A Toast to Excellence: Robert de Luxembourg Honored with Wine Spectator’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award Chris Lehoux, October 20, 2024 The former screenwriter has not only grown the company behind Château Haut-Brion but has also made significant contributions to the community. His journey resembles a Hollywood tale. A young prince embarks on a quest for self-discovery, studying in the United States, falling in love, and stepping into the world of screenwriting. However, the call of duty brings him back to Europe to seek fulfillment in the vineyards. Although it may sound like a fairy tale, Prince Robert de Luxembourg’s reality has been far from perfect. He faced the tragic loss of his father at the age of eight and spent his formative years in boarding school. Initially, wine was not on his radar. However, since taking the helm of his family business, Domaine Clarence Dillon, he has rejuvenated one of Bordeaux’s esteemed estates, Château Haut-Brion, expanded by acquiring a Right Bank estate, and launched new, accessible yet high-quality wines. Additionally, he has dedicated resources to community service and medical research charities. In recognition of his remarkable achievements in the wine industry and his altruistic efforts, Prince Robert de Luxembourg has been honored with Wine Spectator‘s 2024 Distinguished Service Award. He is set to receive the award today at the 43rd annual Wine Experience in New York, where he will also present his Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2000 to the audience. Prince Robert’s great grandfather, Clarence Dillon, was a self-made American millionaire known for his banking success. In 1935, he acquired Château Haut-Brion. At that time, Bordeaux was struggling in the aftermath of World War I and the Great Depression, leading to discounted winery sales. Although Haut-Brion was not Dillon’s primary concern, he emphasized the importance of maintaining high wine quality. Following his passing, the estate was overseen by his son, U.S. Ambassador C. Douglas Dillon, and later by his granddaughter, Joan Dillon. In 1993, when Joan sought her son’s assistance in managing the estate, Robert realized that both Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, which Joan had acquired a decade prior, required more focus. “When we had just Haut-Brion, it operated as an agricultural business, more like a farm rather than an expanding enterprise,” he shared with Wine Spectator in 2021. “I believed that in order for our family to remain engaged as shareholders in this company, we needed to approach it as entrepreneurs, properly managing the company to facilitate growth and expansion. It could not operate as merely a whim, as it did when under Clarence Dillon.” With this vision, Robert made significant investments in Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. He also extended his efforts. In 2005, he introduced Clarendelle, a range of Bordeaux wines “inspired by Haut-Brion,” he states, which are priced around $20. That same year, he established Clarence Dillon Wines, a sales and distribution company, to promote Clarendelle alongside other Bordeaux wines. The organization was later consolidated under the new name, Domaine Clarence Dillon (DCD). In 2011, DCD took ownership of Château Tertre Daugay, a distinguished estate located in St.-Emilion, which holds a Grand Cru Classé designation in the official classification. By 2013, Robert successfully added the adjacent estate Château L’Arrosée, also a Grand Cru Classé, to his portfolio. In a unique and somewhat controversial decision, he merged the two estates. He renamed the now larger property Château Quintus, and it quickly rose to prominence as one of the leading estates on the Right Bank. While expanding the family’s wine and hospitality ventures, Robert has also embraced new philanthropic endeavors. Two initiatives are particularly noteworthy. In 2009, he co-founded the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, a cultural center dedicated to celebrating the global history and art of wine, which opened its doors in 2016 and drew over 400,000 visitors last year. In 2016, Robert and his wife Julie faced a profound challenge when their son Frederik was diagnosed with a rare PolG-related mitochondrial disease. “It turned life upside down,” Robert reflects. Frederik continues to face significant medical hurdles. Inspired by his journey, Robert and Julie established the PolG Foundation, aimed at promoting research to find a cure for mitochondrial PolG-related disorders. This research is critical for millions affected by mitochondrial diseases, including those linked to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, and various cancer types. Last year, the Foundation allocated $3.5 million in grants to support these initiatives. “I feel incredibly honored and moved to accept this prestigious award from Marvin Shanken and his remarkable teams at Wine Spectator. As the fourth generation leading our family wine business, it holds special significance for me to be the second member of my family to achieve this recognition, especially since my mother received this same honor in New York nearly 20 years ago.” November 2, 2022 October 15, 2018 October 8, 2018 October 8, 2017 October 8, 2016 November 2, 2022 October 15, 2018 October 8, 2018 October 8, 2017 October 8, 2016 About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine