Ch. Giscours owner dies

The owner of Château Giscours, Eric Albada Jelgersma, has died aged 79.

The Dutch businessman died peacefully at his Swiss home on 21 June. As well as third growth Giscours, he owned fifth growth Château du Tertre and the Tuscan winery Caiarossa.

Jelgersma acquired Giscours in 1995 and du Tertre a mere two years later. Despite some early, messy legal battles with the former owners of Giscours over ownership of the buildings and many vineyards and a scandal involving the use of oak staves in the wine, Giscours has enjoyed a growing reputation for quality ever since.

His Italian venture, which became Caiarossa, began in 2004 and remained a passion project of Jelgersma even after he was left paralysed and wheelchair-bound after a sailing accident in 2005.

He is survived by his three children, Dennis, Derk and Valerie who will, “continue to develop his legacy,” said a statement from the château.