The property was bought in 1977 from the Ginestet family by André Mentzelopoulos, Corinne Mentzelopoulos’ (centre) father and grand-father to Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos (left) and Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos (right).

Since 1980, 70-year-old Corinne Mentzelopoulos has been running 1855-classified Premier Grand Cru Classé Château Margaux with its 87 hectares of red vines and 12 of white. On October 18, she announced that she would be retiring and passing over the property to her children. Her son, Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos is taking over management of the property through its holding company, and her daughter, Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos is chairing the supervisory board.

The generational transition will be seamless as Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos has worked on the family estate since 2020, first as executive assistant then as deputy managing director in charge of strategy and development. Alexandra Petit-Mentzelopoulos has worked as brand ambassador in Great Britain for the chateau then deputy managing director for communications and image since 2012.

Olivier Pinon, the estate’s Paris-based managing director since 1983, is also retiring this year. Since 2016 – the year the chateau’s veteran MD Paul Pontallier died suddenly after thirty-three years at its helm – Château Margaux has been run by agricultural engineer Philippe Bascaule.

Vitisphere