CHÂTEAU MARGAUX ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF AURÉLIEN VALANCE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR
PARIS, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After thirty years dedicated to Château Margaux, Philippe Bascaules will retire and step down as Managing Director at the end of 2026. Aurélien Valance, currently Deputy Managing Director, Sales and Operations, will succeed him as of 1 December 2026. This transition reflects a spirit of continuity and knowledge transfer, supported by an experienced and longstanding team committed to the estate.
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Philippe Bascaules: 30 years dedicated to Château Margaux
An agricultural engineer, Philippe Bascaules joined Château Margaux in 1990 as Director of Operations. He held this position until 2011, before spending five years at the helm of a prestigious vineyard in Napa Valley. In March 2017, he returned to Château Margaux, this time as Managing Director.
Throughout these years, his experience and deep knowledge of the estate have been invaluable in ensuring its long-term continuity. From December 2026, Philippe Bascaules will hand over his responsibilities as Managing Director of the estate to Aurélien Valance. He will, however, continue to support the estate as a consultant on specific assignments during key technical periods, including the harvest, winemaking and blending, alongside Éric Boissenot, Château Margaux's consulting oenologist for the past 35 years. The estate will therefore continue to benefit from his experience and intimate knowledge of the vineyard.
"Philippe has devoted the greater part of his professional life to Château Margaux, and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to him for his commitment, his availability and the high standards with which he has always served the estate. Beyond his expertise and exceptional knowledge of the property, I would also like to recognise his outstanding human qualities." Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos, Co-owner and CEO of Château Margaux
The future through continuity
The appointment of Aurélien Valance as Managing Director naturally reflects this commitment to continuity and the transmission of knowledge.
His history with Château Margaux began in 2001, when he first joined the estate as an intern. Following his studies at HEC Paris and experience in New York working in wine importing, he returned to the estate in January 2006 as Commercial Director. In 2016, he was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Sales and Operations. The following year, he won the title of French Blind Tasting Champion.
Twenty years after first joining the estate, Aurélien Valance has an intimate knowledge of its history, wines, teams and markets. His appointment therefore continues a career built within Château Margaux itself and reflects the confidence placed in those who have supported the estate over the long term.
"Aurélien has known Château Margaux for twenty years and shares its culture, high standards and values at a profound level. His appointment is a natural continuation of our history," says Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos.
This continuity is also underpinned by an experienced technical team. Having joined the estate on 6 May 2026, Benjamin Vimal serves as Technical and Operations Director and oversees all technical operations, from the vineyard through to bottling. Alongside him, Blandine de Rouffignac, who has been with Château Margaux since 2018 and is now Director of Research & Development, leads the estate's experimental programmes, enabling it to anticipate future challenges and support the evolution of its practices.
This complementarity between technical expertise and research reflects Château Margaux's commitment to preparing for the future while preserving the identity of its terroir and wines over the long term.
"I would like to thank Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos for the trust he has placed in me. It is a great honour to take on the role of Managing Director of Château Margaux, an estate I have known for twenty years and to which I feel deeply attached. I approach this responsibility with great humility, but also with the strength of an experienced and committed team. I wish to continue the work carried out with Philippe and with all those who bring the estate to life every day. Together with Benjamin Vimal and Blandine de Rouffignac, we can draw on complementary areas of expertise and a deep knowledge of Château Margaux. Our collective responsibility is to preserve what makes it unique, while continuing to prepare for its future with the highest standards of excellence."
Aurélien Valance, Managing Director of Château Margaux
Contact:
Johana Loubet - j.loubet@chateau-margaux.com
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