In Alsace a young winemaker saves a wine estate thanks to crowdfunding

The echo and the wet atmosphere give the appearance of a chapel at the cellar of the Guntz Schaeffer domain, in Epfig (Bas-Rhin), in this Pentecost weekend. In front of his collaborators of the day, Xavier Guntz, 33, delivered his speech there, delivering his vision of neo-owner. “We have a good generation of young winegrowers, it’s up to us to change things now,” he says. At the controls of this area of ​​12.40 ha since March, his speech is an assembly of two grape varieties: determination and ambition.

These lands, Xavier Guntz knows them well for having been employed there for ten years, the time to become the right arm of Philippe Schaeffer, his former boss. Without children and close to retirement, the latter then makes him his successor rather than framing and selling his plots in a large -scale financial operation. “It’s the peasant spirit,” smiles the retired winemaker since March. I wanted someone to continue to support this property, born in 1750. ”

The boss and the employee started the handover procedure about two years ago. But when you don’t inherit it, taking up an area is a real headache. The absence of a heir for a family transmission is one of the main causes of disappearance of wine domains in France (on average three each day, according to the Ministry of Agriculture). Mainly due to the price of land. The situation accelerates: when Philippe Schaeffer’s withdrawal, his sister, owner of 3.4 ha of the most beautiful plots, wishes to sell as soon as possible. Between the equipment, the stocks and the land, these are two million euros that it is necessary to bring together so as not to see the field amputated of its jewel.

Bottle dividends

Time is running out: voracious, the Wolfberger cooperative, local giant, manifests its interest. In search of investors, Xavier Guntz mainly attracts companies seeking to offer their customers the acquisition of vines to benefit from the tax exemptions that accompany them. Working in the banking sector, Laura Hauser, her partner, ends up finding a stopover like no other: Terra Hominis. Based in Hérault, she specializes in crowdfunding in wine -growing fields in order to facilitate the installation of winegrowers. “I went there at the cheek,” she rewinds. I called them by presenting Xavier to them and telling them that it was an opportunity for them to have a first project in Alsace. »»

And it works. Ludovic Aventine, the founder, captures the emergency. It is quickly necessary to collect 400,000 euros to maintain in the field the plots already put on sale. With 55 projects carried out in 35 different areas, Terra Hominis finds 146 partners, which buy up to nine shares in the amount of 2130 euros. Their dividend? Not in euros, but in bottles: each year, they receive some boxes.

“Financial philosophy is accessory in the project,” warns Ludovic Aventine, who claims to have refused shares to investors ready to put 100,000 euros in the pot. Wine is a pretext for human relations: we are not looking for shareholders, but men and women. »»

Vineyard guards

Several of these guardian angels walk “their” vines in June. They come from all walks of life, eager to defend wine sovereignty. All have in mind these Bordeaux areas abandoned by foreign investors. “It is our heritage and we are proud to help young people to set up,” says Mireille Bono, retired after a career as an administrative framework in nuclear. There is a human side, we get attached to them. They are regularly informed of the news in the field, projects, hazards. “I saw on Instagram that there was hail on the plot that Xavier likes,” worries one of them.

Between the CEPS, Grégoire and Baptiste, 26 and 24, seem a little damaged. The two Brussels students, who do not drink wine, each received a part of the area as a gift at Christmas. “I wondered in what adventure my parents took us,” said Grégoire. Marylise, the mother, explains it. By investing here, this norman of origin hopes that his sons are attached to the French wine heritage and defend it. “Objectively, it’s nice,” acquiesce his son, while the vineyard is taking shape at the foot of the Vosges, imbued with a stormy light. The guardian angels of the vine are unfortunately too few. By 2029, half of the Alsatian winegrowers will have retired, and too few have identified a buyer.