The schooner of the Tara Ocean Foundation left the port of Lorient in December 2020 to study, through a 70,000 kilometer journey, the microbiome, those marine micro-organisms that are invisible in the ocean but key players in the health of our planet.
Thanks to the partnership between Domaines Albert Bichot and the Tara Ocean Foundation, Albéric Bichot, head of Domaines Albert Bichot, was able to join the crew at the end of December for ten days of exploration in Antarctica…
@Marin Le Roux – Fondation Tara Océan
The Microbiomes Mission, a collective adventure
At the end of December 2021, Albéric Bichot, a passionate explorer with several expeditions to his credit, joined the crew of the schooner Tara in the North Antarctic Weddell Sea. He joined the ship to share an episode of this unprecedented mission, from the South Atlantic to Antarctica, and thus reaffirm the support of Domaines Albert Bichot to the Microbiomes Mission.
Thousands of kilometers later and after an epic crossing of Cape Horn, the schooner reached the island of Deception, opposite Terre Adélie. It is in homage to the latter that Albéric named his eldest daughter, as well as the eponymous Domain, created in 2005 in Mercurey. Now, the ship continues its expedition to South Africa while Albéric Bichot has joined his terroirs in Burgundy.
Antarctica is a marker of climate change
Currently, the Weddel Sea is undergoing various simultaneous pressures related to climate change such as warming of the climate and water masses as well as acidification of the Ocean due to accelerated CO2 uptake.
These changes may have consequences for the entire ecosystem functioning in the Weddel Sea.
In addition, the melting of ice due to global warming is increasingly threatening the ice pack and icebergs. The dynamics of these polar ecosystems may be affected over time. On the other hand, warming may progressively exclude some species adapted to the polar regions.
@Marin Le Roux – Fondation Tara Océan
Global warming at sea but also on land: a common fight for the Tara Ocean Foundation and the Maison Albert Bichot
Global warming is also a threat on land. In the world of wine, it is mainly characterized by the observation of extreme weather events leading to the advancement of phenology (flowering, veraison) and therefore of the grape harvest, the increase of alcohol levels and the decrease of acidity, and the evolution of yields…
In this sense, the Tara Ocean Foundation and the Maison Albert Bichot are committed together to a common goal: the protection of maritime and terrestrial terroirs.
The experiment is also in the hold of the boat!
As a partner of the Mission Microbiomes, Albert Bichot wanted to study the influence of marine power, the currents of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and changes in latitude on the evolution of wine. Thus, 12 magnums representing 6 emblematic cuvées of the House (including Domaine du Pavillon Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2017, Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis Grand Cru “La Moutonne” 2018, and Domaine du Clos Frantin Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Les Malconsorts” 2017) embarked on board the schooner while similar magnums are aging in the historic cellars of the House in Beaune.
A unique comparative tasting will take place when the ship returns in October 2022.
@Marin Le Roux – Fondation Tara Océan
Supporting the Tara Ocean Foundation, an obvious choice
For Maison Albert Bichot, supporting the Tara Ocean Foundation is an obvious choice.
Already committed to organic viticulture since the early 2000s, Maison Albert Bichot reaffirms its fight for the protection of the environment and biodiversity by joining the collective adventure around the Microbiomes Mission.