The Nugget: Luc Desbonnets
Issue: 008 · March 2017 · 3 Wise Men About Town
No.8 Luc Desbonnets
Wine Guy · Family Guy · Island Guy · Spiritual Guy
With a surname like Desbonnets and a job description of winemaker/ owner of Frenchman’s Hill Estate on Waiheke Island, you’d be forgiven for thinking our mate Luc is a certified Tricolour-flying Frenchie. Surprisingly though, when he opens his mouth, there’s not a hint of “‘Allo ‘Allo” about him.
The answer lies somewhere in-between. Born to a French father (whom he named his vineyard after) and kiwi mother, Luc grew up in Wellington before a call to his father’s homeland came in 1989. There he discovered his roots in more ways than one – embarking on a winemaking journey across Europe, before ending up on the island.
Like all of us at 3 Wise Men, Luc is fastidious about quality. His unashamed goal is to create New Zealand Grand Cru red wines, equal to the best in the world. Seems he’s got a good chance, given over thirty of his reds have achieved the near mythical status of 90+ scores from the world’s foremost wine critic, Robert Parker.
However, you won’t hear Luc crowing about his success. He’s more likely to be out on the vineyard, getting to know the land. He reckons he grows wine not grapes, with winemaking an exchange between a person and the land which can only happen with time. Just as well he totally subscribes to Waiheke’s mantra of “Slow down, you’re here”, by also taking the time to swim regularly at one of the island’s many beaches, and to hang out with his three kids and wife Anna.
Mind you the vineyard is never far from his thoughts. Grab a bottle to taste the fruits of his labours, or better still, visit the man himself on the island for the total experience. Allow yourself plenty of time though. Given that Luc believes great wine should please the eye, the nose, the mouth, and the stomach before soothing the soul, it’s a fairly safe bet that once there, you won’t be leaving in a hurry.
Quick Questions
- Sporting/concert event you’d travel back in time for? Pretty much any Bob Marley concert.
- Last supper meal? Crumbed lamb cutlets & cepes (a meaty French mushroom delicacy)
- Best ever dinner party guests? Deepak Chopra, Bob Marley, Sam Hunt, Milan Kundera, & Ivanka Trump. This could be the start of a good joke.
- Favourite ever album/band? Pink Floyd, Animals or Dark Side of the Moon.
- No man should ever wear… Eau de toilette!
- Beer or wine/Stones or Beatles? Fair to say I’m a grape man/ Stones all night long.
- Thing I’d take if house was burning down? The two bottles of Bordeaux Pichon-Longueville 2005 in the cellar.
- Favourite city? Montpellier, France. Brilliant memories.
- Shirts in or out? Trending toward out – part of the art of being 50+, though this new pink number feels fantastic tucked in. (Nottingham shirt $120).
- Favourite 3 Wise Men piece of kit? Toss-up between my new navy tailored cotton trou (Shortland pants $120 or 3 for three hundy) and these Bertie Maverick Chukka boots ($250).
- What was the last picture you took with your phone? The most amazing twilight sky of a fingernail moon and single bright star from our deck on 1 January. It’s now on our cellar door.
- What was the last lie you told? That my youngest son would lose his fingers and toes if he kept scoffing sugar at the current rate. He got worried and cried!
- Favourite wine? Chateau du Tertre-Roteboeuf, St Emilion. A mate of mine’s Dad makes it.
- At a restaurant I never order… Cheap wine. (Great wine doesn’t give you hangovers!)
- Person who’s influenced you most (not your family) and why? My mates. They’re always there and have absolutely no pity.
- Best life lesson/Life motto? Understand your identity, care for people, follow your passions and connect with your inner spirituality and the environment.
As seen in print
The Nugget: Luc Desbonnets
This story first ran as a full page in The Nugget, our 3 Wise Men About Town series on good buggers from around the country and the 3 Wise Men kit they love.
View the full page