New Head of Wine at LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotels

Chantelle Gous is the new Head Sommelier at LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotels. She is therefore responsible for curating the wine programmes at the hotels in Southern Styria, the Kamptal and Champagne. Her aim is to help guests get to know each destination through its wines, so that they can discover a region glass by glass. “For me, wine has never been just about what’s in the glass. It reflects the landscape, its people, traditions and the stories that have shaped a region over generations,” says Gous.

As a native of South Africa, she brings an exceptional international perspective to this role. Stints in Canada, the Middle East and Europe have shaped her view of wine and hospitality. Whilst she internalised the importance of warm hospitality in her homeland, her passion for wine began in Canada. There, above all, she learnt to communicate wine in a way that is easy to understand and accessible. In the Middle East, she perfected service to the highest standard before moving to Europe, where she began to experience wine first-hand at its source. These experiences continue to shape her work to this day. “Hospitality is practised differently all over the world. Yet its essence is always the same: welcoming people and creating experiences they will remember for a long time to come,” says the sommelière.

With her WSET Level 4 Diploma, she holds one of the highest qualifications in the international wine sector. For her, however, specialist knowledge never takes precedence over enjoyment: “Great wine should never be intimidating. It should spark curiosity and spark conversation.” This is precisely why she adopts an approach that appeals to both experienced wine lovers and guests who are only just discovering their passion for wine.

This philosophy is also reflected in the wine programmes at LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotels. Whether at a tasting, a recommendation from the sommelier or when selecting the perfect wine to accompany dinner. Every encounter with wine is intended to strengthen the connection to the respective region. The wine lists are therefore not compiled solely on the basis of well-known names, but tell the story of the people, the terroir and the unique characteristics of the destination.

This approach is particularly evident at the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne. For Chantelle Gous, Champagne ranks among the world’s most exciting wine regions due to its diversity. She therefore aims to curate a wine selection that includes both renowned Champagne houses and exceptional independent producers. “I want guests to enjoy the classics whilst also discovering producers they may not yet have encountered,” she explains. What matters most, she says, is not just the name on the label, but the quality, individuality and connection to the region. The result is a wine list that invites discovery and offers the perfect selection for a wide variety of occasions.

For Chantelle Gous, the reason wine moves people lies above all in the stories behind every bottle. A winemaker’s philosophy, a family’s history or the unique characteristics of a vineyard give a wine its identity and make it far more than the sum of its flavours. “Many guests don’t remember every single flavour note later on, but rather the story they associate with a wine,” says Gous. This is precisely why she wants to bring these stories to life throughout the entire guest journey.

Chantelle Gous is also concerned with the future of viticulture. She follows developments in regenerative agriculture, sustainable farming and the preservation of regional grape varieties with particular interest. At the same time, she sees a growing appreciation for smaller, family-run vineyards. For her, this trend reflects the desire of many travellers to discover authentic places and the people who live there. It is precisely these producers and their stories that she wishes to highlight even more prominently in the wine programmes of the LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotels in future.

And which wine would she serve to a guest visiting a LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotel for the first time? Without hesitation, she chooses a sparkling wine: “Sparkling wine has the wonderful ability to bring people together. It instantly creates a special atmosphere and reflects exactly what we want to offer our guests: moments of discovery, connection and enjoyment.” It is not about prestige, but about a warm welcome that sets the tone for a journey through the respective wine region.

In Chantelle Gous, LOISIUM Wine & Spa Hotels has gained not only an internationally experienced wine expert, but also a host who understands wine as a link between the region, cuisine and people. In this way, every bottle becomes part of a story and every stay an invitation to discover the destination, glass by glass.