Italian Wine Podcast

Welcome to episode 1100, in which host Polly Hammond interviews Nicole Rolet, this week on Uncorked. This week, we are joined by the lovely and talented Nicole Rolet, CEO and driving force behind Chene Bleu. We forego wine-talk and instead jump directly into the blood, sweat, and tears of building a modern luxury brand. From solving spreadsheets and finding the right partners, to acting strategically and overcoming fear of rejection, we’re talking about the non-obvious demands (and rewards!) of our industry. Let’s get into it. More about today’s guest: Nicole Rolet Nicole left her career in International finance and David Rockefeller’s geopolitical think tanks, to join her husband Xavier and his family in the Rhone to restore a historical vineyard, derelict but magnificently wild, and its abandoned Medieval prior – a hidden gem in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere. Increasingly convinced of the site’s exciting potential to produce Grand Cru-quality wine, she studied at WSET then UC Davis, and called upon her in