Denis Malbec

Winemaker, Kapcsandy Family Winery

Denis was born at Latour, which means he not only learned to walk in between barrels and bike in between the vines but also learned winemaking and vineyard management early on with his father, Jean-Noel Malbec—who worked at Château Latour from 1947 to 1994—and his grandfather, Camille Malbec—who worked in the vineyard from the 1920s until the late 1970s.

Denis initially studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux and later in Reims, Champagne. He completed his studies with a “Tour de France” of the vineyards with work at Château Haut-Brion, Château Lagrange, the Pugnac Cooperative in Côte de Bourg, Léon Viollant, owner and wine merchant in Côte de Beaune, Duval Leroy, in the Côte des Blancs in Champagne and at Calvet, negociant in Bordeaux.

Denis started at Château Latour as one of the cellar workers in 1993 and took the position as enologist and winemaker at Château Latour in 1994 until 1999. Denis has been making wine in the Napa Valley since 2000 and working with Kapcsandy Family since 2005.

Country born: France

Education: Denis initially studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux and later in Reims, Champagne. He completed his studies with a “Tour de France” of the vineyards with work at Château Haut-Brion, Château Lagrange, the Pugnac Cooperative in Côte de Bourg, Léon Viollant, owner and wine merchant in Côte de Beaune, Duval Leroy, in the Côte des Blancs in Champagne and at Calvet, negociant in Bordeaux.

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
To consistently produce wines of “First Growth,” or Grand Cru quality of any region or winery in the world.