In the lush beauty of Chandon Winery in Nashik, alongside a group of enthusiasts, the energy is one of pure bubbly delight. And with a special visit from Arnaud de Saigne, president of Chandon India, the celebrations are in full swing, especially considering his exceptional palette of flavorful Indian wines (his favorite is Chandon Sparkling Rose!) It will be doubled.
Following the winery tour, guests will enjoy a delightful sit-down dinner expertly paired with great wines and fostering engaging discussions. Affable and polite, Arnaud shares his insights with HELLO! He explains the brand and gives us a glimpse into his personal plans. The winery’s atmosphere encapsulates the charm of Aurva in a glorious rendezvous of taste and conversation.
Hello!: Arnaud, you are quite the world traveler. Have you visited India before?
Arnaud de Seigne: “When I was a student in 1994, I traveled to India and visited Mumbai, New Delhi and Rajasthan, and I have great memories of that stay. In 2019, two years after joining Chandon, I I visited Mumbai and Nashik. This is my third trip to India.”
H!: Please tell us about Aurva, Chandon’s recently launched brand…
advertisement: “Aurva is an India-Australia collaboration involving Kaushal. [Khairnar, head winemaker at Chandon India] We have combined our knowledge and skills with Australian head winemaker Dan Buckle to create this new sparkling wine. This is a still wine made from Shiraz and is essentially an experimental endeavor celebrating Chandon’s global craft. Few people know that we share our sparkling wine making knowledge from our Champagne parent company. The goal was to discover the world and create all these beautiful wineries, based on the experience we have accumulated in Argentina, Brazil, California, Australia, etc. Nine years ago, in 2013, we brought wine to India. When I first tasted Chandon Sparkling Rosé in India, I fell in love with it after just one sip. I thought it was a very delicious wine. ”
H!: Having stepped into the world of India’s luxury bubble, what sparked your interest in bringing this experience to a country with a growing but small wine culture?
advertisement: “The future is there and we are at the beginning of the journey. We are creating a market for a luxury bubble in India. Although the rapidly growing wine culture is still relatively small, We are confident about the future, especially in the area of sparkling wine.Given the size of the country and the fact that its people are global travelers who take inspiration from everything around the world, India This is an important market for us, so we want to give them time to grow.”
H!: How do you go about making fine sparkling wine a personal and engaging experience for everyone at the table?
advertisement: “Our maxim is simple: everyone is welcome at our table. India has a great sense of hospitality and we were welcomed very warmly. And we welcome people with open arms. is also our goal. We want to create fine sparkling wine and we want to be involved in it in a personal way. After all, drinking wine is a personal experience and we We want you to enjoy a sophisticated wine with your meal.”
H!: How did the Master’s degree in Innovation, Design and Luxury advance your career?
advertisement: “After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from the French Université de Commerce, I did an internship at a perfume company. There I was exposed to culture, sensory tastes and scents. Born in Lyon, my grandmother was a great cook, so sensuous flavors have always been a part of my life. Just before coming to India in 1995, I enrolled at the University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée. This course helped me understand a lot about what makes luxury goods a unique industry, excellence in product manufacturing, and innovation.Soon after, I joined LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton I applied for a job at Hennessy and was lucky enough to get a job at Hennessy. At that time, I didn’t even think about spirits.”
H!: How developed is India’s wine appreciation culture compared to other parts of the world?
advertisement: “I don’t know much about India’s drinking habits, but what I see from the outside is that high-quality products such as whiskey and beautifully crafted cocktails are highly valued. In India, high-end bartenders… A sophisticated bar scene has become the norm. I’ve seen an appreciation for craft and quality. When it comes to wine, it’s growing rapidly. But the Indian bar scene has a great reputation for sparkling wine. We haven’t fully embraced it as a cocktail ingredient, and there’s still a lot we can do in that space.”
H!: What was the best three meals you had recently?
advertisement: “Well, what I have in mind is a winery dinner with sage and saffron, which I thought was amazing in its delicacy, sophistication, and flavour. Two dishes have been combined with Aurva. Another is when I had the opportunity to have dinner at El Bulli before it closed. Thanks to the creativity, innovation and overall experience, it was very And the third one is a bouchon (bistro) in Lyon, where I’m from. They make the most beautiful Andouillette [pork tripe sausage dish], a specialty of the city where I was born. ”
H!: What does a typical day look like for the CEO of Chandon?
advertisement: “We are the realm where the sun never sets. We start the day with a conversation in Australia, then move on to India, China, and Europe. Then we move on to Argentina and Brazil. For me, it’s always been It’s about taking action, thinking about the future, strategizing, and making sure we execute. We make sure the brand is well represented and explained by our team. We help consumers understand and evaluate our products. To get it, we have to work together from within.”
H!: What keeps you motivated?
advertisement: “I think wine brings together spirits, food, culture and people. I love being with people and learning about cultures. This industry has allowed me to travel to some of the most remote agricultural regions in the world. One moment you’re looking at the vineyards of Nashik and the next you’re socializing somewhere else. There’s always something to learn.”
H!: Please tell us a little about your personal life.
advertisement: “I am happily married and have three children, aged 24, 22 and 19. We have lived in London, America and Paris, and as a family we have been able to travel around the world. was lucky.”
H!: How do you relax?
advertisement: “When I travel, I love to indulge in a hammam experience. I also enjoy the ride home from work. I take the subway part way and then walk to clear my head and feel at home. Fresh air. You can relax by breathing it in.”