From Waste to Wine: Derichebourg’s Quiet Vineyard Ascent
How a global recycling group is patiently building a serious French wine portfolio.
From Meursault to Bellet: Derichebourg’s Discreet Wine Ambition
In French wine, unlikely stories often prove the most revealing. Since 2018, the Derichebourg family—better known for waste collection, recycling, and services—has been steadily assembling a vineyard portfolio that now stretches from Burgundy to Bordeaux, from the hills above Nice to the foothills of the Alps. The approach is neither speculative nor ostentatious. It is methodical, family-led, and rooted in a long-standing personal relationship with wine.
The name may evoke Burgundy in the minds of wine lovers, but Derichebourg has no link to the famed Richebourg Grand Cru. The group’s origins lie elsewhere: founded in 1956 by Guy Derichebourg, who began as a scrap metal dealer clearing Parisian cellars, the company has since grown into a global industrial player. Under the leadership of his son Daniel, the group expanded into recycling, environmental services, and catering, eventually acquiring Elior Group. Today, Derichebourg operates in fourteen countries, employs around 140,000 people, and generates close to €10 billion in annual revenue.
A Family Project, Not a Financial Play
The wine venture is overseen by the third generation. Thomas Derichebourg, who runs the Environment division, also supervises the family’s viticultural assets, while his brother Boris leads Multiservices. The motivation, Thomas insists, was never defined by capital allocation targets. Wine entered the family portfolio because it had always been part of family life.
That philosophy has shaped the pace and the choices. Rather than concentrating on a single region or chasing fashionable labels, the family has acquired five estates, each with a distinct identity and potential for long-term refinement.
Burgundy as a Cornerstone
In Meursault, the family owns Domaine Guy Bocard, a reference address in the village. The estate benefits from the guidance of Philippe Pacalet, whose influence is evident in the precision and balance of the wines. Village bottlings such as Limozin and Les Narvaux sit comfortably alongside Premier Crus like Genevrières and Charmes, which combine depth with restraint.
The investment goes beyond the cellar. A dedicated tasting space now allows visitors to explore the full range of Meursault crus, and an ambitious hospitality project is underway: a former mustard factory is being transformed into a discreet hotel of around ten rooms, reinforcing the estate’s rooted presence in the village without diluting its wine-first focus.
Bordeaux and the Mediterranean Arc
Burgundy is only one chapter. In Bordeaux, the family owns Château La Rose Pourret in Saint-Émilion and Château Bourgie in Pessac-Léognan, two properties with contrasting terroirs and stylistic ambitions. Further south, the portfolio takes a more distinctive turn.
In Bellet, the small and often misunderstood appellation overlooking Nice, Derichebourg has become a major landholder. With 22 hectares—roughly a third of the appellation—the family is reshaping the vineyard landscape through extensive terracing works. These restanques will allow increased planting of braquet, the emblematic red variety of Bellet, reinforcing the appellation’s singular identity rather than standardising it.
The nearby Château de Crémat and Domaine de Toasc anchor this Mediterranean presence, combining altitude, maritime influence, and historic sites that demand sensitive stewardship rather than rapid transformation.
Looking to the Alps
The most unconventional project lies far from established appellations, near Castellane and the gorges of the Verdon. At an altitude of around 1,000 metres, the first vines were planted five years ago. Guided by consultant Emmanuel Gagnepain, the ambition is to explore alpine grape varieties such as savagnin and gamaret, testing their adaptability to altitude and cooler conditions.
This is not a bid for immediate recognition, but an exercise in patience and observation—an approach that mirrors the family’s broader philosophy in wine.
A Coherent, Long-Term Vision
What unites these disparate sites is not branding or volume, but a consistent method: careful acquisition, strong local teams, and collaboration with respected consultants. The Derichebourg family applies to wine the same principles that underpin its industrial success—long-term investment, technical rigour, and respect for existing structures—while allowing each terroir to express itself without haste.
In a wine world often driven by visibility and velocity, Derichebourg’s vineyard journey stands out for its discretion. From Meursault to Bellet, and now towards the Alps, it is a quietly unfolding story—one that serious wine lovers would do well to follow.