Axel Heinz was born and raised in Munich, Germany but was influenced by his family’s origins in Bordeaux where he moved to after high school to begin his wine studies. He started with his diploma in viticulture and oenology from the Lycée d’Enseignement Général et Technologique Agricole (LEGTA). He soon gained his first winemaking experience at Château La Tour Carnet before completing his Masters in Agronomy from the Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs des Travaux Agricoles and the Enological School of Bordeaux. The following year Axel took the position of enologist at Château Fourcas Loubaney, Château la Dominique (a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé) and Château Commanderie de Mazeyres in Pomerol, a post he held until 2004. In January 2005 Axel joined Ornellaia as winemaker and since 2015 has been Estate Director for both the Ornellaia and Masseto estates.