19 Facts About Alexis Lichine

Alexis Lichine was a Russian wine writer and entrepreneur.

Alexis Lichine played a key role in promoting varietal labelling of wine, was a masterful salesman of wine, had interests in two Bordeaux wineries, owning Chateau Prieure-Lichine in Margaux and a share of Chateau Lascombes in the Medoc.

Alexis Lichine was married to actress Arlene Dahl from 1964 to 1969.

Alexis Lichine's family fled to France during the Russian Revolution of 1917, going on to the United States in 1919.

Alexis Lichine studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania but dropped out because he felt he wasn't learning anything.

In 1932 Lichine moved back to Paris and accepted a sales position with The New York Herald Tribune.

Alexis Lichine then went to work for Saccone and Speed, a New York wine importer, and in 1938 he was hired by wine merchant Frank Schoonmaker as his national sales manager.

Alexis Lichine was released at Fort Dix, New Jersey on April 18,1946.

Alexis Lichine was awarded the Order of Leopold, the Belgium Bronze Star and the World War II recognition from the French Legion of Honor.

On his return from the war, Alexis Lichine asked for full partnership in the company.

In 1950 Alexis Lichine became the export manager for Chateau Haut-Brion.

In 1951 Alexis Lichine purchased Chateau Prieure-Alexis Lichine and in 1952 became part owner and manager of Chateau Lascombes.

In 1959 Alexis Lichine was a member of a committee that unsuccessfully launched a bid to revise the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

Undeterred, Alexis Lichine published his own Classification des Grands Crus Rouges de Bordeaux in 1962 and made several revisions in the following years while campaigning for changes to a classification he contended was outdated.

Alexis Lichine's efforts led him to be referred to as "the doyen of unofficial classification compilers".

Alexis Lichine served as an expert taster in the New York Wine Tasting of 1973.

In 1987, Alexis Lichine was chosen the "Man of the Year" by the wine magazine Decanter.

Alexis Lichine died of cancer at Chateau Prieure-Alexis Lichine on June 1,1989, aged 75.

Alexis Lichine was succeeded by his son Sacha, who later moved to Switzerland and sold Prieure-Lichine in August 1999.