1963

19691970

1981

1983

1994

1996

1962

19501951

19551956

RETURN TO SPAIN ARMY STINT

Fashionable restaurant owned by Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio, where he meets and befriends the likes of:

WORKS AT VILLA CAPRI

In Pla de Torrelavit (Alt Penedès).

Jean Leon and Jaume Rovira

HE BUYS LAND

150 hectares7.000.000 pesetas

He and Jaume Rovira bring scions from Bordeaux and replace local varieties with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Exclusively for La Scala

25.000 bottles

CABERNET SAUVIGNONCABERNET FRANCCHARDONNAY

GARY COOPER, PAUL NEWMAN, LIZ TAYLOR, FRANK SINATRA, JOE DI MAGGIO

MARILYN MONROE, ROBERT WAGNER, MARLON BRANDO, JF KENNEDY

PLANTS VINES

FIRST VINTAGE

FIRST VINTAGE TO MARKET

In the style of a Bordeaux château.

BUILDS JEAN LEON WINERY

He sells the winery to the Torres family. His enologist Jaume Rovira continues his legacy.

DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER

In Spanish market.

SALES

He sails on his yacht La Scala d’Amore. In Thailand, he takes a turn for the worse.

AROUND THE WORLD THE END

A glamorous gathering spot for big names in Hollywood, music, politics and high society, including:

LA SCALA, BEVERLY HILLS

Jean Leon personally brings Marilyn her last meal.

MARILYN MONROE

His cellar boasted up to:

He wants to produce his own signature wine and finds the right spot in Penedès.

HIS OWN WINE

Los Ángeles

Tailandia

¿? Torrelavit

His discretion and professionalism earn the actor's trust, and they decide to open La Scala together.

After Dean dies in a car crash, Jean Leon realizes their shared dream alone. La Scala opens in April.

PROJECT WITH JAMES DEAN

JEAN LEONTIMELINE

THE NAME LA SCALAAN EXCEPTIONAL LIFEJean Leon saw two dreams come true:his restaurant La Scalaand making a great wine.

1949

1947

1929

1941

Ángel Ceferino Carrión

BORN IN SANTANDER

He works at the Pegaso auto plant, among other jobs.

ODD JOBS

THE LE HAVRE ADVENTURE

A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD

His given name is:

He loses his home.

FIRE IN SANTANDERWith his whole family. FAMILY TRAGEDY

IN BARCELONA

Santander

Barcelona

New YorkLe Havre

LIFE IN NEW YORK

PARIS, FRANCE

The La Scala restaurant,founded by Jean Leon in Beverly Hills in 1956, inspired the name of his Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva icon wine.

Barcelona

ParisHe and 3 friends cross the Pyrenees on foot and without a penny. He works odd jobs.

The Spanish Civil War and postwar period.

He works as a busboy and waiter at the Rockefeller. His papers are stolen, and he changes his name. His cab driver license is 3055.

For his inaugural dinner, Ronald Reagan chooses Jean Leon's 1975 vintage.

PRESIDENTIAL DINNER

New YorkLos Angeles

He dies upon his return to Los Angeles.

On his seventh try, he stows away on a US-bound ship. A sailor finds him, but doesn't report him.

5 months after arriving in the city, his father and brother die when their ship is accidentally torpedoed.

MOVE TO BARCELONA

After his sister's wedding, his family doesn't hear from him for 12 years. They think he is dead.

During this time, he makes the move from NYC to LA.

He is drafted to fight in the Korean War, but luck is on his side again: an armistice is declared.

THE USA, COAST TO COAST