Château Margaux has appointed Aurélien Valance as managing director, with the transition set to take place at the end of 2026. Valance currently serves as deputy managing director for sales and operations at the first-growth Bordeaux estate. He will succeed long-serving Managing Director Philippe Bascaules, who is stepping down and retiring at the end of 2026 after more than three decades associated with the estate, but will stay on as a consultant for key technical periods like harvesting, winemaking, and blending.