Jean Hoefliger

Winemaker, AXR Napa Valley

Jean Hoefliger was born and raised in Switzerland. His initial experience took him from Switzerland to California where he worked at Michel Schlumberger and Hartford Family in Sonoma followed by Bordeaux and South Africa, making wine at the esteemed estates of Chateau Carbonnieux, and Meerlust. Completing a winemaking and viticulture degree at the Swiss federal school of Changins, Jean made his way back to Bordeaux making wine at Chateau Lynch-Bages and then moving back to California where he spent five years as winemaker for Newton Vineyard from 2001 to 2005. In 2005 Jean started Alpha Omega Winery as the Winemaker and General Manager while concurrently building his consulting business with many projects around the world. After 10 years, the Alpha Omega business reached a size that required more time than he had, and he moved away from the business management to focus solely on winemaking. Two years later in 2019, Jean decided to shift his role within the Alpha Omega organization to become solely Consulting Winemaker.

Jean has built his client wineries over the years to include: Monteverro in Tuscany, Perinet in Priorat, Tolosa Winery in Edna Valley, Grapeheart in Suisun Valley, V. Vineyards in Sonoma County, and Alpha Omega, The Debate, Clark-Claudon, Decades 5, Theorize, Sunshine Valley, MR Michel Rolland and Hill Family Estate all from Napa Valley. Upon launching in 2016, Jean found a forever home as the Winemaker/Partner with AXR Napa Valley.

Country born: Switzerland

Education: Winemaking and Viticulture degree at the Swiss federal school of Changins

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Jean Hoefliger is an artisan inherently driven to push the envelope, continually challenging the cognizance of, not only winemaking, but life in general. With an insatiable appetite for art, philosophy, and a good discussion, Jean thrives when his creativity and passion are left unbound by conventional thinking. Whether in the vineyard, at the winery, home, or around the table with friends - old and new - Jean brings these pursuits alive with playful banter and endearing jokes. In his winemaking, the essence of these experiences is brought to life through a particular craft of winemaking: fundamentally balanced by his experiences in Bordeaux, now left unbridled on the frontier of Napa Valley, making AXR a delectable intersection between the past and future of wine.