After completing a License diplomat in the Rhône Valley and an MBA in International Wine Trade in Burgundy, Etienne de Nantes worked in South Africa and Bordeaux to learn winemaking before working for a Bordeaux negociant.

In 2005, Etienne arrived in the US where he worked for the Tesseron family of Château Pontet Canet.

In 2011, he started the Bordeaux/Grands Crus Classes Division of Maisons Marques & Domaines, affiliated to Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, before joining Château Cos d’Estournel as North America Director.

In 2020, Etienne was hired by Barrière Freres, a Bordeaux-based wine negociant specializing in Grands Crus Classes, to develop their US company.