André Tchelistcheff

André Viktorovich Tchelistcheff (; December 7, 1901 – April 5, 1994) was an American winemaker.

Tchelistcheff is most notable for his contributions toward defining the style of California's best wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. Called the "dean of American winemakers", industry pioneers, such as Rev. John Staten of Field Stone Winery, Robert Mondavi, Louis Martini, Rob Davis of Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Joel Aiken, Michael Silacci of Opus One, Greg La Follette, of Marchelle Wines, and Rick Sayre of Rodney Strong Wine Estates, considered him their mentor. Andre advised Warren Winiarski in launching Stag's Leap Wine Cellars which famously made the 1973 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon that was awarded the most points in the ”Judgement of Paris” wine tasting in 1976. Andre also assisted Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in launching the Anthology program at Conn Creek Winery in 1991.

History

Childhood and education Born to an aristocratic family in Moscow, Russia, on December 7, 1901, Tchelistcheff's father was the chief justice of the Russian imperial court. Tchelistcheff studied at the military academy at Kiev, but returned to his family when they were forced to flee Moscow due to the Russian Revolution of 1917. From 1918 to 1921, Tchelistcheff fought with the White Army in the Russian Civil War. In 1921, he was left for dead on a Crimean battlefield after his unit was machine-gunned during a snowstorm. He eventually recovered and was reunited with his family, who fled Russia to Yugoslavia.

A grand-nephew of André, Mark Tchelistcheff,

Awards Wine Spectator Distinguished Service Award, 1986. Wine Man of the Year, Wine Industry Technical Symposium, 1990 Reader's Choice Award, The Person Who Has Done the Most to Advance Wine Quality, Wine Spectator 2000 COPIA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2004. Vintners Hall of Fame (Created by the Culinary Institute of America), March 2007