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Alain Junguenet Passes Away

Former race-car driver and wine importer, Alain Junguenet, raced his final lap on October 7, 2019. A zealous supporter of Southern Rhône wines, particularly Châteauneuf-du-Pape, he died from complications associated with Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 77.

Alain’s company, founded as The Wines of France, Inc., but perhaps better known as Alain Junguenet Selection, worked with such well-known properties as Bosquet des Papes, Clos des Papes, Henri Bonneau and Le Vieux Donjon. At one point, Robert M. Parker, Jr., referred to him in The Wine Advocate as “Mr. Châteauneuf-du-Pape.” Here’s a complete listing of the company’s producers, which includes many of the region’s most notable wineries.

He promoted Châteauneuf-du-Pape vigorously over the years, bringing the wines to consumer and trade venues like the Boston Wine Expo, where I first met him in the early 2000s. He didn’t know me at all—I was relatively new to writing about wine and wasn’t yet covering the Rhône specifically—and yet he poured sample after sample, many taken from barrel to highlight the upcoming releases, others from older vintages, taking the time to describe the wines in detail.

Junguenet is survived by his wife, Elaine, two sisters, a daughter, two sons and two grandsons. His son John, who joined the family business in 2005, continues as president.

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