Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf, Owner
Born and raised in France, Claire graduated from Toulouse Business School with a major in International Business. A first experience in New York City for the French Government Tourist Office gave her a chance to travel around the US and learn more about the country and its business culture. Then, she opted for Chile where she managed all import and export activities for an American company’s newest and first manufacturing plant in Chile.
Soon inspired by the effort of the Chileans to market their wines, she earned an additional diploma in Marketing de los Vinos (Wine Marketing) in Santiago de Chile. Wine had always been part of her life in France, but in Chile, she started looking at it with a marketing eye. Soon it became obvious to her that it was a natural bridge between her and her country. It was also the spark of passion that was added in her job…a good way to spice it up! She left Chile to work the harvest in France in the Rhone and then in St. Emilion for a Grand Cru Classé. Enjoying the early walks in the vineyard and the smell of must on her shirt, she knew she had found her playground and she went back to Chile to start a career in the wine industry with Odfjell Vineyards.
During her years in Chile, she met winemaker and international consultant Paul Hobbs. He later asked her to join his company. She worked for Viña Cobos in Argentina and later joined Paul Hobbs Winery and Imports in California. After four years, she embarked on a new adventure as the Business Development Manager for the launch of Long Meadow Ranch Winery Tasting Room & Farmstead Restaurant in the heart of St Helena. Finally, in 2010, she founded Claire de Lune Wine Marketing Consulting to provide first-class services to wineries around the world.