Jaime Araujo, Founder - Trois Noix, Partner - Accendo Cellars, Napa Valley (USA)

Years in the Industry:
First job in the industry was a summer internship at Joseph Phelps when I was at University, but didn’t seriously make a career of wine until 2000 when I started working at Moet Hennessy in London. Later moved to Paris and created my own wine marketing and strategy consultancy, Terravina, in 2004. I came back to Napa in 2016 after 24 years abroad to take up a position at my family’s winery and to create Trois Noix.

 
My Top Three Challenges to Wellness:
1. I truly, sincerely love food and wine and all the social aspects of our business, which can get to be challenging health-wise, especially when travelling. I try and balance it out, but I still can’t wait to get on a plane and pop bottles over a meal with people!

2. I’m an eldest child, an only daughter, a mama bear and a high-functioning person, so doing “a lot” can sometimes become “too much”. This being said, I’m always amazed at what people around me consider “too much” … if I had a nickel for every time someone told me I was “taking on too much” when in fact I was perfectly fine, I’d be rich!!

3. I didn’t grow up being an athlete – bookish nerd here! So I have struggled to make exercise not only part of my daily life, but also something I enjoy.

 
How I Keep It Together to Stay Well:
Having both a fabulous therapist and an amazing career coach has been absolutely invaluable to me over the last few years. I’m also working on making time to have moments that I can dedicate to fun and joy, outside of my obligations. People are my happy place and where I get my energy, so COVID has been brutal!! I am so excited to start seeing other vaccinated people soon!

What Inspires Me:
People in my life and my community inspire me daily, as do my insanely awesome children. No matter how challenging certain days can be, I really do adore what I do, and consider myself so lucky to be able to do it.

 
A Quote I Love:
“The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It’s our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows” ~ Brene Brown
 
You can connect with Jaime on Instagram @jaimekaraujo and @TroisNoixWine and online at  www.troisnoixwine.com and www.accendocellars.com