Sip, sip,
hooray Stephanie Watine Arnault on launching her experiential drinks emporium and living with the LVMH legacy Words: Ellen Alpsten
W
hat’s in a name? Stephanie Watine Arnault, the niece of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton CEO and chairman Bernard Arnault, shrugs: “The reason I’m still called Arnault is because my mother worked as an auctioneer and according to French law had to keep her maiden name.” She hesitates, and then adds somewhat wistfully: “But, yes. People always know.” People always know – no wonder, given the power wielded by her cunning and intensely private uncle, who brought LVMH together in the 80s. The group’s portfolio now comprises some 70 brands, spanning six sectors, from luxury handbags to exquisite champagnes. It’s fizz that we’re toasting today: a year since Watine Arnault founded Clos19, a website dedicated to the finest champagne, wines and spirits from LVMH’s stable, alongside an array of entertaining options and epicurean experiences. “The idea for Clos19 came from my own passion for hosting and sharing,” says the petite, softly spoken Watine Arnault. The website, named after the walled gardens used to protect grapes in the Champagne region, could be the answer to all your party planning woes – whether you’re looking to stock up the cellar for a wedding, or want some advice on what cocktails to serve at your next soirée. It can supply everything you need for the perfect event, from the finest vintages to sommeliers and waiters to help everything run smoothly. “Clos19 celebrates the art of staying in with your loved ones,” continues Watine Arnault. “An experience that is as much about the right environment, the right food, the right people, the right music and mood, as it is about our houses’ knowledge, tools and experience. There was a gap in the market for such a concept.”
STEphanie watine arnault, all images courtesy of clos19