What gives you a buzz about being a wine merchant?
I have always been passionate about professions where you share knowledge and conversations. For me, it’s very important to give people pleasure and to listen to our customers say what they liked about a wine or a spirit they bought in our store.
As a wine merchant, what are your commitments?
The most important thing for me, which we really try to promote at Octave, is making wine accessible to everyone. We have chosen to offer a wide range, with very special wines but also very accessible wines selling for under 12 euros so that everyone can walk into our store. But it’s also about showing that you can make signature wines and wines by independent organic, biodynamic and natural winegrowers, both for under 10 euros and for more than 1,000 euros! Similarly, this implies discovering wines, and we try and offer our customers a chance to taste our wines when they come to the store as much as possible.
What did you introduce when you started at Octave?
I introduced a series of slightly offbeat events with the same aim of making organic and natural wines accessible to the widest audience, including people who are not necessarily familiar with wine. For instance, we hosted the vernissage of an artist who paints with wine. These are very unique occasions which show that you can discover wine differently. They also encourage people who are not necessarily wine connoisseurs to come, people who don’t normally go into a wine store.
Can you recommend us a wine that encapsulates your vision of wine with a focus on the future?
Paul Fumoso at Domaine Gour de Chaulé in Gigondas. He is a young and very talented winegrower. He took over his parents’ winery in 2018 and has already made some mind-blowing wines.
How do you see the world of wines and spirits in the future?
I attach great importance to two things in the changing world of wines and spirits. The first is that there be more women. It’s already starting to change. They have a greater presence in wineries and vineyards and it’s interesting to watch because women introduce different sensibilities, which I feel is worthwhile discovering. The second thing I attach importance to is breaking away from the clichés in the natural wine arena. It’s about showcasing the variety of natural wines so that people are less afraid to seek out these wines, which are definitely the wines of the future.
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