Denis Dubourdieu
| Denis Dubourdieu | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Winemaker, Professor of Oenology |
Denis Dubourdieu is a French winemaker and Professor of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux. He is manager or co-manager at several properties in Bordeaux (Château Reynon, Château Doisy Daëne, Château Cantegril, Château Haura & Clos Floridène).[1] He also consults at Château Cheval Blanc.[2]
As part of his academic responsibilities, Dubourdieu is 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.[3]
Dubourdieu specializes in winemaking processes for white wines,[4] and has been called "wine’s most famous scientist".[5] 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".[6] Innovations proposed by Dubourdieu include organic farming, oak barrel fermentation with extended skin contact, and improved bottling techniques.[7][8]
Personal
Denis is married to Florence Dubourdieu, and his sons Jean-Jacques and Fabrice both help to run the family domaines.[1]
His father and grandfather were winemakers, specializing in white wines.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Denis Dubourdieu Domaines (Bordeaux)". Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ↑ "Denis Dubourdieu". NewBordeaux.com. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ↑ (French) "Création d'un Institut des sciences de la vigne et du vin au sein des universités bordelaises". Retrieved 4 August 2012.
- ↑ "A toast to fine French wines, food" (subscription required), The Star (South Africa), July 28, 2012, "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."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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."
- ↑ Asimov, Eric (August 1, 2008), "Make way for the white Bordeaux" (subscription required), International Herald Tribune, "Denis Dubourdieu, a winemaker in Graves who has played a leading role in the improvement of the region's white wines"
- ↑ DeSimone, Dave (June 16, 2009), "Bordeaux white wines complement French region's seafood" (subscription required), Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "the likes of consulting winemaker and oenology professor Denis Dubourdieu have led a revolution in quality over the past 15 years".
- ↑ Prial, Frank J. (October 18, 2000), "Wine Talk. A Case of Neglect: White Bordeaux", 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."