During the general assembly held on November 19 and 20, the members of France Vin Bio elected Sébastien David as their new chair. The early election became necessary after Biovidis, the company of David's predecessor Philippe Gérard—a wine merchant from Amboise in the Loire region—filed for liquidation this summer. Following Gérard's resignation, Nicolas Richarme, a winemaker from the Côtes du Rhône and former chair, temporarily led the association as vice president.
With Sébastien David, another winemaker from the Loire region has assumed leadership of the national association for organic winemakers in France. David owns the eponymous winery in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and also serves as co-chair of Loire Vin Bio. In an interview with Vitisbio magazine, he reaffirmed the association's existing priorities, including the defense of copper use, the promotion of organic wines, and partnerships with regional wine associations.
Unlike Germany, which recently submitted an application to the EU, David opposes the approval of potassium phosphate as a plant protection product in organic farming. “It remains a synthetic product that is primarily effective on leaves but not on grapes. Phosphonates won’t be what saves us from downy mildew!” he stated.
David also announced plans for a major media campaign for the organic wine sector, set to launch during the Paris Agricultural Show in February 2025. SP
