Bernard Magrez

Head of an authentic winemaking empire in his native France, Bernard Magrez owns over 40 vineyards and is the only person to own four grand crus in Bordeaux: Pape Clément (Pessac-Léognan), Fombrauge (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru), La Tour Carnet (Haut-Médoc), and Clos Haut-Peyraguey (Sauternes).

Bernard's road to success was not an easy one. After starting out working in a sawmill at the age of thirteen, he changed his career direction six years later and got a job in a winery. A few years later he managed to buy a small firm importing Port wine, bottling and selling it himself. He eventually expanded his range of products to include wines and spirits which he sold to retailers. At this time he started to buy vineyards with the aim of producing his own wines. Years of hard work and commitment to his dream have seen his business grow and grow, now producing excellent wines in some of the best locations in the world.

His first steps in winemaking were in Bordeaux where he bought the Château Pape Clément estate in the 1980s. Decades later, he now owns wonderful vineyards in other parts of France (Languedoc and Provence) and countries as varied as Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Chile, the USA, Argentina, Uruguay and Japan. Apart from being a Bordeaux aristocrat, Bernard is a great oenologist who leaves his stamp on each and every one of his wines. Working alongside top oenologist Michel Rolland for over twenty years, Bernard Magrez wines are always precise, clear-cut and consistent — an authentic reflection of his personality.

On top of all this, Bernard also co-finances the Cité du Vin wine museum in Bordeaux — an essential look at the history and culture of wine located at the heart of wine tourism routes in the area. He also directs the Luxury Wine Experience, organizing wine events and tours among the beautiful landscapes of Bordeaux.