Sir David E Murray - Owner Sir David Murray has held a passion for wine over many years and has amassed a wonderful private cellar, and as one of Scotland’s leading inspirational entrepreneurs and Chairman of Murray International Holdings which employes over 4000 persons and has an annual turnover of £500 million, the purchase of Château Routas provided the perfect opportunity of mixing business with pleasure. In the mid eighties David became friendly with Hugh Johnson, becoming a partner in The Hugh Johnson Wine Collection which led to Graeme Haggart, Haggie to his friends, who ran the Wine Collection to write the New Zealand section of The Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine Book whilst working for David in New Zealand. The Murray Family invested in The Brookfields Winery in Napier, Hawkes Bay New Zealand in 2004 and the acquisition of Château Routas blends well from the point of view of operational size, blending and allows ideas from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to be discussed freely.   The Château Routas operation, encompassing the planting and nurturing of the vines, harvesting, wine making, blending, labelling and bottling of the wines allows the interest and passion to be carried through to the final enjoyment of savouring the wines.

 

Peter C W Kingstone - Director of Sales and Marketing
Peter trained as an hotelier, working in Geneva and then in Logrono, Spain, capital of The Rioja where his interest in wine became a major part of his life. Prior to joining Sir David Murray in 1982, Peter was Deputy General Manager at both Gleneagles and Turnberry Hotels in Scotland.

 

During his 25 years with David he has always been involved in The Hotel, Restaurant and Hospitality Industry therefore having a full insight and knowledge of, not only the wine industry but that of The Hotelier, The Restaurateur, and The Consumer.

 

Jean-Louis Bavay - Head Winemaker
Jean Louis was one of the first employees at Château Routas in 1992, having worked with two of the great Rhone wine makers, Luc Sorin and Bob Lindquist. Prior to joining Château Routas Jean Louis was the assistant wine maker at Domaine Ott and Domaine de La Tour Sainte Anne, both highly respected wineries in Provence, and he has degrees in both Viticulture and Oenology.

Philippe Saraciva - Vineyard Manager
Philippe, who has a degree in Viticulture, has been at Routas for over 13 years, with Jean Louis, and initially was Assistant Vineyard Manager and then promoted to Vineyard Manager