Benoit Touquette

Winemaker, Realm Cellars

A native of Bordeaux, Benoit brings exceptional raw talent and significant global experience to Realm Cellars having worked alongside Andy Erickson on numerous projects (Arietta, Favia, Hartwell, Ovid, Screaming Eagle, etc.) and more recently as the full-time winemaker for Hartwell and several smaller projects. Benoit has worked at several Bordeaux wineries including Chateau La Louviere and Chateau Couhins-Lurton. In South Africa he was hired by Michel Rolland to make wine at Remhoogte Estate.

Country born: France

Education: Benoit holds a Masters degree of Enology and Chemistry from the University of Bordeaux.

Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Through detailed attention in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the winery, I seek to make wines that express the unique attributes of the sites from which the wines are derived.