Meet The Maker - Sophie & Julien Ilbert / Château Combel-la-Serre, France

This week we go to France and Malbec country. Yep, you heard us right; whilst Malbec can very much call Argentina its New World home where it has enjoyed industry leading success, its important to remember its beginnings, in France. Malbec (although not used much) is one of the grapes allowed to be used in the famous red wines of Bordeaux, but it is better known a little further south-east in the region of Cahors, where it is safe to say is France's flagship region for Malbec.

Time to meet Sophie and Julien Ilbert. The Ilbert family have been cultivating Malbec in Cahors for over a century. In the mid 1990's Julien and his wife, Sophie stopped selling their fruit to local co-operative wineries, and established Château Combel-la-Serre. The dynamic duo have become Malbec specialists, crafting beautiful, rich, full bodied reds. If you ever wandered just how good Malbec from France can be, then look no further than Julien and Sophie's gorgeous wines, you can find one of the here at Good Pair Days.

Cool Fact: Malbec in Cahors is locally known as "Côt"!

OK, time to get to know this winemaking tour de force...

Why did you decide to get into winemaking?

This is a family business that goes back four generations as viticultors. So it was logical for us (Sophie & Julien) to keep going and improving what our parents have already done.  We are passionate specifically about our “terroir” and today the most important thing for us is to make wine that reflects our soils, with respect for the vine, of course.

Do you have a favourite wine or wine region outside of your own?

Hard to say because we love French wines in general and overseas wines as well. But let's say Loire Valley  for their freshness and Rhône wines for their authenticity.

What grape do you like working with the most and why?

Malbec OF COURSE ! Because it’s the grape that we know perfectly and it is native from our region and it offers so many different expressions.

Celebrity Crush?

Barack Obama

Favourite Movie?

The Grave Of the Fireflies

Favourite type of music/artist?

Rock - Queen

Fun fact about you that has nothing to do with wine?

On the dance floor, we only dance together, we never share!

Click here take our wine profile quiz and we'll choose the top 3 wines which we think you'll love!