CIVB appoints new president

Bernard Farges has been elected president of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) for the next three years.

Bernard Farges, new president of the CIVB

The only candidate put forward for the post, Farges received an almost unanimous vote from attendees of the trade body’s annual general meeting, with the exception of three blank voting slips.

The 48-year-old winemaker, who works across 95 hectares in various Bordeaux appellations has previously headed the AOC Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur organisations. In 2011 he was appointed to the post of president of the AOC National Federation (CNAOC).

Farges replaces négociant Georges Haushalter, in keeping with the rules of the CIVB presidency, which state that the post must alternate between growers and négociants. Joining him as vice-president is Allan Sichel, president of the négociants union.

Among Farges’ priorities will be the ongoing work to help restructure estates facing financial difficulties, as well as working to resolve the threat of a trade war between the EU and China, a major customer for Bordeaux wine.

In total the CIVB represents 7055 growers, 300 négociant businesses, 95 courtiers and 38 co-operatives across a vineyard area of 112,000ha.