CHANDON California has always been inspired by women's achievements and has a strong tradition of female winemakers all the way back to our founding.

Our current chief winemaker Pauline Lhote is proud to head up an all-female senior winemaking team and has some interesting theories about what marks out wine made by women

TOAST TO Exceptional Women

TOAST TO Exceptional Women

At CHANDON, we are inspired by our exceptional team of women winemakers. Led by our head winemaker, Pauline Lhote, our sparkling wines are crafted with care and fostered by community.


Hear what inspires Pauline and how mentoring has played a key role for herself and her team.



Watch

MEET THE TEAM


HEAD WINEMAKER

PAULINE LHOTE

HEAD WINEMAKER

PAULINE LHOTE

As Head Winemaker at Chandon, Pauline Lhote is responsible for every part of the winemaking process from grape to glass. To say that Pauline is passionate about bubbles is an understatement as she grew up in the Champagne region of France. At just 14 years old, she told her parents she wanted to be a winemaker, and specifically that she wanted to make sparkling wine.



She has been hailed as a female leader in the industry by the likes of Glamour, Marie Claire, and Nylon, as well as a “Rising Star“ by The Drinks Business and acknowledged in Wine Enthusiast’s 2017 40 Under 40, Create & Cultivate’s 2019 100 List and Wine Spectator’s 2021 “Behind the Bubbly: Four Female Leaders in California Sparkling Wine.” Most recently, Pauline was also awarded the prestigious medal of the Order of the Agricultural Merit by the French Republic for her winemaking accomplishments and promoting the French savoir faire. 

WINEMAKER

LAURA FONTAINE

WINEMAKER

LAURA FONTAINE

Born and raised in the historic home of Malbec Cahors in Southwestern France, Laura grew up surrounded by wine. After spending her teenage years working in vineyards, she discovered her true calling and passion. She moved to Bordeaux and then onto California's UC Davis to complete dual master's degrees in Winemaking and Agronomy.


One of three candidates selected in 2016 to be part of LVMH's Early Career Winemakers program, Laura has worked with Chandon for 3 years, both in California and Australia. Today, she works at the Chandon property in Yountville, California, focusing on innovation and product development.