Brasserie Sainte-Croix
From a Chinese manufacturing floor to the sun-drenched hills of Provence — a husband and wife's dream brewery, producing its first batch in just three months.
Project overview
Nestled in the remote countryside outside Bauduen — a village perched above the turquoise waters of Lac de Sainte-Croix in the Var — Brasserie Sainte-Croix is the realization of a young couple's lifelong ambition. With no prior commercial brewing infrastructure and a vision as wide open as the Provençal landscape, they needed a partner who could take them from concept to first pour.
The engagement began months before a single piece of equipment arrived in France. Working directly with the manufacturer in China, the system was designed, specified, and rigorously tested before shipment — ensuring that when it landed in Provence, it was ready to brew.
€200K
EU & Région Sud co-financing secured
The project in photos
Day one
The brewery had a name, a sign, and a building. Everything else was still in crates.
The build
Five weeks of installation — tanks connected, pipework run, control systems wired and commissioned.
The finished brewery
From an empty building to a fully operational craft brewery — three months, two countries, one dream realized.
How we did it
Project phases
Equipment design & factory testing
China
Months before installation began, the project was already underway on the factory floor in China. Working alongside the manufacturer, every component of the brewing system was specified, designed, and tested to ensure it would perform to spec in a real-world Provençal environment. This phase eliminated costly surprises on-site and compressed the overall project timeline significantly.
Site preparation & equipment sourcing
Bauduen, France
With the system validated in China, attention turned to the brewery space itself. Local sourcing of ancillary equipment, utilities, and materials was coordinated to be ready for the arrival of the main brewing system — ensuring no delays between delivery and installation.
Installation & commissioning
Bauduen, France
On-site throughout the full installation, every vessel, line, and control was commissioned with precision. The system was brought online methodically — from cold-side to hot-side — with each stage verified before proceeding to the next.
Recipe development
Bauduen, France
With the system live, the focus shifted to the beers themselves. Working with the owners to define a range that reflected their personality and the terroir of Provence, the first recipes were developed and refined through the commissioning brews — turning technical runs into the foundation of a real product lineup.
Training & handover
Bauduen, France
The final phase ensured the owners had the knowledge and confidence to run their brewery independently. Hands-on training covered every aspect of the brewing process, cleaning protocols, quality checks, and troubleshooting — leaving them fully equipped to carry the operation forward.
The result
First batch produced within three months
From initial design conversations in China to the first batch flowing in Provence, the entire project was completed in three months. The owners of Brasserie Sainte-Croix went from a dream and an empty building to a fully operational brewery — with recipes, process knowledge, and the confidence to brew independently.
Today, Brasserie Sainte-Croix produces craft beer in one of the most beautiful and remote corners of southern France, a testament to what meticulous planning, cross-continental coordination, and genuine passion can achieve.
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