TWO MINUTES WITH | Armand de Maigret, Screaming Eagle
16 July 2026
Armand de Maigret made his name in the wine world in his native France, managing Bordeaux’s Château Pichon Baron and other properties within the AXA Millésimes wine portfolio. He eventually found his way to California, where he began working for Stan Kroenke’s wine estates, which today include Bonneau de Martray in Burgundy, as well as the jewel in the crown, the boutique Napa label Screaming Eagle. We caught up with him on a recent trip to Australia, where he held a masterclass for our Melbourne Members
What is your ‘last supper’ wine?
That will depend on who else is there. But probably something white, in a magnum format, because there’s never enough, and then to watch the wine evolve during our hours around the table. I’d probably go for a wine that I’ve not worked with – a wine I don’t yet know. So I love, love, love Champagne. And I love Chenin Blanc. I think the Sauvignon Blancs that come out of the Left Bank of Bordeaux are beautiful. But then so are the Chardonnays around the world too…
Where is your dream vineyard?
Tough one. I’m still looking, actually. It depends on knowledge. And I know that I still don’t know anything. I know what I work with, what I work on. But there are phenomenal places in the world that I know nothing about – probably some that I am not even aware of.
Nebbiolo is very intriguing to me. I’ve been disappointed many times, but when it’s good, it’s phenomenal, so I would love to know more. But I’m getting older and sometimes you don’t have enough time… So maybe Riesling. Riesling can be phenomenal and there are places where Riesling is just starting, where we haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
Who is your wine hero?
All the vineyard workers. That job is so difficult, it takes so long to learn to do well and the rewards are really not that big. But they have such pride in what they do, and I have huge respect for that. Most people don’t appreciate just what they do.
What’s the next big thing in wine?
Gen Z inheriting (money) from their parents and discovering that they loved wine all along. For me, the reason Gen Z isn’t drinking wine today is simply because they can’t afford it. Or rather they can afford the bad stuff but not the good stuff… I’m basing this on personal experience. At home, when I put some good wines on the table for my kids and their friends, they’re like, “This is really good. I’ve never tasted anything this good before.” So I ask them what they open at home or when they’re out with their friends or at a party. I don’t want to mention the brands, but when they tell me, I’m like, “Ah, okay, I understand.” Ultimately, wine is all about access, knowledge and money.
What’s your favourite wine memory?
The same as what I mentioned earlier – and a memory that repeats itself through my 40 years in the business: people who finally discover that they love wine, they just never had access to anything good. Look at today [the 67 Pall Mall Melbourne’s Screaming Eagle and Jonata masterclass]. A lot of people here wanted to have Screaming Eagle because it’s legendary. Or to have something that not many people can afford. And that’s fine. But now they will want Screaming Eagle because they know it’s really good. That’s exactly what I want to see – people wanting to enjoy wine because it’s good, not just because it’s a label.
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