Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/188061
Arnaud Weyrich oversees the arrival of Chardonnay grapes. WINEMAKER ARNAUD WEYRICH OF ROEDERER ESTATE CHAMPIONS ANDERSON VALLEY B ecoming the winemaker at one of California's most reputable houses for sparkling wine production, is certainly about experience, and also has to do with being at the right place at the right time. Such was the case for Arnaud Weyrich, Roederer Estate's VP & Winemaker, a position he's held since 2000. Fresh out of Montpellier in 1993 with a degree in winemaking, by Jonathan Cristaldi / photos by Christine Tomlinson one of his teachers, Michel Salgues, pegged him for an internship at Roederer Estate, where Salgues had been working as winemaker since 1986. There, a young and ambitious Weyrich met Jean-Claude Rouzaud, then President of Champagne Louis Roederer and fifthgeneration descendant of the founder. For Weyrich it was like meeting "Elvis Presley and to your surprise, he's very nice, easy to get along with, very approachable, and he really knew his stuff," reminisces Weyrich. october 2013 / the tasting panel / 73 TP1013_066-107.indd 73 9/23/13 10:34 PM