Professor Denis Dubourdieu in October 2014, Bordeaux
Professor Denis Dubourdieu in October 2014.
(Image credit: Mehdi Fedouach / AFP / Getty Images)

See a timeline of key moments in the professional life of Denis Dubourdieu.

Timeline: The life of Denis Dubourdieu

1949

Born at Château Doisy-Daëne in Barsac.

1975

Begins thesis at Bordeaux University under Pascal Ribereau-Gayon, after studying for first degree at Sup Agro in Montpellier.

1976

chateau reynon, dubourdieu

(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Marries Florence David and takes over running Château Reynon when her father dies just a few months into their marriage.

1978

Completes PhD on the molecular structure of botrytised grapes. He would go on to publish more than 200 academic papers – many of them having a direct affect in wine quality.

botrytis, botrytised grapes

(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

1978

First son, Fabrice, is born

1981

Second son, Jean-Jacques, is born

1982

Further doctorate on filtering and fining botrytised wines.

Buys land to form Clos Floridène, in an attempt to show that great wine can still be made outside of the top classifications.

He also begins teaching at Bordeaux University and would go on teach many of the people running Bordeaux estates today.

1987

Begins consulting for estates other than his own, at first specialising in white wines with partner (and former student) Christophe Ollivier.

This would eventually earn him the nickname ‘Pope of white wine’ in Bordeaux.

Valérie Lavigne, also a former student, joins the consulting group.

1998

Becomes consultant to Château Haut-Bailly, marking beginning of red wine consultancy.

Haut-Bailly vines, decanter man of the year 2016

Château Haut-Bailly and its vineyards bathed in the summer sunshine.
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

1999

Begins work on the creation of a multi-disciplinary wine centre in Bordeaux with Alain Rousset, president of Aquitaine regional council.

2000

Takes over from his father at Château Doisy-Daëne, where he was born.

2006

Jean-Jacques and Fabrice begin working alongside their father at Château Doisy-Daëne.

2009

Official inauguration of the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin (ISVV) on 23 June.

ISVV, wine in Bordeaux, dubourdieu

(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

2014

Buys Château Doisy-Dubroca from Louis Lurton to re-unite with Doisy-Daëne. The two were part of the same estate until the early 19th century.

2016

Named Decanter Man of the Year 2016.

In July, and following a battle with illness, Denis dies surrounded by family in Bordeaux.

Aside from running several different estates and consulting to around 80 châteaux, he had been cited more than 7,000 times in academic work by the time of his death.

Denis Dubourdieu

(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

1949 – 2016

Read more about what Denis Dubourdieu has done for wine lovers

Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.