To preserve the past.
Inspire the present.
Shape the future.
Andre Tchelistcheff was physically small-statured yet he was a giant among his peers.
Born into aristocratic opulence and wealth of Imperial Russia, he and his family lost everything in the violence of the revolution. In the civil war that followed, Tchelistcheff fought with the Cossacks against the Bolshevik’s Red Army and was wounded and left for dead on the battlefield.
Miraculously rescued by chance, Tchelistcheff survived and recovered in time to escape from a besieged seaport. He toiled in Bulgarian mines just to survive at first. In the years between the two World Wars, Tchelistcheff studied agronomy in Brno, Czechoslovakia and learned the art and science of winemaking at the prestigious Louis Pasteur Institute in Paris, France.
Andre Tchelistchff came to Napa Valley, California in 1938 and reinvented American winemaking, mentoring a generation of vintners, including winners of the historic Judgement of Paris in 1976. He retired after working for thirty-five years but consulted and taught for another two decades.
Andre Tchelistcheff’s work and his influence put Napa Valley wines on the map.
The Wizard of Napa.
The Voice of Wine
– The Wine Elf
André Tchelistcheff — known as “The Wine Elf” — lived a life shaped by upheaval, resilience, and quiet brilliance. Born in Moscow in 1901, he survived revolution, war, and exile before finding his path in winemaking through studies in Europe. In California, he transformed the industry with pioneering techniques and by mentoring a new generation of winemakers whose influence reached global acclaim. This book traces his journey — a story of innovation, character, and a lasting legacy that continues to shape the world of wine.
Igor Dobrovolskiy
Creator and Producer of the international limited drama series “The Coach from England.”
Writer and Producer of the environmental documentary series “Save Lake Baikal,” dedicated to the preservation of the world’s largest freshwater reservoir and the global challenge of freshwater security.
Producer of the historical sports feature film “Wild League,” included among the films eligible for consideration by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for the 2020 Golden Globe Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Co-author of the historical novel “Tchelistcheff: The Wine Elf,” inspired by the life and legacy of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff.
Alex Gutenmakher
Alex Gutenmakher earned a Medical Doctors degree from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema/Television’s Peter Stark Producing Program.
He was an associate producer for all 8 seasons of Fox Network’s award-winning show Malcom in the Middle. He also worked as an assistant to Warner Bros. Vice President of Television and interned for the Vice President of Paramount Pictures. He has also produced corporate videos and worked as consultant for several European production companies.