Today, we would describe Thomas Barton and Daniel Guestier as true visionary entrepreneurs. Thanks to the authenticity of their offerings – based on the expertise of partner vinegrowers – they successfully earned the trust of their clients, from distributors to consumers, all around the world. Driven by passion and boldness, they have always found solutions in the face of challenges, exploring new international markets and innovating in the way they present their wines, always marked by excellence: B&G, Barton & Guestier.
Among their many innovations are the first “LIGHT” labels in the 1980s, showcasing wines lower in alcohol and calories, perfectly aligned with today's “NO-LOW” trends. Likewise, the first “ICE” labels for B&G sparkling wines date back to the 1930s.
By the late 1980s, Barton & Guestier was the first French company to launch a range of IGP varietal wines from France, designed for the United States and illustrated by the Bordeaux artist Michel Bardin. Always ahead of its time, and as soon as the law permitted, the company was also among the first to include varietal names on its AOC wines, bringing them even closer to consumers.
In response to today’s new challenges, Barton & Guestier is doubling its efforts to stay at the forefront of great French wine offerings.
In 2022, the company reconnected with the art world by collaborating with WOO (@woo_ghost), a multidisciplinary Bordeaux-based artist at the crossroads of street art and calligraphy. WOO expresses himself through instinctive art that combines the rawness of graffiti with the softness of calligraphy, playing with symbols such as Cyrillic alphabet characters and hieroglyphic language.
His first work, a tribute to Germain Rambaud (1732-1822), Barton & Guestier’s first cellar master, was reproduced in a limited edition on the label of Barton & Guestier Bordeaux – Cuvée Germain Rambaud. This canvas is filled with symbols evoking Germain Rambaud’s expertise and the Bordeaux roots of the house. His second work, celebrating Barton & Guestier’s expertise in the Rhône Valley, is currently featured on the labels of Barton & Guestier Côtes du Rhône – Les Galets (see front cover N°185).
Building on the success of the limited edition with the five-color Toile de Jouy design for Barton & Guestier Rosé d’Anjou – Les Jardins de la Reine, the company has decided to make this creation a permanent feature.
For the 2024 vintage of Barton & Guestier Côtes de Provence, a limited edition, created in collaboration with a Franco-Canadian artist, will be unveiled at Vinexpo Paris 2025.
Thus, Barton & Guestier continues to pave its way forward, remaining a model of reliability in an ever-changing environment, guiding consumers towards wines that inspire trust and awaken the senses.
Photos : Barton & Guestier
A Chigny-les-Roses, village de la montagne de Reims, Arnaud et Sophie Gounel
