Franck Ribayre becomes new chairman of the French sparkling wine organisation

fter “more than twenty years at the helm of the organisation”, Var-based producer and shipper Jean-Jacques Bréban, chairman of Vins Bréban, “wanted to pass on the torch”. He has been succeeded by Franck Ribayre, president and CEO of the Compagnie Française des Grands Vins (CFGV), as chairman of the French sparkling wine organisation SFVM.

“The tenure will focus on opening a window to Europe and promoting dialogue among the various strands of the trade”, announced a press release. A food engineer and winemaker, 48-year-old Ribayre is president and CEO “of France’s largest producer of Charmat-method sparkling wines”. He is also highly involved in national trade organisations as treasurer of the Federation of Wine & Spirits Exporters and the French Federation of Aperitif Wines (FFVA); he is also on the board of intervention body FranceAgriMer.

During his tenure, he will aim to continue “work to defend the diversity and competitiveness of the French sparkling wine sector, both in the domestic market and internationally, by strengthening dialogue with public institutions and European partners”, adds the press statement. The SFVM represents producers and marketers of French sparkling wines other than Crémants and Champagne, “with annual production totalling 150 million bottles, over 35% of which are exported”.