From dreams to vines: The expat winemakers bringing a fresh perspective to Bordeaux

For many wine lovers around the world, Bordeaux is synonymous with fine wine. Steeped in history and prestige, this renowned French region has long attracted foreign entrepreneurs. In the late 2000s, there was a surge in château buyouts by Chinese investors, with widespread reports from 2015 putting Chinese ownership at that point at about 1.5% of the region’s 7,000 estates. That trend is now in reverse, with changing market conditions, falling Chinese domestic demand and financial restrictions meaning that many of those properties are appearing back on the market. Wherever purchasers come from, establishing a presence in Bordeaux remains challenging. [subscriber-content] Six expat winemakers and their wines listed below Vineyard land prices are high, regulations are strict, and navigating the region’s complex appellation system can be daunting. Yet, expat winemakers are finding ways to make their mark, whether by purchasing vineyards, leasing land or sourcing and bottling wines under their own labels. Their presence undoubtedly adds diversity to Bordeaux’s deeply traditional landscape while reinforcing the region’s status as a genuinely international wine capital. So what draws these foreign winemakers to Bordeaux, and what hurdles must they overcome in a region so defined by heritage and exclusivity? Here are six different stories that portray the many and varied routes people take on their way to settling around Bordeaux. Sally Evans, UK Château George 7 – Fronsac After a roughly 25-year corporate career in France, Sally Evans embraced a bold midlife transformation, leaving behind the consulting world to pursue her passion for wine. In 2015, she founded Château George 7 in the Fronsac appellation on the Right Bank. She acquired a parcel of 35-year-old Merlot vines and transformed a dilapidated property into a thriving winery and tourism destination. Nestled in the village of Saillans, her 3ha boutique winery produces outstanding wines, showcasing the unique character of Fronsac’s clay and limestone soils. At first, Sally says, no one took her seriously, seeing her as a crazy British woman spending her money, but her passion changed people’s minds. ‘I am small, but I make a lot of noise,’ she declares with a cunning smile. Beyond winemaking, Sally is an accredited tutor with the Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux and a passionate advocate for wine tourism. She has created immersive experiences, from vineyard tours to apéros on her sunlit terrace, blending her love of hospitality with her expertise in wine. At 63, she isn’t ready to retire. ‘George 7 is not the end of my story,’ says Sally, who’s intent on selling the property one day and moving on to another adventure. Martin & Charlotte Krajewski, UK Château Séraphine & Clos Cantenac – Pomerol & St-Emilion After a successful career in executive recruitment in the City of London, Martin Krajewski turned his attention to wine. In 2016, he purchased what became known as Château Séraphine in Pomerol and began crafting refined, expressive Merlot-based wines that quickly won critical acclaim. His innovative mindset extends beyond Bordeaux – he co-founded Aristea Wines in South Africa and Songlines Estates in Australia, and even launched Norway’s first new private distillery since 1927. Working alongside his daughter Charlotte, the winemaker and technical director of both Bordeaux estates, Martin continues to push boundaries. As the owner of Château de Sours from 2003 until 2015, he was a key figure in the revival of Bordeaux rosé and he has continued that tradition by creating the complex and serious 100% Merlot L’Exuberance du Clos Cantenac Rosé in Entre-deux-Mers. Charlotte sees Pomerol as more welcoming and less competitive than the rest of Bordeaux, as there is no official classification of estates and the appellation itself is small. She remembers that when they bought Château Séraphine, Jacques Thienpont of Le Pin knocked on their door, asking if they needed any help. They’ve made many other good friends since then! Nea Berglund, Finland Château Carsin – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux Born in 1990, the same year her family acquired Château Carsin, Nea Berglund grew up immersed in winemaking, spending her school years among the vines of this historic Bordeaux estate. Today, as the CEO and winemaker, she is dedicated to showcasing Château Carsin’s terroir authenticity through sustainable and expressive wines. Under her leadership, Château Carsin achieved organic certification in 2022. The estate in Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux spans 17ha of traditional white and red Bordeaux grapes. In 2024, Nea planted a small parcel of Grenache, a surprise for her father, who is a big fan of Château Rayas in the southern Rhône. A proud advocate for biodiversity, Nea has introduced agroforestry, beekeeping and a vegetable garden to the estate, further enriching its ecosystem. With her Finnish heritage and Bordeaux roots, Nea effortlessly redefines traditions and mingles cultures. She organises events at the estate, serving Finnish and international food such as lohikeitto (Finnish salmon soup) and pizzas. Nea feels that being a foreigner isn’t a disadvantage but an opportunity to attract curious clients. After 10 years at the estate, Nea is perfectly integrated into the local terroir. ‘The only thing I miss here is a Finnish sauna!’ she says. Osamu Uchida, Japan Domaine Uchida – Haut-Médoc Born in Hiroshima in 1977, Osamu Uchida’s journey into wine began early – his parents ran a delicatessen, and he was captivated by French culture from a young age. A chance encounter with a colleague passionate about German wines sparked his desire to explore the wine world further. In 1999, with limited savings and a thirst for knowledge, he arrived in Bordeaux. Over the years, he has visited more than 300 wineries across France, gaining experience in natural winemaking from Savoie to Côte-Rôtie and Banyuls. Osamu formalised his training with a viticulture and oenology degree in Vayres before returning to Japan to work for a wine importer. However, the wish to create his own wine proved too strong. Despite being advised against Bordeaux, let alone the Médoc, he embraced the challenge, leasing 0.6ha in Cissac-Médoc in 2015. A passionate runner, Osamu integrated into the region through the Pauillac running club, forging valuable connections with top Médoc estates. Today, he cultivates nearly 3ha under organic and biodynamic principles, incorporating agroforestry. Though produced in small quantities, his wines are remarkable: elegant and precise, following the Japanese philosophy of simplicity, purity and harmony. Namratha Prashanth, India Solicantus – Pomerol, Blaye & Entre-deux-Mers [caption id="attachment_564608" align="alignnone" width="600"] Credit: Dennis Tappe[/caption] Namratha Prashanth’s journey to Bordeaux in 2017 was one of resilience. Leaving behind domestic violence and an extremely traditional family in India, she pursued her passion for wine. ‘For an Indian, Bordeaux equals wine,’ says Namratha, explaining her choice of a French city to move to. After finishing her MBA in a business school in Bordeaux, she desperately sought a job, sending out more than 100 CVs – all in vain. This is how she decided to start her own business. Solicantus became the realisation of a dream. It was born from a meeting between Namratha and fourth-generation grower Corinne Chevrier, from Blaye. Together, the two women crafted Namratha’s first wine. Today, she produces three wines under the Solicantus brand: a white from Entre-deux-Mers, a red from Blaye and a Pomerol. Namratha is taking care of her teenage daughter, whom she managed to bring from India after years of separation. She’s also writing a book that will tell her story. ‘No one took me seriously at first,’ she says, ‘but I continued to fight, having in mind all the women who suffer violence in India. I owe my success to them.’ Stan & Natalia Zingerenko, Russia Château La Favière – Libournais Stan Zingerenko and his wife Natalia, originally from St-Petersburg, fell in love with Bordeaux during a visit in 2009. Their admiration for French culture and fine wines led them to settle in the region. In 2011, they acquired Château La Favière, nestled on the northern slopes of the St-Emilion plateau. The estate spans 65ha, with 18.5ha dedicated to vineyards on clay-limestone soils, producing elegant blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Bordeaux Supérieur AP, as well as a range of other red, white and sparkling wines. With guidance from renowned oenologist Louis Mitjavile, the Zingerenkos have refined their winemaking philosophy. More than just a wine estate, Château La Favière has become a cultural hub, hosting events such as concerts. Natalia’s mother is a musician, and Martin, the Zingerenkos’ elder son, is a ballet dancer, so the family has an inherent affinity to music and theatre. Their wines even bear names inspired by the arts, including Opéra, L’Arlequin and Almée. [/subscriber-content] Bordeaux wines by expat winemakers [wine-collection] Related articles Our expert reveals her 12 favourite fine wines hitting the market this autumn Decanter Value Index: The best first growth vintages for collectors Château de la Rivière sold to Global Food Investments

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