Lucien Dimani becomes new chairman of AOC Cahors

evoting time to professional and trade organisations is a family affair for the Dimanis. “My father, Arnaldo Dimani, made a long-term commitment. When he was a member of the Côtes d’Olt co-operative winery [Ed. now part of Vinovalie], he was on the board. Subsequently, he also belonged to the Cahors wine marketing board, which now also includes Côtes du Lot, and the Cahors producers’ organisation”, explains 41-year-old Lucien Dimani, who became the organisation’s new chairman in June.

After returning from the United States in 2019 – he worked there for 11 years as a vineyard manager then as a wine merchant – Dimani was quick to follow in his father’s footsteps. “Six months after I came back, I went to a meeting at the organisation. A delegate was due to be chosen and there were just two candidates – the other one was younger than me, so I accepted”, recalls Dimani, who runs the 22-hectare independent winery Le Bout du Lieu. Volunteers were also lacking for other tasks so Dimani took over responsibility of the approvals committee and the specification inspection plan for the appellation. In 2022, when Nicolas Fournié became chairman of the producers’ organisation, Dimani became its vice-chairman.

As he steps into the role of chairman, Dimani will continue to work on ongoing projects. “We need to make changes to the appellation’s inspection plan and specifications so that we can cope with climate change”, he stresses. Discussions with France’s national institute for origin and quality (INAO) are focusing primarily on colour, pruning systems and planting densities.