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Michel Rolland, Influential ‘Flying Winemaker,’ Dies at 78 of Heart Attack in Bordeaux

Industry tributes in Argentina highlight his central role in Malbec’s rise.

Overview

  • Bodega Rolland confirmed his death on March 20 from an acute cardiac event in Bordeaux, a detail also reported by family members.
  • The French consultant pioneered the global ‘flying winemaker’ model, advising projects in more than 20 countries through his consultancy and laboratory network.
  • His Argentine story began in 1988 with Arnaldo Etchart in Cafayate, later shaping high‑altitude wines such as Yacochuya and deepening ties across the Valles Calchaquíes.
  • In Mendoza’s Valle de Uco he founded Clos de los Siete after acquiring roughly 850 hectares, launched Rolland Wines, and built widely exported labels including Mariflor and Val de Flores.
  • Admired for elevating quality yet criticized for a ripe, oak‑driven style some saw as homogenizing, he remained active in Argentina through late 2025 and returned again in recent months for harvest festivities.