Didier Dagueneau dies at 52
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One of those rare winemakers of the world, described as “iconoclastic,” “maverick,” and the “wild boy of Pouilly-Fume,” Loire legend Didier Dagueneau tragically died yesterday at the age of 52. The ultralight plane he was piloting crashed in the Dordogne region of France. Jancis Robinson has an homage as does Eric Asimov, as does Le Point, where I got an image of him that I reduced and cropped.
Sep
18
2008
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On September 19th, 2008 at 8:21 am ,oberguess wrote:
i´m very sad about this message. i met him once and i have to say admit that didier was an outstanding personality…
On September 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am ,barbara phillips wrote:
As i’m allergic to red wine (imagine the sorrow!), i would sometimes splurge on Pur Sang…a non sequitar perhaps but then this world is nuts and unfair, as we are reminded by M. Dagueneau’s death so young. I tried to visit St. Adelain several times but never found him in. But in Berkeley, CA, he was revered by many, including myself. I will miss the image of this true maverick, flying the flag of California in his St Adelain vineyard. And of course, i will miss his wine..
barbara
On September 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am ,caroline wrote:
this is your saddest post ever. I’m gonna have to call me a doctor, so sad
I don’t know anything about his personal life but I hope he’s not leaving any children behind.
On September 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm ,Dylan wrote:
“It’s such a shame, he was so young” or “If only he lived longer” or “He had so much left to give.”
While it’s easy to reflect on what else he could have done, why not look at the man’s accomplishments and take pride in what was done?
I never met the man, but I have a feeling he lived his life in such a way that no matter what day he went out, he wouldn’t have done things any differently. Of course flying an ultralight plane is dangerous, but that’s obviously something he enjoyed, enough to do with the risks in mind. If he feared the risks or didn’t love it, he wouldn’t have been in that situation.
So should we question, “Why did he have to be piloting a plane? Why risk his life with that kind of activity?” No. That is not something for us to question, it’s something to respect.
Part of what attracts us to “riskier choices” is the knowledge that we don’t have forever, we do not have eternity on our side. It’s the reason “Carpe Diem!” exists.
Rather than be saddened by this sudden death, be inspired by what was done in his “short” life. Marvel at his ability to chase what he loved without regret. Would he trade in all the risks he took leading up to the accident for the promise of a peaceful passing in his sleep at the age of 114?
I hope not.
I hope he wouldn’t regret a thing and realize it’s not the length of a life that determines its worth, but the way that we live it.
May we all celebrate life for that idea and focus on the way that we live it, just as Didier did.
On September 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pm ,Stuff Parisians Like wrote:
This is very sad news indeed.
The world needs many Didier Dagueneau’s.
I will feel nothing but more emotion next time I drink one of his wines.
Comme on dit en français… Salut l’artiste!
On September 21st, 2008 at 5:40 pm ,Unknown wrote:
Didier let 4 childrens
On September 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 am ,Leslie Burke wrote:
So sad to hear the news. My husband and I had a chance to visit
with Didier, his family and some of his friends a few years back. It was a great visit.
He was truly a great artist of his trade. He will sorely be missed.
On September 26th, 2008 at 1:28 pm ,Ryan Parnes wrote:
This is pure irony. This was probably the only vigneron to put up a middle finger to the rest of the world and live in HIS OWN! His wines were sooooo good not because they were of this world but because they were of HIS!! I truly believe in my heart that this man’s energy has been received by his vines. To all others who respect him and his work, please follow his lead. Show this industry that we will accept no less than what he gave us, and to strive in each of our lives to be the ultimate. Didier was and will always be the Master of his “Domaine”. R.I.P. We love you man!! All of us!!