Denis Dubourdieu

Denis Dubourdieu
Denis Dubourdieu in 2012
Born	(1949-07-01)July 1, 1949 Barsac, France[1]
Died	July 26, 2016(2016-07-26) (aged 67) Bordeaux, France[2]
Nationality	French
Occupation(s)	Winemaker, professor
Spouse	Florence Dubourdieu
Children	2

Denis Dubourdieu (July 1, 1949 – July 26, 2016)[1] was a French winemaker and professor of oenology at the University of Bordeaux. He managed or co-managed several properties in Bordeaux, including Château Reynon, Château Doisy Daëne, Château Cantegril, Château Haura, and Clos Floridène.[3] He also consulted at Château Cheval Blanc and 4G Wines.[4]

As part of his academic responsibilities, Dubourdieu was the director of l'Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin de l'Université de Bordeaux (English: Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences of the University of Bordeaux). The Institute is a multi-disciplinary research center where experts from the University of Bordeaux, l'Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (English: The National Institute of Agronomic Research) and l'Ecole Nationale des Ingénieurs des travaux agricoles (English: The National School of Engineers of Agricultural Work) work together to assist wine producers with the state of the art in technology, technique and economic modeling.[5]

White wine from Clos Floridene the Dubourdieu family winery.

Dubourdieu specialized in winemaking processes for white wines,[6] and has been called "wine's most famous scientist".[7] He played a leading role in the improvement of white Bordeaux wines, which as late as the 1960s were sweet and of low quality, to become "serious, potentially profound dry whites".[8] He was hired by Ernest Singer to oversee the creation of a dry Koshu wine.[9] Innovations proposed by Dubourdieu include organic farming, oak barrel fermentation with extended skin contact and improved bottling techniques.[10][11]

Personal life

Denis was married to Florence Dubourdieu, and his sons Jean-Jacques and Fabrice both helped to run the family domaines.[3]

His father and grandfather were winemakers, specializing in white wines.[7] He died on 26 July 2016 in Bordeaux of brain cancer at the age of 67.[2][12][13]

References

1. "Bordeaux wine professor Denis Dubourdieu named Decanter Man of the Year 2016". Decanter. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
2. Mercer, Chris (July 26, 2016). "Wine professor Denis Dubourdieu dies - Decanter". www.decanter.com. Decanter. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
3. "Denis Dubourdieu Domaines (Bordeaux)". Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
4. "Denis Dubourdieu". NewBordeaux.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
5. "Création d'un Institut des sciences de la vigne et du vin au sein des universités bordelaises" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 4 August 2012.^[permanent dead link‍]
6. "A toast to fine French wines, food", The Star (South Africa), July 28, 2012, archived from the original on March 29, 2015, Denis Dubourdieu, an agro-scientist and a professor ofOenology at the University of Bordeaux, owns the chateau. He is considered one of the top specialists in the winemaking process and the ageing of white wines.
7. Brook, Stephen (November 17, 2004), "Denis Dubourdieu - Decanter interview", Decanter, As a world-leading expert on white wine vinification, professor and director of general oenology at the university in Bordeaux, and manager of four family properties in Bordeaux, Denis Dubourdieu is called upon for winemaking advice by leading producers all over the world. Stephen Brook meets wine's most famous scientist.
8. Asimov, Eric (August 1, 2008), "Make way for the white Bordeaux", International Herald Tribune, archived from the original on March 29, 2015, Denis Dubourdieu, a winemaker in Graves who has played a leading role in the improvement of the region's white wines
9. Brown, Corie, The New York Times (October 26, 2010). "Japanese Wineries Betting on a Reviled Grape". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020.
10. DeSimone, Dave (June 16, 2009), "Bordeaux white wines complement French region's seafood", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the likes of consulting winemaker and oenology professor Denis Dubourdieu have led a revolution in quality over the past 15 years.
11. Prial, Frank J. (October 18, 2000), "Wine Talk. A Case of Neglect: White Bordeaux", The New York Times, The lighter, fresher style of so many Bordeaux whites owes much to the work of the oenologist Denis Dubourdieu, who also owns Clos Floridene in the Graves. Mr. Dubourdieu was among the first to ferment white wines in new oak barrels and to extend skin contact with the wines while they fermented. Today almost all the chateaus producing white wine in the Graves use methods devised by Mr. Dubourdieu.
12. Mullen, Tom (July 26, 2016). "The Passing Of Denis Dubourdieu, A Titan In The World Of Wine". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-07-26.
13. Molesworth, James; Balter, Emma (July 26, 2016). "Denis Dubourdieu, Legendary Bordeaux Consulting Winemaker, Professor and Vigneron, Dies at 67". Archived from the original on August 7, 2019.