Welcome to The Younger Wine. I’m Gillian, UC Davis trained winemaker (2019), wine writer and current Champagne private experience host in Reims, France. This is a blog I created to document the world of wine through my lens as I learn and navigate it.
My time in Napa lead me to create this blog as a means to document the wild times of harvest and my rapid fire learning experiences. The world of wine, especially in Napa Valley, can be an intimidating one – there is so much tradition and so much to be learned that it can be overwhelming at times. Just in little Napa Valley there are over 400 wineries and hundreds of amazing restaurants with extensive wine lists… where do you start? I wanted to create The Younger Wine as a place to collect all of the gems I’ve learned and share it with young people who are just as obsessed with wine as I am.
In 2022 I said goodbye to my job in winemaking and life in Napa Valley to pursue my longterm dream of moving to France. I first completed my Master’s degree in Luxury Brand Management in Paris, before moving to Champagne in January 2024 for a new role at Veuve Clicquot in Reims, Champagne. I now host all of our top accounts and private clients at our private hotel, the historic and elusive Hôtel du Marc.
I love writing and I love wine, and this blog is a place to combine the two. In addition to talking about my personal experiences working on the production side of the industry, I hope to highlight producers I believe in and inspire a love for wine in those around me. Thanks for visiting.
All photos are taken by me unless otherwise noted.
The Younger Wine 