We are pleased to announce the news that Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, founder and president of Maison Villevert, has been announced today as the 9th (and the first French) person to be honoured with the accolade of being inducted into The Gin Hall of Fame.
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet Inducted into Gin Hall of Fame for Extraordinary Contribution to Industry
Founder and president of Maison Villevert, Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, is the 9th (and the first French) person to be honoured with the accolade of being inducted into The Gin Hall of Fame.
Robicquet was chosen to become a member of this prestigious group following his extraordinary innovation within the global gin industry that led to the creation of an entirely new sector, taking the traditional use of cereal to create gin and replacing it with grapes. This innovation intended to showcase his unrivalled passion and understanding of the grape and vines, led to the inception of G’Vine gin in 2006, the first and only gin made with grapes.
“Jean-Sébastien Robicquet has been selected to enter the Gin Hall of Fame because he has been in pursuit of spirits innovation and excellence for more than 20 years. One of the greatest steps the company has made in this direction came with its G’Vine Gin de France where the use of grape base spirits and botanical vine flowers set it apart from other gins, and it has maintained a reputation for its unconventional composition and unique taste. Drawing on his family’s rich history in the Cognac industry, Jean-Sébastien has earned Maison Villevert a name as a challenger of norms and producer of world-class spirits” said Bethany Whymark, Editor of Gin Magazine.
The G’Vine gin family is made up of four varieties; G’Vine Floraison which is a fresh, smooth and rounded spirit with a distinct floral note from addition of fragrant vine flower. G’Vine Nouaison is a bold, spicy, crisp and aromatic spirit inspired from a recipe recorded in 1495 and is suited for cocktails particularly the Negroni. June By G’Vine flavoured collection (Royal Pear and Cardamom and Summer Peach and Wild Fruits) and latterly Nouaison Gin Reserve, aged in Cognac barrels, complete the family.
“It is a great honour to receive the prestigious accolade and of course the first French person to be recognised in this way” says Robicquet.
“When I set up Maison Villevert it seemed only natural to me as an enologist, distiller and a French man to embark on the adventure of making a gin based on grape. When I created G’Vine in 2006, there were about 700 gins on the market (today there are around 7,000) and I wanted to create something new in the super premium gin category, a French contribution. We believe, using grape spirit as our base, we deliver a gin that is unsurpassed in taste, flavour and texture” adds Robicquet.
Robicquet himself grew up surrounded by grapes, raised in the French vineyards between Bordeaux and Cognac. “Grapes are part of the Maison Villevert DNA as much as it is of our French DNA,” he explains. “We have an unrivalled passion and understanding of the grape and vines and a vision that the grape is ennobling the spirits category” he adds.
G’Vine gin has been recognised with numerous awards and accolades including being named the third super-premium gin in the world in 2016 barely ten years after its launch (source: IWSR).
The brand received gold and platinum medals at the 2008 Beverage Testing Institute, was appraised trophy winner at the 2008 Drinks International Gin Challenge, awarded gold and silver medals at the 2009 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, rated excellent at the 2010 Ultimate Beverage Challenge, received platinum and gold medals again at the 2018 and 2020 Beverage Testing Institute respectively, and double gold and silver medals at the 2019 SIP Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition last year.
On innovation Robicquet says, “One must be innovative, unconventional and ready to break conventions. One must not be afraid of challenging oneself, to challenge others, to invent or create. Of course it was an unconventional move and for me being unconventional, it meant taking down barriers and being innovative, but absolutely knowing and understanding our roots, what we do and where we are heading.”
In 2021 Maison Villevert will celebrate their twentieth anniversary by setting a clear goal, to reach €100m of revenue in 2023 with 100 employees while keeping intact their history of faith, passion and innovation and maintaining the inquisitiveness and uninhibited spirit of a craft distillery in the competitive space of international markets.
“This vision of the world of spirits gives us exceptional scope for international development, founded on our values of committed entrepreneurship, respect, and excellence, as well as channelling our team’s energy and avant-garde ideas to drive us forward. We are nothing without others around us. One must be able to state one’s own beliefs to share them” adds Robicquet.
Editors Notes
Link
https://www.maisonvillevert.com/en/
Quotes
“Jean-Sébastien Robicquet has been selected to enter the Gin Hall of Fame because he has been in pursuit of spirits innovation and excellence for more than 20 years. One of the greatest steps the company has made in this direction came with its G’Vine Gin de France where the use of grape base spirits and botanical vine flowers set it apart from other gins, and it has maintained a reputation for its unconventional composition and unique taste. Drawing on his family’s rich history in the Cognac industry, Jean-Sébastien has earned Maison Villevert a name as a challenger of norms and producer of world-class spirits.”
Bethany Whymark, Editor, Gin Magazine
“It is a great honour to receive the prestigious accolade and of course the first French person to be recognised in this way. When I set up Maison Villevert it seemed only natural to me as an enologist, distiller and a French man to embark on the adventure of making a gin based on grape. When I created G’Vine in 2006, there were about 700 gins on the market (today there are around 7,000) and I wanted to create something new in the super premium gin category, a French contribution. We believe, using grape spirit as our base, we deliver a gin that is unsurpassed in taste, flavour and texture.”
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet on receiving the accolade.
“One must be innovative, unconventional and ready to break conventions. One must not be afraid of challenging oneself, to challenge others, to invent or create. Of course it was an unconventional move and for me being unconventional, it meant taking down barriers and being innovative, but absolutely knowing and understanding our roots, what we do and where we are heading.”
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet on innovation.
“This vision of the world of spirits gives us exceptional scope for international development, founded on our values of committed entrepreneurship, respect, and excellence, as well as channelling our team’s energy and avant-garde ideas to drive us forward. We are nothing without others around us. One must be able to state one’s own beliefs to share them”
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet on teamwork.
The G’Vine Family
The G’Vine gin family is made up of four varieties; G’Vine Floraison which is a fresh, smooth and rounded spirit with a distinct floral note from addition of fragrant vine flower. G’Vine Nouaison is a bold, spicy, crisp and aromatic spirit inspired from a recipe recorded in 1495 and is suited for cocktails particularly the Negroni. June By G’Vine flavoured collection (Royal Pear and Cardamom and Summer Peach and Wild Fruits) and latterly Nouaison Gin Reserve, aged in Cognac barrels, complete the family.
G’Vine Awards & Accolades
G’Vine gin has been recognised with numerous awards and accolades including being named the third super-premium gin in the world in 2016 barely ten years after its launch (source: IWSR). The brand received gold and platinum medals at the 2008 Beverage Testing Institute, was appraised trophy winner at the 2008 Drinks International Gin Challenge, awarded gold and silver medals at the 2009 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, rated excellent at the 2010 Ultimate Beverage Challenge, received platinum and gold medals again at the 2018 and 2020 Beverage Testing Institute respectively, and double gold and silver medals at the 2019 SIP Awards and 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
About G’Vine Gin
While most gins are made with grain, G’Vine gin is crafted with a grape spirit, which provides a significantly smoother and silky taste, a heady body and full mouth feel. Crafted in a way like no other, using grape spirit, the rare vine flower and the savoir-faire of the Cognac region, it has a uniquely refreshing taste, rounded and full flavoured.
The Botanicals
The smooth grape spirit is the perfect canvas for the ten whole-fruit botanicals used in G’Vine gin chosen and collected from around the world to ensure only the highest quality, purity and aroma; juniper berries, nutmeg, cubeb berries, ginger roots, liquorice, lime, coriander, green cardamom, cassia bark and, of course, the rare vine flower.
The Vine Flower
Once a year, in mid-June, the vine flower blossoms to life. This precious and delicate flower, which exists for just a few days before maturing into a grape berry, is immediately handpicked to preserve its evocative fragrance.
About The Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame is a permanent tribute founded by Gin Magazine honouring those individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the world of gin. 2021 inductees are being announced in Gin Magazine publishing Friday 26 Feb 2021.
About Gin Magazine
Gin Magazine is an international publication covering gins from around the world. It includes distillery focuses and topical features, explores the lifestyle of gin including bars, travel and cocktails, and includes tastings of new and exciting gins. Gin Magazine is written by world-class drinks writers and is published quarterly as a print and digital edition, with regular updates and more original content at www.gin-mag.com.
About Maison Villevert
Villevert is the ancestral family property, now the company’s headquarters. In 1528 it belonged to Jehan Robicquet, who was a courtier and confidant of François I, King of France, and his official supplier of hides, furs and feathers.
Quote About Maison Villevert History
“This residence surrounded by 80+ acres of vineyards, which today is both a place of work and for receiving visitors, was the obvious place for us to base Maison Villevert – paying tribute, and returning to our roots”
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, founder and president of Maison Villevert.
Brands
Maison Villevert has created 10 brands sold internationally since 2001 including Ciroc for Diageo G’Vine Floraison, Nouaison Gin, June Gin, Excellia Tequila, La Quintinye Vermouth Royal and La Guilde du Cognac.
Awards
Across all brands Maison Villevert have won almost 160 international awards and distinctions including 35 gold medals.
In 2021 Maison Villevert Turns 20
Their ambition for our 20th anniversary is clear: To reach €100m of revenue in 2023 with 100 employees while keeping intact their history of faith, passion and innovation and maintaining the inquisitiveness and uninhibited spirit of a craft distillery in the competitive space of international markets.
Quote
“From the first few hundred cases to the millions delivered and exported today, we are proud of having grown and prospered while staying true to our original intentions, as artisans of the Cognac region rooted in the vineyards yet open to a world in perpetual movement”
Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, founder and president of Maison Villevert.
Recommended Serves
G’Vine Floraison Gin & Tonic.
Fill a large wine glass with ice cubes, stir the ice and discard the water, pour in 40ml of G’Vine Gin (the cap is the perfect measure), top with premium tonic water and garnish with three white grapes.
G’Vine Nouaison Negroni
Gently blend 45 ml Nouaison gin, 45 ml La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Red and 1 dash of Orange bitters in a mixing glass and strain into an old-fashioned glass over a large sphere of ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel twist.
June by G’Vine Spritz
In a large glass filled with ice, pour 1/3 of June Peach and 2/3 of Prosecco. Add a dash of sparkling water and decorate with fresh peach slices.
June by G’Vine Mule
Fill a large glass with ice. Stir the ice cubes. Pour 1/3 of June Pear & Cardamom, add 2/3 of ginger beer or ginger ale and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Garnish with a lime wedge and spray with June Pear & Cardamom.
G’vine Nouaison Gin Reserve Old-Fashioned
Gently blend 45 ml Nouaison Gin Reserve, 5 ml sugar syrup, 2 dashes orange bitters in a mixing glass and strain into an old-fashioned glass over a large sphere of ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel twist.
Availability
The G’Vine family is available in fine liquor stores, premium bars and restaurants around the world and to purchase online at Master of Malt and Amazon (Nouaison Reserve coming soon).