Aline Baly, Marketing and Communications Director and co-owner of Chateau Coutet, AOC Barsac (France)

Years In Industry:

After 20 years of living, studying and working abroad in New England, the Mid-West, Asia and Europe, I traded in Boston for Bordeaux and marketing filtration devices in the bioscience industry for wine, specifically “gold” wine. 

With an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and BA from Bucknell University, it was a a life-changing internship in 2008 at Chateau Mouton Rothschild that had me sign over my soul to our family business. I joined my uncle at Chateau Coutet in Barsac that same year to lead the marketing and communication initiatives.

 While on one hand the world of wine was my oyster (a big oyster) to discover, on the other hand I was juggling cultural and generational differences to bring a connected vision to a family business. The struggle was real -- and I must admit that my uncle and I are still working on perfecting the fine art of communication.. But we have the same core values and share the same irrational (to those unfamiliar with our world of wine) love and devotion for the 95 acres that constitute Chateau Coutet. 

While navigating the unknown and couch surfing 150-days a year, I focused on what I did know and did understand. That my interest in digital marketing combined with my passion for connecting one-on-one to our loyal brand ambassadors led to the pioneering use of social media in the region. 

A decade later, in addition to my role at Coutet, as the Marketing Manager to a family company that owns several Bordeaux Classified Growths, I am the youngest board member to one of the region’s prominent Chateaux association. With these roles, I try to give a new dimension to Coutet’s vision.

When I am at work, I still focus on what I know and understand first and foremost; but funnily enough, living on a vineyard teaches you a lot, every day. So with each new day, our team and I contribute more to the future of this historical estate.

My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:

The art of saying no without any guilt so that I can regularly sleep 8 hours, attend yoga classes, and do absolutely nothing. And finally organize my overstuffed and secretly chaotic "Monica closet”.

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:

First and foremost, regardless of the time zone, I stay connected to the family and friends that nourish my soul (thank you WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, email, and cellphone)! On the practical side of things, I have a “hydration obsession”, I wait 12 hours between dinner and breakfast meals, and maintain a regular yoga practice.
 
I also send emails to my "future self" with reminders and tasks which theoretically, I plan to be delivered at a time when I will be the most receptive to taking care of the content. It's the only way I have a daily to-do list that is actually achievable -- and thus less likely to contribute to my stress. 
 
In my spare time, I am an avid reader of social economics, historical fiction and literature, and you’ll find me in a yoga studio quoting “The Tipping Point” and its relevance to the Gold Wine category.

You can connect with Aline on Instagram @aline.baly and with Chateau Coutet on Instagram @ChateauCoutet  Twitter @ChateauCoutet or via their website: chateaucoutet.com