Daniel Cathiard of Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte and Cathiard Vineyard, dies at 81
Daniel Cathiard, who restored the vineyards and reputation of Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, and founded Cathiard Vineyard in Napa Valley, has died aged 81.
Daniel Cathiard was born in a ski resort, Uriage les Bains, close to Grenoble, the grandson of a local négociant, whose father owned a family business. It was on the ski slopes however, that he made his name. In his teenage years as a member of the French national Alpine ski team, Cathiard met his wife Florence, also a skier, and the two married four years later, going on on to have two daughters, Mathilde and Alice.
Cathiard took over the family grocery chain, Genty-Cathiard in 1972 after his father fell ill and proceeded to expand the business, including a sporting goods chain, Go Sport. This was sold in the late 1980s for a reported US$40.8 million, and it was then that the couple turned to winemaking. In 1990, they acquired the somewhat overlooked Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a Grand Cru Classé de Graves dating to the 14th century and undertook a total transformation of the estate. This included a complete restoration of the vineyards and the creation of underground cellars, in keeping with their pioneering, long-term vision.
Under their supervision and minute attention to detail, the château heralded a new style of viticulture, combining organic and biodynamic farming with a more sustainable approach. They also embraced wine tourism through hospitality, including a spa and hotel, wine experiences and art, with Florence working alongside her husband to build the estate’s international reputation and image. Artworks were prominently exhibiting at the estate, with Barry Flanagan’s hare sculpture becoming the estate’s personal emblem.
As its wines were increasingly recognized for their elegance and complexity Château Smith Haut Lafitte’s global reputation grew – for example, the estate welcomed King Charles III in 2023, during his first state visit to France as monarch, and the king’s first official visit to Bordeaux since 1977.
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With Smith Haut Lafitte’s renovation long complete, the Cathiards embarked on a new challenge in 2020, acquiring land in Napa Valley, California. The couple had first first visited the US back in 1969, attending the famous Woodstock Festival as youngsters, but it was only many years later that the opportunity to acquire Flora Springs estate in Napa arose. According to Florence, Daniel fell in love with the historic Napa property, situated in Rutherford and St. Helena at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, admitting to db that “we bought it too quickly”.
Since then, the renamed Cathiard Vineyard has also been renovated, its well-drained, predominately gravel and loam soils ideally suited to Bordeaux varietals. Several blocks of Malbec were replanted with Cabernet and changes have been made to the pruning and canopy management in order to move away from high yields towards better quality wines, with great effect.
Last month, it was announced that responsibilities for the estate would be transferred to their daughters, with Mathilde Thomas, founder of global skincare brand Caudalie and and Alice Tourbier, the owner of luxury hotel and spa chain Les Sources Hôtels, joining the executive board. Florence Cathiard would also be stepping into an supervisory role on the board.
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