Winemaker
Sophie Fourcade
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Saint-Émilion, France
i. Biography
# Sophie Fourcade
Coming Up
The move from bank law to wine estate management gives Clos Saint-Martin a useful kind of discipline. Sophie Fourcade came up through legal work at a bank before taking on the daily demands of the property, where paperwork, timing, and continuity all matter. Since 2000, she has been the owner and manager of Clos Saint-Martin in Saint-Émilion, France.
Where They Are Now
Hand-harvesting sets the tone at Clos Saint-Martin: the grapes are taken in bunch by bunch, with selection kept close to the work rather than delegated to machines. Sophie Fourcade’s cellar approach begins with pre-fermentation cold maceration, then moves fermentation into new oak barrels and amphorae, using two vessels to shape the wine at an early stage. Aging follows the same split between materials, with the wine resting in new oak barrels and amphorae. Integral vinifications are also carried out in barrels and terracotta jars, extending the estate’s use of different vessels across the work. The method is deliberate and structured, with variation built into the cellar rather than added after the fact. Saint-Émilion is part of the estate’s language, but the stronger thread is continuity. Clos Saint-Martin carries family ownership as part of its identity, and Sophie Fourcade keeps that line intact as owner and manager since 2000. Her own account makes the lineage plain: “My great-great-grandfather, Monsieur Malen, bought the vineyard and the house.”
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Sophie
What is Sophie Fourcade's current role?
As of 2026, Sophie Fourcade is owner and manager.
Where did Sophie Fourcade work before?
Sophie Fourcade's earlier career included a bank.
