Christophe Paubert, Winemaker and General Manager for the exclusive Stags’ Leap winery, spent a few days visiting the Island and shared with guests from Ballester Hermanos a selection of his best wines. The event took place during a private lunch at Bottles Restaurant in San Patricio. Paubert also shared some of his best guarded secrets about the art of winemaking. The get-together included a special tasting where the winemaker presented an exquisite collection selected from some of his best vintages from Napa Valley. These wines are known for the careful process that goes into their elaboration, of which Paubert participates from start to finish. “I believe wine should express the singularity of the earth or the terroir. Stags’ Leap has always highlighted one of the most distinctive areas of Napa Valley,” Paubert expressed. It was the terroir of Stags’ Leap that drew him to California. Paubert embraces an old-world style crafting estate grown and terroir-driven wines that are a pure expression of the land.
Christophe’s trajectory has transcended from sales to the elaboration of wines. He has held positions at Château d’Yquem and Gruaud-Larose, as well as, wineries in Chile, Spain, and Washington State. Originally from Bordeaux, a port city in the southwest of France, Paubert spent his childhood immersed in wine culture. He followed his love for wine and science studying in the Institut d’OEnologie in Bordeaux. After years working and selling wines and winemaking equipment, he decided to return to his true passion. While visiting some friends at Château d’Yquem, he was offered the role of Cellar Master, a position that covers from guiding tours to the elaboration of wines. In his many years in this business, Paubert says one “never stops learning”. “I have done every job there is to do in a winery, from maintenance of the vines to tours. Every person’s role is important, and my role is to connect them all with a greater purpose,” added the winemaker, who follows a meticulous and practical style of winemaking that focuses on balance.
With vineyards in Napa Valley, the topographical, geological, and climatic properties of the Stags Leap district make up the reputation of the Cabernet Sauvignon of the region. The terroir at Stags’ Leap produces intense wines with soft tannins, attributes that are bottled thanks to the balance in their winemaking. From the hand-picking of the fruit (selected and classified by hand) to the oak casks aged in caves carved into the solid rock of the surrounding mountains, Paubert’s methods are simple and traditional. His goal is to transmit the essence of the world-class terroir, from the grape to the bottle, creating artisanal wines that tell an authentic story of the earth they are cultivated in. Stags’ Leap wines are distributed exclusively by Ballester Hermanos, Inc. For additional information visit www.stagsleap.com
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