Pascaline Lepeltier
This year’s Decanter Rising Star combines academic diligence of the highest level with a deep sensitivity for nature. One of the world’s best sommeliers, Pascaline Lepeltier has brought a wealth of knowledge and love for wine to her guests over the past two decades. In 2022, she published Mille Vignes, her first wine book written as a sole author. One Thousand Vines, its English translation, comes out this autumn (£45 Mitchell Beazley, late October in the UK). Pensive, philosophical, yet very approachable, it’s without doubt one of this era’s seminal works on wine.
Lepeltier grew up in the Loire, but she wasn’t born into wine. With a love for studying, she began learning ancient Greek at school aged 10. Her intensive education was ‘extremely formative’, she says, giving her the analytical skillset that would later prove so helpful when writing Mille Vignes. A philosophy degree at Nantes University was followed by a master’s by age 21, with a thesis on French philosopher Henri Bergson, whose work still inspires her.
Lucky detour
Next was going to be a PhD to pursue a career in teaching, but as Pascaline was still young and lacking in confidence, her teacher encouraged her to take a break – to do something with her hands. She returned to Angers, where she met Patrick Rigourd, the head wine merchant at Des Halles et des Gourmets, who introduced her to wine and became her mentor.
She took another master’s in hospitality management, then a sommelier diploma. An
