..." Les A.O.C. de Limoux - Limoux AOC du Languedoc. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  6. "France wine producers guilty of US scandal". BBC. 17 February 2010.
  7. Bonné, Jon (2010-03-07). "'Pinotgate' controversy gives grape a bad name". San Francisco Chronicle.
  8. Fernandez, Anne-Lise (2010-02-22). "Faux scoop, faux pinot et faux départ". French Morning.
  9. Dave McIntyre (2010-02-18). "Red Bicyclette isn't what you thought it was". Washington Post.
  10. "Toques et Clochers". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

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