Claude Thibaut was born in a Gran Cru village in the Champagne region. His grandfather once worked as a vineyard manager for Moet-Chandon and his father was among the first of the grower champagne producers as they have become to be known in the country today.  Claude received his winemaking degree from the university in Reims which at that time was a recently established program. Prior to that the only Universities  that offered a degree were in  Bordeaux, Dijon, or at Montpellier. 
Claude would go on to make wine in Australia and then eventually land in California where he was the first sparkling winemaker for Iron Horse vineyards, J working for Tom Jordan, and finally at Kristom which was a new project Jess Jackson started in the late 1990's.
Ultimately he would end up in Virginia in 2003 when he went to work for Patricia Kluge and in 2005 the first vintage of Thibaut-Janisson was produced. He never has looked back since.

HIGHLIGHTS:

a). Claude describes how he left and came back to Champagne many times during his career.
b). Discusses how Tom Jordan enticed him to take the position at J with pretty much a blank check.
c). lends his insight into Virginia winegrowing in the early 2,000's.
d). His answer to my question about his logo and it's similarity to the UVA logo.
e). He gives his feedback on my comment on why does the French choose to market Champagne as a luxury as opposed to it being like all other wine, an accompaniment to food.
For the full transcript you can read it here below the Podcast.