The Faces of Bordeaux - Marjolaine Maurice de Coninck, Château Marquis d’Alesme, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, AOC Margaux
At The Bordeaux Concierge, our aim is to introduce our clients to the real Bordeaux. This includes meeting the people that make Bordeaux what it is today. As part of this effort, we will bring these vibrant personalities to our audience at home through our new series, The Faces of Bordeaux. Throughout this series, we will introduce you to château owners, winemakers, cellar masters and members of the hospitality teams from an eclectic assemblage of châteaux across the Bordeaux region. We will also introduce you to some of our favorite restaurant owners, chefs, and market stallholders who all contribute to Bordeaux’s burgeoning culinary scene, as well as others who can provide a different perspective including tour guides, wine journalists, and experience providers.
Please join us as we introduce you to
The Faces of Bordeaux
Marjolaine Maurice de Coninck
General Manager, winemaker and enologist
Château Marquis d’Alesme, Château Labégorce Margaux, and Château La Tour de Mons
How long have you been in your role at Château Marquis d’Alesme, Château Labégorce Margaux, and Château La Tour de Mons?
I have been the General Manager, which includes being the winemaker and enologist, of Château Marquis d’Alesme and Château Labégorce Margaux for the past 10 years. I have recently become the General Manager at Château La Tour de Mons as well. These three properties are situated on the Margaux appellation which is on the left bank, north of Bordeaux.
What has been your career path to date?
After my studies in agricultural engineering, oenology, economics and land management, I had the chance to manage several wine properties in the Bordeaux region as well as abroad.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The first thing that comes to my mind and that I enjoy above all is patiently observing the beauty and richness of nature. I attach importance to observation work which allows us to understand, adjust and refine our actions. I am also very convinced that our team’s knowledge is essential. I made the choice to invest in continuing education for our vineyard workers, especially regarding pruning, in order to better understand our objectives, the importance of adapting the work to each vine, and sharing the feeling of pride in a job well done. Moreover I enjoy federating teamwork, sharing knowledge and having a quest for excellence. A quotation that I particularly love is “Alone we go faster, together we go further.”
“Château Marquis d’Alesme has an unusual and exceptional soul, full of classicism, utopia and fantasy that drives us in our daily tasks.”
In your view, what makes Château Marquis d’Alesme special?
Marquis d'Alesme has an unusual and exceptional soul, full of classicism, utopia and fantasy that drives us in our daily tasks. The double culture of the Perrodo family (French through the children’s father and Chinese from their mother) is part of Marquis d’Alesme’s DNA and makes it special. I would say that Marquis d'Alesme is an uninhibited and somewhat impertinent way of life in the world of a Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
Maybe the fact that I have a parallel life with three young children and a winegrower husband. It’s always a challenge to juggle family life and professional life. It is certainly a fascinating challenge for many women today: to be at the same time a wife, a mother, and a passionate entrepreneur.
What profession other than your own would you love to attempt?
If I had to imagine a new professional life, I would probably seek a commitment to a humanitarian cause.
“Bordeaux is a superb holiday destination whether it be for a long weekend or mid-week break, or as a base to tour the beautifully stunning region of Aquitaine. ”
What is your favorite thing about Bordeaux?
Probably the fact that Bordeaux and it’s region has a great diversity of landscapes and activities to offer. Bordeaux is architecturally stunning with a superb 17/18th century waterfront that was awarded UNESCO world heritage status. Being a wine capital, there are hundreds of superb chateaux to visit. The regional cuisine is outstanding and the city has a superb selection or bistro's, brasseries and world class restaurants. The city has excellent museums, great nightlife and the beaches of the Atlantic are very close by. Bordeaux is a superb holiday destination whether it be for a long weekend or mid-week break, or as a base to tour the beautifully stunning region of Aquitaine.
What is the number one thing visitors to Bordeaux should do/see while they are here?
Come and experience the Magical Interlude at Château Marquis d’Alesme, its an extraordinary place to explore !
Château Marquis d’Alesme, located in the Margaux appellation, was recognized as a Classified Third Growth in the 1855 classification. Its vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Chateau Marquis d’Aleseme underwent a significant renovation that was completed in time for the 2015 harvest. The design, created by the architect Fabien Pedelaborde, is a blending of Asian and classic French influences that came from the owner, Nathalie Perrodo, who has a French/Chinese heritage. Château Marquis d’Alesme offers visits from May to October.
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