NAPA / SONOMA, CALIFORNIA |December 1, 2025: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. the Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense’s (WWS) Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable will celebrate its members’ 11th Annual Festive Bottle Exchange. This dynamic gathering will be generously hosted at Napa Valley’s iconic Chandon by long-time WWS Roundtable member, Head Winemaker Paulie Lhote, and Associate Winemaker, Riley Sanchez. Chandon is located at 1 California Dr, Yountville, CA 94599.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Early arrivals will meet at 3:00 p.m. to enjoy time for mingling and reconnecting after a busy harvest.
At 3:30 p.m. Pauline and Riley will lead a behind-the-scenes production tour for the professional winemakers and viticulture guests that will be focused on the most technical aspects of making Chandon’s portfolio of wines.
At 4:00 p.m. the group will enjoy more wine tasting, discussion and a tiered gift exchange of special bottles from each of the attendees’ collections. The bottle exchange is grouped in progressive retail price tiers, starting at $25, topping out at $100+, so attendees can exchange similar wines.
Attendees are encouraged to bring both a bottle of their wine to share in the festive bottle exchange and a second bottle as thanks to the Roundtable hosts. Carpools are available.
Michaela Rodeno, WWS co-founder and retired leader from Chandon USA’s founding team summed up the spirit of this long-running event noting “I am honored, as a co-founder of Women for Winesense 35 years ago with Julie Johnson, to attend the Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable’s annual bottle exchange each year. It’s great fun, showing off dozens of specially selected wines awarded through a blind drawing with other winemaking and viticulture professionals. Everyone brings a bottle they produced and leaves with a different bottle and, best of all, its story. This will be a special celebration to round out our 35th anniversary year with this dynamic group.”
RSVP DETAILS:
Please, no walk-ins. The free roundtable meeting is open to WWS Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable members and interested women winemakers and viticulturists that have emailed and received RSVP guest confirmations through the Roundtable Chair.
WWS kindly requests attendees bring a bottle of wine as thanks for our generous hosts and for their support of this non-profit organization. This supports events in leading host venues and experts to remain free for members and provides minimal visitor fees.
To RSVP, or for any questions on this event or future WWS Roundtable events, please contact the Roundtable Chair, Julie@Lumgair.com.
ABOUT THE WINERY:
CHANDON is LVMH’s sparkling-wine Maison, founded in 1959 by Robert-Jean de Vogüé, a pioneer with the vision, courage and drive to redefine the category and craft exceptional sparkling wines in unexpected lands. Now spanning four continents, they have wineries in Argentina, California, Brazil, Australia, China and India, making it the largest sparkling vineyard worldwide and the only domain on which the sun never sets. Drawing on a collaborative network of sixteen winemakers of seven different nationalities, The brand stands for new terroirs, innovative methods and an ever-curious outlook that happily unites our diverse lands and people. Chandon opens up a world of possibilities. For more information about Chandon USA, please visit www.chandon.com
ABOUT THE HOSTS:
Head Winemaker, Pauline Lhote, is a force of nature from Champagne who declared her destiny at 14. She pursued formal education at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, earning a National Diploma in winemaking. After beginning her career at prestigious champagne houses, she moved to Napa Valley in 2006 for a three-month internship at Domaine Chandon and rose through the ranks. Now celebrating her 20th harvest, this globally acclaimed winemaker and recipient of the French Order of Agricultural Merit is the architect of Chandon’s vibrant new ‘house style.’ She is also a vocal advocate for women in winemaking, acknowledging the challenges of working in a male-dominated field while inspiring others with her success and leadership.
Associate Winemaker, Riley Sanchez is a scientist at heart who found her art in fermentation. After earning her Bachelor’s in Food Science and Technology from the University of Oregon, she gained experience at different wineries in several regions of California and Marlborough, New Zealand, then completed a Master’s in Food Science and Technology with a focus on Enology at Cornell University. She is noted as a sustainability champion and Napa RISE Leadership Award winner who is driving innovation and regenerative farming at Chandon with her passion for microbiology and winemaking.
ABOUT THE WWS WINEMAKING & VITICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE:
The W&V Roundtable meets approximately six times a year, taking a harvest break. Professionally qualified winemaker and viticulture guests may attend up to two Roundtables before deciding to join. It is a great way to expand skills while reconnecting and meeting new industry professionals.
Alicia Sylvester, Winemaker at Frank Family Vineyards and WWS Roundtable Planning Committee member since 2016 noted “Our past meeting topics have focused upon the C-suite professional skills and insights women winemakers and viticultural professionals need but aren’t always easy to get in their daily work environment.”
She further explained that, “Held for over 30 years at some of Napa and Sonoma’s finest host wineries, and since 2020, expanded to both online and in person formats, our Roundtable programs have been a fantastic opportunity for over 100 member women winemakers and viticulturists to connect directly in a friendly professional forum, with experts that they otherwise wouldn’t get to meet for personal advice and questions. Some of our recent speakers have included top wine publication critics and senior editors, iconic winemakers, leading academics, global sensory consultants, sommeliers, media trainers, professional coaching experts, CFO’s and GM’s in panel discussions and key recruiters.”
To join or learn more, please visit www.womenforwinesense.org.
ABOUT ADDITIONAL WWS ROUNDTABLES:
WWS’ current professional roundtables provide a welcoming and confidential environment to meet in small peer groups on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Members network, provide advice and support for one another, as well as foster educational occasions by inviting guest speakers in their fields and discussing ‘hot issues’ facing members in their day-to-day work. Multiple Roundtables have developed for WWS industry members in finance, accounting, HR, winemaking / viticulture, and owners / GMs.
To join or learn more about WWS’ roundtables, please visit www.womenforwinesense.org. For inquiries about other WWS roundtables, contact Napa| Sonoma Chapter’s President, Julie Lumgair, Julie@Lumgair.com.
ABOUT WOMEN FOR WINESENSE:
Women for WineSense is a national 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 with 13 vibrant chapters across the U.S. It is a community of wine professionals and enthusiasts, welcoming everyone, committed to professional growth and fostering the knowledge and appreciation of wine and its cultural and historical significance.
WWS provides wine professionals and enthusiasts alike with opportunities to grow through events, roundtables, scholarships, and mentorship for all interested in learning and fostering relationships at various levels with the promotion of the mindful enjoyment of wine at our core.
Our members are women and men who are winery owners, wine enthusiasts, winemakers, wine marketers, sommeliers, distributors, wholesalers and importers, credentialed consumers, and people who just love wine…and more.For more information, and to become a member, visit womenforwinesense.org.
