Jonathan Maltus awarded OBE in Queen’s birthday honours

Jonathan Maltus, the British owner of estates in Bordeaux and Napa, has been awarded an OBE for services to wine and winemaking in the Queen's latest honours list.

Maltus is best known for Château Teyssier in St-Emilion, which he bought in 1994, and his single vineyard wines such as Le Dome, Les Astéries and Vieux Château Mazerat.

He has long championed the Cabernet Franc grape within his wines, and is today one of the largest land holders in St-Emilion with over 50 hectares of vines.

‘This came a little out of the left field and I’m certain that I am not typical of the genre,’ Maltus told decanter.com.

‘I feel that the award is for everyone here who has been knocking around with me for the past 20 years building up these businesses’.

Maltus sells around 20% of his overall production in the UK.

• Video: Jonathon Maltus speaks at Decanter masterclass

Steven Spurrier said ‘Apart from being, with his wife Lyn, a welcoming and generous host, the Jonathan Maltus I have known since he arrived at Château Teyssier 20 years ago, epitomises creation and determination – characteristics well-recognised by his OBE.

‘His wines speak for themselves and should also be awarded an OBE – Ordre de Bordeaux Excellence.’

Previous OBEs for services to wine include Jancis Robinson MW, Hugh Johnson, DWWA vice chair Gerard Bassett MW MS and the English-born but, very much Australian, Len Evans.

An OBE, standing for Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, is awarded to a small number of British nationals or those who have made a significant contribution to the United Kingdom.

It is fourth in the hierarchy of five awards within the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.