Chandon California’s Pauline Lhote dazzles guests at the reimagined vineyard.
Winemaker Pauline Lhote at Chandon California, which recently unveiled an extensive renovation and tasting experience.
After giving birth to her first child, Pauline Lhote’s mother had sage advice: “You know best—trust yourself.” Lhote, the head winemaker at Chandon California (chandon.com), says this is also excellent advice for winemakers. “You’re calling the pick or deciding on the final blend, so ultimately, the final decision is yours, and you need to trust your instincts,” she says. Here, Lhote, a native of Champagne, France, discusses everything from her favorite Napa restaurant to playlists.
When are you happiest? On vacation in the South of France, sipping rosé on a boat.
What’s the most unexpected ingredient you’ve ever experimented with in winemaking? Our popular sparkling aperitif Chandon Garden Spritz, infused with our housemade bitter-orange liqueur, and our Garden Spritz Tea, infused with our housemade Earl Grey liqueur.
If you could share a glass of wine with someone no longer here, who would it be? My grandmother. She passed away before getting a chance to see me realize my dream of being a winemaker. She would find it hard to believe I’ve lived in the U.S. for 18 years!
You’re stranded on a desert island. What would you love to drink? Oh, one of my Chandon sparkling rosés: California Brut Rosé, Etoile Rosé or Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé. They’re refreshing when sipping in the sun.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a winemaker? Maybe a chemist or a chef? I’ve wanted to be a winemaker since I was 14 and based my entire education on that. There are only five winemaking schools in France, and I chose the only one specializing in sparkling wine, so I’m fortunate I got in because I had no backup plan and would have been crushed!
What’s your go-to restaurant in Napa? I love Morimoto (morimotonapa.com) for sushi or Angèle (angelerestaurant.com) for amazing French food.
What’s on constant rotation on your playlist right now? “I Ain’t Worried” by One Republic, “Is It Over Now” by Taylor Swift and “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles. Also, tunes by The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes—I could go on and on!
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANDON CALIFORNIA
