Romain Gonzalez

A proper Bordeaux boy, Romain’s earliest childhood memories are of following his grandad through the vines in his small family vineyard. It was growing up here that Romain learnt a love of all things nature. Even then, he knew in his heart, he was destined to become a winemaker.

Now a 20-year winemaking veteran, Romain heads-up the historic Chateau Fonplegade, where grapevines have thrived since the late 1500s. Like a dynamo, he zips from cellar to vineyard to office, working with his team to create the finest wines possible.

Despite growing up in traditional old Bordeaux, Romain is as open-minded as they come. In his early years he worked in the Napa Valley, where he discovered the incredible diversity of Californian wines. And getting to meet passionate folks from wildly different wine cultures was a real lightbulb moment for Romain. That’s why, each year, he recruits new winemakers from all around the world to work at Chateau Fonplegade, it’s his way of giving a little back and sharing his experience and passion with the world.