Laëtitia Allemand: From Journalism to Winemaking

A Passion for Wine from Birth

Although a career change might seem surprising, Laëtitia’s passion for wine is deeply rooted. “My parents are winemakers, and my grandparents were too. I was born on the estate and grew up there. My room was next to the cellars, and I often heard the sound of the press. The fermentation tanks were my playground when friends came over,” Laëtitia reminisces.

From TV Sets to Vineyards

Driven by a desire to meet new people and “discover the world,” Laëtitia left her home region at 18 to pursue a career in journalism. However, destiny brought her back to the family estate 20 years later. “My parents informed me that they planned to sell the estate. Since I am an only child, I was the only one who could take it over. I had never really considered it before, but then I had a kind of epiphany. I couldn’t imagine not returning. It also coincided with the end of the show I was working on at the time. It was the perfect opportunity for a change. I asked my parents to let me work alongside them while I trained for the profession,” Laëtitia explains.

True to her word, in 2014, Laëtitia enrolled in a specialized Master's program in International Wine and Spirits Commerce at ESC Dijon. The part-time nature of the program allowed her to regularly visit the estate and apply her new knowledge. Despite this shift, she did not abandon her journalism career. “These are two professions with very different rhythms, so they are compatible. Moreover, they both embody two values I consider fundamental: meeting people and sharing experiences.”

A Family Estate Producing Local Wines

Founded in 1954 by Laëtitia’s grandfather, Domaine Allemand now spans 11 hectares of vineyards in the commune of Théüs. “I am the third generation of winemakers in the Allemand family,” Laëtitia notes. Each year, Domaine Allemand produces about 50,000 bottles of wine, associated with the Protected Geographical Indication of Hautes-Alpes. “My father insists that the estate remains a family-run operation, with a human-scale production and elegant, precise, and structured local wines.” Domaine Allemand offers wines made from a mix of international and local grape varieties, 100% local single-varietal wines, sweet and dessert wines, and sparkling wines. “This variety allows us to reach a broad customer base and not put all our eggs in one basket,” Laëtitia emphasizes.