Roguenant’s decades-long career shaped wineries, inspired vintners, and helped define California’s Central Coast identity.
December 8, 2025 (Paso Robles, CA) — It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Christian Roguenant, a beloved husband, father, winemaker, mentor, and cherished member of the Central Coast wine community. Christian passed away suddenly on November 2nd, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, generosity, and uncompromising passion for his craft.
Born in Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy, France, Christian brought with him a profound respect for tradition, precision, and artistry. His winemaking career spanned decades over five continents, ultimately taking root on the Central Coast of California in 1986, where he became one of the region’s most admired and influential winemakers. His passion for Sparkling started with Champagne Deutz in France & Maison Deutz in California, later known as Laetitia Vineyard & Winery. Among his proudest achievements was crafting the sparkling wine for the 1988 Olympics hosted by Korea. His fingerprints can be found on countless wines, wineries, and careers — the result of his tireless dedication and willingness to share his knowledge with anyone eager to learn.
Christian was more than a winemaker; fluent in French, English, and Spanish, he was a storyteller, a musician, a lover of life’s beauty, and a natural teacher. He had a rare ability to connect deeply with people from all walks of life, always offering a warm smile, a thoughtful conversation, or a perfectly chosen bottle to share. His presence filled a room with joy.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lois, and their son, Blake, who was the pride of his life. Christian was incredibly devoted to his family, and his love for them shone through in everything he did.
Christian leaves behind countless friends, colleagues, and protégés who were shaped by his talent, patience, humor, and heart. The Central Coast wine community, and all who had the privilege of knowing him, will feel his absence profoundly.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 1:00–4:00 PM at The Anderson Paso, 3090 Anderson Road, Paso Robles, hosted in an open-house, bottle-share style to honor Christian in the way he lived: with generosity, fellowship, and good wine.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to support event expenses, with any remaining funds donated to the Cuesta Community College Music Program in Christian’s name. A tribute to his enduring love of music and creativity. GoFundMe Link here!
