Montreal Passion Vin presents : the 8 speakers of the 17th edition !
6 November 2018
From Italy to Portugal, Champagne to Rhône and through the magnificent vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux, our guest speakers come from the most beautiful regions of Europe to present their great vintages.
For the 17th edition of Montréal Passion Vin, we have the pleasure of welcoming eight of the most passionate members of the winemaking world: Alice Tétienne, Dirk Niepoort, Roberto Voerzio, Philippe Guigal, Aurélien Valance, Pierre-Henry Gagey, Stefano Ruini and Frédéric Faye.
Working in the field of viticulture and oenology for many years, our guest speakers have a few anecdotes in store for you that are worthy of their most outstanding wines!
Alice Tétienne
Born in Champagne, Alice Tétienne understood very early on that she was destined to make Champagne. Her higher education began with a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur (BTS), an advanced technician certificate in viticulture-oenology, and she worked in the vineyards and cellars of various estates. She further enhanced her knowledge of the wine sector by obtaining a Master Vigne et Terroir (vineyard and terroir management) degree. Graduating as an oenologist (Diplôme National d’Œnologue), Alice rounded out her profile with skills in winemaking, research and as a wine consultant. Deeply aware of the image and valorization of the Champagne region, she also obtained a Master Vins et Champagne degree and explored the field of communications. Alice joined the Krug team in November 2015 where she is a member of the tasting committee and responsible for public relations at the vineyard.
Dirk Niepoort
Born in 1964, Dirk Niepoort discovered the world of wine while studying in Switzerland. In 1987, he joined his father Rolf Niepoort in the family business and set out to innovate while also maintaining its traditions. In order to create the dry wines he was seeking, Dirk acquired the Quinta de Nápoles and Quinta do Carril farms and vineyards in the Cima Corgo region, which traditionally produces the best Port wines. In 1993, Dirk Niepoort launched his first dry red: Redoma. Today, the range of wines includes white and rosé Redoma and the reds, Vertente, Batuta and Charme as well as white Tiara. Dirk’s passion and respect for Douro wines and terroir have inspired and defined the spirit of his team for the past two decades.
Roberto Voerzio
Born in 1954, Roberto Voerzio is one of the most talented winemakers of his generation. Raised in a family of winemakers whose grandfather was one of the first to bottle his production, Roberto Voerzio was only 16 when he enjoyed his first glasses of Barolo. The wine produced by family friends in the vineyards of La Serra, Brunante and Cerequio had a major influence on his desire to make his own wine there one day. Owning barely two hectares of vines when he separated from his brother Gianni in 1986, Roberto devoted himself entirely to this pursuit and forged a reputation that has enabled him to get his hands on the most beautiful parcels of land in Barolo.
Philippe Guigal
Born in Ampuis in 1975, Philippe is the third generation Guigal in Côte-Rôtie, on land that is 24 centuries old. Today, the Estate founded by his grandfather Étienne in 1946 is run by Marcel, his father. Together, they uphold the family pursuit in service of the great wines of the Rhône. Beginning his university studies in biochemistry and organic chemistry, at the age of 21, Philippe completed his studies in oenology at the Faculté de Bourgogne. He then obtained a Master of Science in Wine Management diploma that is recognized in 46 countries. In 1995, he began assisting his father and took over the full winemaking duties as of 1997. Philippe Guigal has also acted as Foreign Trade Advisor to France since 2009 and was named Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite Agricole (Knight of the National Order of Merit – Agriculture) in 2017.
Pierre-Henry Gagey
Pierre-Henry Gagey was born in Beaune in 1955. After studying engineering at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Informatique et de Mathématiques Appliquées (ENSIMAG), he graduated from the Institut Supérieur des Affaires (ISA – MBA HEC). He joined Maison Louis Jadot in 1985 and became president in 1992. He was President of the Syndicat des Négociants en Vins de Bourgogne from 1996 to 2002, Vice-President of the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité until 2006 and President of the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne from 2006 to 2014. He is also president of two benevolent associations: “Climats du Cœur” and “12 de Cœur”.
Stefano Ruini
Graduating in 1983 from the University of Piacenza in Italy, Stefano Ruini specialized in viticulture and oenology. In love with France, he moved there to begin his career, namely in Bordeaux, at a Grand Cru Classé de Pauillac, where he worked for nearly 13 years. Over the years, he became manager of the château and got involved in all aspects of production (technical, human and economic). This enabled him to gain an overall perspective and to tackle the vineyard and the wine in an integral way. Throughout his career, respect and knowledge of the terroir were his driving forces, enabling him to preserve the originality and authenticity of the wines. In 2017, he returned home to Italy and joined Tenuta Luce.
Frédéric Faye
Frédéric Faye was born in Bordeaux in 1981. Since the beginning of the 18th century, his family, which is from the Périgord, has owned a small estate in Saint-Astier. He got his passion for agriculture and for nature from his grandfather. After studying in Bordeaux, where he became a viticulture-oenology engineer, he interned at Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol, at Château Fontenil in Fronsac and at Yacochuya in Argentina with Michel and Dany Rolland. He did part of his training at Figeac, where he met the Manoncourt family. At the end of his studies, in 2008, the Manoncourts asked him to stay on at Figeac where he became Vineyard Manager, then Technical Director in 2010 and finally Managing Director in 2013.
Aurélien Valance
After obtaining a Master in Management degree from the École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Paris, Aurélien Valance set off for New York, where he helped set up a major wine import business. In 2006, he joined the team at Château Margaux. After 10 years as Commercial Manager, he was promoted to Deputy General Manager in 2016. His duties lead him to travel the world, sharing his passion for Château Margaux wines and supervising their marketing, in traditional markets as well as in the increasingly numerous countries embracing the great wines of Bordeaux. In 2017, he won the Championnat de France de dégustation à l’aveugle (Blind Tasting Championship). An avid collector, Aurélien keeps approximately 10,000 bottles in his cellar.
