Denis Malbec

Country born: France

Education: Mentors are his dad and his grandfather. Denis first studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux where he got a Brevet de Technicien Agricole (1987) and a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur Agricole specialized in viticulture and winemaking (1989); in Reims, Champagne, he got a Diplôme National d’Œnologue (1991) and a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées in management, marketing and enology research.

He completed his studies with a Tour de France of the vineyards with work at Château Lagrange (1988), Château Haut-Brion (1989), the Pugnac Cooperative Vinicole (1989) in Côte de Bourg, Léon Viollant (1990) in Côte de Beaune, Duval Leroy (1990 & 1991) in the Côte des Blancs in Champagne and at Calvet (1992), negociant in Bordeaux.

Bio: Denis started at Château Latour as one of the cellar workers in 1993 and took the position as enologist and cellar master at Château Latour in 1994, making the vintages from 1994 to 1999. Denis consults for a number of boutique wineries in and around the Napa Valley; among them Kapcsàndy Family Winery and Blankiet Estate in Yountville, Captûre Wines and Respite in Sonoma. In Lake County, Aliénor and Xurus.

Winemaking philosophy: Terroir, time and passion make great wine!