Silvio Denz

Perfume, cosmetics

In 1980 Silvio Denz took over the management of Zurich-based Alrodo AG, at that time was owned by his father and uncle. Initially with eight employees, the company purchased perfumes and cosmetics for imported perfumery retailers. After acquiring all the equity in Alrodo in 1984, he built up the company over the next 20 years to become Switzerland's largest perfumery chain, with 120 branches. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of employees rose from 8 to 800. In 2000 Denz sold Alrodo to the French perfumery chain Marionnaud. In the same year he founded Art & Fragrance S.A. specializing in the creation, production and marketing of perfume and cosmetic brands such as Perfumes Alain Delon, Parfums Grès, Perfumes Lalique, Jaguar Fragrances, Bentley Fragrances and Ultrasun.

Luxury

Silvio Denz accumulated the world's largest private collection of vintage perfume bottles designed by René Lalique, comprising over 650 original pieces. In 2008 Art & Fragrance S.A., the company founded by Denz in 2002 and quoted on the Berne stock exchange since 2007, acquired the French crystalware house Lalique S.A.. The company became profitable again after being restructured, with branding focused on art, decorative items, interior design, jewellery and perfume. Co-branding projects were developed between Lalique and various other luxury brands (including Bentley, The Macallan and Steinway & Sons). Collaborations were also signed with artists such as Zaha Hadid, Jean-Michel Jarre, Damien Hirst, and Elton John, resulting in collections for the company, in some cases. In 2011, the Lalique museum in Wingen-sur-Moder (Alsace) opened to display more than 650 pieces designed by René Lalique and his successors, including jewellery, crystal and decorative glass. Denz loaned 230 pieces from his personal collection, mostly perfume bottles. Denz also converted René Lalique's villa in Wingen-sur-Moder into a luxury hotel and restaurant, which opened in September 2015.

Wine

In 1994 Silvio Denz, along with Franz Wermuth and five other partners, founded Les Grand Vins Wermuth S.A., now split into Denz Weine (distribution) and Wermuth Auktionen AG (auctions) in Zurich. In 1998, acting with the same partners, he bought the Clos d'Agon estate on the Costa Brava, which is overseen by the oenologist Peter Sisseck (Dominio Pingus). In 2002 Denz bought a stake in the Spanish wine trading company Casa de Vino Ebinger S.A., owned by his friend Frank Ebinger, which is domiciled in Zurich.

In 2005, on the recommendation of his friend Count Stephan von Neipperg (Château Canon-la-Gaffelière and La Mondotte), Denz bought the Château Faugères estate, six kilometers east of Saint Emilion. Faugères, which has 30 employees, comprises three vineyards: Château Faugères, Château Péby Faugères, both lying in the Saint-Emilion appellation, and Château Cap-de-Faugères in Côtes de Castillion. In 2007 he bought Château de Chambrun, situated in Lalande-de-Pomerol, and in 2010, he and Peter Sisseck took over the vineyard of Château Rocheyron in Saint-Emilion. The estates in Bordeaux cover a total of 120 hectares.

The winery at Château Faugères was designed by the architect Mario Botta. He describes his creation as a "cathedral of wine". Using modern technology coupled with traditional methods, such as gravity-filling, the wines are aged in oak barrels. In 2012 Château Faugères and Château Péby Faugères were awarded the status of Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion. According to the wine critic Robert Parker, Château Péby Faugères today ranks among the finest Bordeaux wines. In 2015 the influential Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide rated Château Péby Faugères Vintage 2005 100/100. In February 2014, Silvio Denz acquired Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, one of the few Premiers Grands Crus Classés of 1855 and one of the oldest vineyards in Sauternes. Silvio Denz's wine businesses are held in Art & Terroir.

Property

In 2003 Silvio Denz entered the real estate business in London. Working with local partners, he buys, renovates, and then resells traditional town houses in Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Kensington.

Pictures

Silvio Denz collects works of art via his company Art & Trade.

Wine

He has been buying vintage wines for over 30 years, mainly from Bordeaux. His private cellar contains more than 35,000 bottles.

Crystal

His interest in perfume bottles dates from his time at Alrodo. Today, he is the owner of the world's largest private collection of bottles by the celebrated French glass artist René Lalique.