Jean Hoefliger- The Perfectionist

Jean Hoefliger is a man with a quixotic mission: He is inspired and driven by the quest for creative perfection while knowing full well that it can never be achieved. An artisan who has always been motivated to push the envelope, he relies on a commitment to constant scientific research matched by an open-minded, entrepreneurial creativity. Jean was born and raised in Switzerland, where his first winery experience was at his godfather’s estate. He soon left for California, where he worked at Michel Schlumberger and Hartford Family in Sonoma. This was followed by moves to Bordeaux and South Africa, where he made wine at the esteemed Chateau Carbonnieux and Meerlust estates. After earning degrees in enology and viticulture at Switzerland’s Federal Winemaking School of Changins and in science at the Maturité Fédérale, Jean returned to Bordeaux to make wine at Chateau Lynch-Bages. In 2001, he spent five years as winemaker for Newton Vineyard alongside Michel Rolland and developed relationships with Michel’s other proteges, including Aaron Pott.

Michel Rolland- The Master

Michel Rolland requires very little introduction. The Bordeaux-based winemaker makes wine in 13 countries and has played a large role in defining global wine styles during his illustrious career. Michel was raised among the vines in his native France and grew up learning the craft from his father, who encouraged him to pursue his education in viticulture and enology. To this end, Michel spent time in study at Tour Blanche and Bordeaux Oenology Institute, taking on the knowledge of some of the great winemakers of the 20th century, “The fathers of modern enology,” in his own words. Michel has spent most of his adult life helping wineries find the most authentic expression of their vineyards and fostering a new generation of winemakers through his mentorship. Michel’s impact on individuals within and the wine industry as a whole cannot be overstated; he is a true master of his craft.

Aaron Pott- The Purist

Aaron Pott visited France as a boy, and the romanticism of European wine culture took hold of his heart and inspired him to try his hand at winemaking as a profession. As a young man, he developed a skillset while learning from some of the best winemakers in the industry, an education emphasizing varietal purity and attention to detail. In addition to achieving degrees at both UC Davis and Universite de Bourgogne Aaron has worked at prestigious wineries including Opus One, Newton Vineyards – where he met his dear friend and mentor Michel Rolland, Chateau Troplong Mondot in St. Emillion, and Chateau La Tour Figeac among others. He began his journey as a consultant winemaker in 2007 and since then has produced exceptional wines worldwide.