La vie est belle et chaude dans le sud!*

I moved to the Rhône Valley to take a course in Sommelier, Conseil et Caviste at the Université du Vin de Suze-la-Rousse. Over four months, I learned so much about wines that it intrigued me deeply, leading me to pursue an MSc in Vintage. During this time, I also visited many charming small towns, wineries, and made friends for life.

The classes were intense; some days, we would taste up to 15 wines from around the world, write tasting comments, and discuss the “terroir,” wine styles, and appellations. When I say taste, it was just a tasting and spitting for me, otherwise, I would have been drunk every single day after class. However, it was not only about tasting wines but also about the management, marketing, and service of wines. I practiced the service classes from college again. Although my French has improved a lot, I still got nervous speaking in front of French people and would go like a TGV*.

Of course, it wasn’t all about studying. Yes, I did study like crazy, but I also had the chance to visit many places, drink amazing bottles with my friends (perhaps partying a little too much for my taste), travel around the region with my partner, and be the hater I have always been.

After those four months, I did my internship at Domaine St Julien de L’Embisque, where I learned the important and challenging job of vineyard commercial work, including tasting and marketing. Then, during the hottest summer of my life, I got my first job in the wine industry at the tasting room of Domaine des Escaravailles, Rasteau. This is one of my favorite vineyards in the region, not only because Madeleine, the third generation of the Ferran family managing the vineyard with her dad Gilles, gave me the opportunity to work fresh out of wine university, but also because I now consider her one of my friends. Additionally, the wines they produce are exceptional, ranging from fruity, easy-to-drink wines to full-bodied Syrahs or Grenaches with amazing aging potential, not to mention the VDN AOP Rasteau (sweet wines) and the stunning views. I will tell you more about must-visit vineyards and restaurants in the region!

*Life in the south is beautiful and hot!

*TGV: French bullet train.