Nicole Rolet

London, United Kingdom

After an intense career in International Politics, Finance and Think Tanks, Nicole embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: together with husband Xavier and family, she undertook the restoration of an abandoned Medieval priory in Provence and its derelict but magnificent wild vineyard — a real diamond in the rough, thanks to its outstanding location and pristine environment, but in need of tons of TLC. After managing the renovation of the priory over a decade to turn it into an eco-luxury retreat and home for think-tanks and off-sites, she got badly bitten by the family wine bug, went back for wine studies at the WSET in the UK, then UC Davis in the US. There she developed a deep-seated conviction of the site’s phenomenal potential to produce Grand Cru-quality wine, and a single-minded dedication to uncovering it, discovering her inner entrepreneur, dedicated to constructive disruption and innovation in a traditional field. With the help of her family she spent over a decade nursing the vineyard back to health.  They built the winery from scratch, crafting the first cuvées in 2006 and aiming to transform this medieval Sleeping Beauty into a cutting-edge critically-acclaimed world class winery, launching the eco-couture wine label Chêne Bleu in 2010.

Now distributed in 17 countries, the wines have garnered a number of the most coveted prizes, praise from top critics, numerous gold medals and the trophy for best label design in the world. Frequently referred to by the press as a “rising star” credited as the first Super Rhône, in reference to the qualitative yet unconventional approach.

Nicole became deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainability in the broadest sense of the term, from vineyard practices to human resource management, and to finding ways of reconciling business success, social responsibility, and ethical and sustainable practices. She was knighted Chevalier de Tastevin in Burgundy in 2014 and the equivalent in Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2015 and the International Brotherhood of the Vine in 2016.

Believing in collaboration rather than competition, she is convinced winemakers and leading lights in the wine trade should collaborate more to educate the public about responsible wine knowledge and best practices.  In 2017, she founded Fine Minds 4 Fine Wines, a global think tank dedicated to exploring and shaping the Future of Fine Wine. Passionate about the Grenache grape, considered by many as the unsung hero of the wine world, in 2010 she co-created and hosted the first International Grenache Symposium, a summit that brought 270 wine luminaries from 23 countries together at the winery. She also co-founded the not-for-profit International Grenache Association, launched International Grenache Day, now celebrated in 32 countries, conducting Masterclasses around the world, and adding Grenachista to the Urban dictionary. In 2008, along with Clive Barlow MW, then Chairman of Education at the Institute of Masters of Wine, Nicole also set up the “Extreme Wine Experience”, recognised by critics and the press as the world’s most intensive and effective wine course for enthusiasts.

To host Nicole, I woke up at 5 am and clip my golden bees on the curtains. I shut the blinds and before the sunrise, she appears with the magic theatre and her golden hair, like a sunlight.

While I was sharing my mysterious tale about the oak branch, that I painted blue, a few bunnies ran and hide away. Help us to find them all and return to Nicole!