Guillaume Poitevin
France
Born and bred Medoc winemaker who revolutionised his father's estate
France
Born and bred Medoc winemaker who revolutionised his father's estate
128 Ratings
65 Followers
The son of a grape-grower in the heart of the Medoc, Guillaume always knew he would one day take over the vineyards worked by his father, and his father before him. But it was his visits to the local cooperative - where his dad’s grapes were blended in with other growers’ - that sparked a passion for winemaking in young Guillaume’s mind.
When he did take over the family vines 30 years ago, all Guillaume had to work with was a few spare tanks and some barrels he found lying around. In the decades since, he’s revolutionised his father’s estate into a fully-kitted out winemaking workshop where he can tinker with every stage of the winemaking process, with a perfectionist’s eye for quality.
His proudest moment was when he won Cru Bourgeois status in 2012, this special honour is awarded only to exceptional Medoc wines that aren’t from the old, big-name chateaus - as a stamp of top quality. It’s a testament to what Guillaume has been able to achieve at his dad’s old estate, and remarkably, he still sees more potential to come out of the old Poitevin vines. Potential he hopes to pass on to the next generation of family grape-growers.
France
Son of a giant of Bordeaux winemaking, proudly following in his father's footsteps
11 Ratings
35 Followers
Born into the famous Lurton family of winemakers, Jacques' father Andre was a true giant of Bordeaux, with a celebrity reputation and an incredible wine portfolio built over 6 decades. It was only natural that Jacques himself would follow in his father’s footsteps and, when Andre passed away in 2019, it was Jacques who took on the family mantle as CEO and winemaker of the family business.
It was in Australia in the 1980s that Jacques really discovered his passion for winemaking, when he saw the groundbreaking techniques Aussie winemakers were using - light years ahead of traditional old Bordeaux. He came back to work at the family estate, bringing these newfound techniques with him, before founding the world’s first flying wine consultancy with his brother. Over the years, he’s made wine in more than 20 countries - from France to Australia to Argentina to Moldova - and filled up a fat stack of passports.
Now back in Bordeaux, Jacques is super-excited to be making wine for you and he’s keen to hear your feedback, which he says will help make his wines even better. A lover of cool-climate styles - like those of Piedmont, Burgundy and the Loire - Jacques tries to evoke those characteristics in his own wines. And being from Bordeaux, you just know his kit's going to be fruity, complex and velvety smooth.
A passionate Bordeaux-born winemaker, Max gave up a jet-setting career in banking to return to his roots and follow his life-long dream of becoming a winemaker, with his wife Astrid by his side. In 1998, they fell in love with the magnificent Chateau Doyac - a historic estate with fantastic limestone soils and sunny, south-facing slopes - and were soon calling it home.
They’ve left their mark over the years, planting new vines and upgrading the old cellars. But the biggest upgrade on the estate came in 2016, when they decided to convert all of their vineyards to organic farming practices. Working with the utmost respect for the environment, Max’s philosophy is to make fine and elegant wines in the style of the greatest Bordeaux.
A man of many talents, Max recently took up Brazilian jiu jitsu and is also a keen surfer, you’ll often find him riding the waves with his daughter Clémence - an oenologist who’s also part of the winemaking team at Chateau Doyac. And when he’s not at the beach, he’s riding around the Médoc roads on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Born to be wild, born to be a winemaker.
France
For centuries, Alexandre's family have made some of the finest wines in all of France from their little corner of St Emilion
107 Ratings
68 Followers
The latest in a long line of Bordeaux masters from the legendary Malet-Roquefort family, Alexandre is a big cheese in the world of fine French wine. But first and foremost, he’s just a really passionate winemaker. And he can’t wait to share his passion for St Emilion - and its celebrated wines - with you.
Not many winemakers have a family history as rich as Alexandre’s. The Malet-Roqueforts have been making some of the most sought-after wines in the world at their historic St Emilion estate since the 18th century, where they’re the oldest established family in the entire region. In fact, their fame dates all the way back to the start of the last millennium, when a great display at the Battle of Hastings won favour, and a fiefdom, from William the Conqueror.
Nowadays, Alexandre blends tradition with innovation and a deep respect for the beautiful terroir he’s forever grateful to have inherited. There’s no doubt that his old family vines are up there with some of the very best in the world. And we’re chuffed to bits to share the incredible spoils with UK wine-lovers like you.
France
Super stylish Bordeaux from a couturier turned winemaking icon
40 Ratings
46 Followers
From couture to Château, Sylvia started her career in the fashion industry - running both a high-flying boutique and a jewellery brand in Paris. She travelled around the world chasing fine fabrics until 2013 when she decided to put it all on pause to return to her roots and her family winery, Château Le Lau in Bordeaux.
After retraining as a winemaker, Sylvia took up the new and exciting project of restoring her family’s historic vineyards to their former glory. The oceanic climate and totally unique soil was ideal for producing mouthwatering Merlot, Malbec and Cab Sav.
All that was needed was a winemaker with the vision and drive to turn them into top quality, super stylish Bordeaux wines.
USA
Million-dollar rockstar winemaker with a nigh unbelievable track record
93 Ratings
11,507 Followers
A winemaking wonderkid who spent his formative years working with legendary names like Bordeaux’s Petrus and Napa Valley’s Screaming Eagle, before becoming America’s youngest head winemaker at just 24, Jesse Katz has been named as ‘One of wine’s fastest rising stars’ by Decanter… and that’s putting it mildly.
The definition of a rockstar winemaker, Jesse’s wines have sold for up to 1 million dollars at auction, and he was even named on Forbes ‘30 under 30’ list in 2014, the first winemaker to ever do so. In 2009, he launched his own winery in Alexander Valley - Aperture Cellars - and since then, he’s set the record for highest-rated wine ever produced in Alexander Valley THREE times. While Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has given his wines the highest-rating in the world three times as well.
After riding to his rescue during the Covid pandemic, Jesse’s been making wines for US Angels since 2020, and he’s now thrilled to be able to share his acclaimed Alexander Valley kit with UK Angels too. “Angel support is amazing," says Jesse. "Working with Naked Wines is a wonderful way to be creative and we’re excited about a growing partnership now and in the future.” The feeling's mutual, Jesse. We can't wait to see what you have in store.
France
A man on a mission - to make you fall in love with Beaujolais
7,488 Ratings
1,388 Followers
Italy
Passionate Tuscan winemaker fulfilling his life-long dream making top-quality Chianti Classico
18 Ratings
636 Followers
A child of Tuscany, Maurizio grew up surrounded by some of Italy’s most historic winemaking regions, like Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino, so it’s no surprise he discovered his passion for the craft while he was still just at school.
With a winemaking style inspired by his maestro Giulio Gambelli, a giant of Tuscan wine described by Maurizio as ‘the greatest Sangiovese expert of all time’, for over 30 years Maurizio has worked as an oenologist, helping other winemakers around Italy improve their wines - but his roots are very much in Chianti and in 2015 he fulfilled his life-long dream of making his very own wine there.
Some people told Maurizio he was crazy to start a project from scratch in Chianti Classico. As one of Italy’s most historic wine regions, he knew he’d have to compete with some proper big name wineries who’d been in the region for generations. But Maurizio revels in a challenge. Putting his 3 decades’ experience to good use, in short order he’s established himself as a producer of top-quality Chianti Classico to rival any of the big boys.
Gonzague is one of ten children of Lucien Lurton, a champion of the region who owned many of its finest estates. The Lurton name still rings widely around Bordeaux today.
When Gonzague’s dad retired in 1992, he divided up his properties between his kids. Having grown up running around his father’s Margaux vineyards, spending summers pruning vines or helping out in the cellar, Gonzague had his heart set on one property in particular and he let his dad know - ‘it’s Durfort-Vivens or bust’. Dad duly obliged.
An illustrious Second Growth estate - right up there with Bordeaux’s best - Durfort-Vivens has a rich history but, since Gonzague took over, perhaps the future is even brighter. Over 30 years, he’s introduced lots of ingenious ideas, like bringing in Geologists to optimise his plots and using terracotta jars for ageing, in the pursuit of pure fruit expression. And in 2013, Durfort-Vivens was the first estate in Margaux to go fully-organic. So for almost 10 years now, every single drop of Gonzague’s wine has been made with 100% planet-friendly, organic grapes. Talk about making a good thing even greater.
UK
Your new champion English winemaker making world-class wine out of an old Derbyshire mill
6 Ratings
6,816 Followers
Angels have been asking us to scout out more English winemakers for as long as we can remember. But we never expected to find one in Derbyshire of all places!
Kieron Atkinson has been quietly making award-winning English wines in Derbyshire for over a decade as chief winemaker at the historic Renishaw Hall, once thought to be the most northerly vineyard in the whole world. In 2011, he founded his very own English Wine Project to help raise the profile and quality of wines across the land. His aim is to put England on the map as a country that can produce wines that are up there with some of the best in the world.
Above all, he’s a really thoughtful, intelligent guy and the quality of his wines is superb. His winery is based in an old cotton mill in the Derwent Valley, in the middle of Derbyshire. But he also travels up and down the country as a consultant, helping other winemakers make their wines better too. It’s all part of his mission to champion the best of English wine. It’s so great to be working with an exciting new English winemaker like Kieron. And he’s so chuffed to be on board and is looking forward to hooking up with Angels.
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