The restaurant’s name, Saint-Emilion (pronounced Sant-uh-meel-lee–onh) comes from the centuries-old village of Saint-Emilion in southwest France. It’s situated 40 minutes east of Bordeaux near Libourne where Saint-Emilion owner Bernard Tronche grew up. The Romans planted the first vineyards there and today, Saint-Emilion is one of the most well-known wine areas in the Bordeaux wine region, renowned for a large number of Grand Cru classified wines. Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc are two of its most recognizable wines. Tronche opened Saint-Emilion in Fort Worth in 1985 when he was 27 years old, six years after arriving in the USA. Tronche first visited the United States with some friends in 1979 and ended up working in Dallas at Calluaud, then one of Dallas’ top restaurants.