Welcome to the Wine Geek of the Week
Where I ask my favorite wine geeks shitty questions!
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This week's guest is Katie Melchior @FrenchWineTutor
1. Tell us a bit about yourself. Why are you a wine geek?
I was a Francophile first; the wine came afterward. French language and culture was the lens through which I discovered the beauty of wine and the people who make it.
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2. Extraterrestrials just landed on earth. What wine do you pour them?
Oh man, what a challenge! I'd give them a tasting flight of the best wines from around France and the world! We would probably need to show them our best to avoid world domination.
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3. What's your favorite scent you have ever smelled in a wine?
I just had an exceptional red from Roussillon (Les Hauts de Ventenac, Cuvée Jules Cabardès) and the first aroma I smelled was sandalwood. It was like a trip to southern French beaches!
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4. Any favorite music or podcasts you like to listen to while you drink wine?
I always have to keep my language skills sharp, so I often turn on an episode of On Va Déguster, a French podcast from FranceInter. It's a show where they explore global food and wine culture. Each episode has its own regional or stylistic focus. It's really cool!
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5. If you could visit any wine region in the world right now what would it be any why?
Beaujolais and Bourgogne. I haven't been and it feels like a stab to the heart. My friend Meg (@megandmerlot) and I had a whole trip planned in May, but of course, COVID-19 had other plans. We'll get there soon!
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6. What do you think is the most exciting thing going in the world of wine right now?
One of the most exciting things in wine right now is the evolution of the Vin de France category. I love how French winemakers are experimenting with new grape varieties, natural production methods, and so on. They're honestly some of my favorite wines and - dare I say - sometimes better than Grand Cru!
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7. What would you like to see in the future of wine?
The sad truth is that the wine world has fallen behind because it has (until recently) refused to come to terms with its racist, misogynist culture. Wine is no longer our generation's beverage of choice because many perceive it to be stuffy, irrelevant, and incapable of diversity and inclusion. There are so many people working to change this, but we must all be united in our efforts to revamp this culture. That means that everyone - whether behind the scenes or in external comms like PR and marketing - has a role to play in increasing and promoting equal representation of gender identity, racial diversity, and ethnicity.
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8. What advice would you give yourself looking back to when you first started working in the wine industry?
Stop being so hard on yourself and stop working so darn hard! I was working at a wine marketing firm and it was like 14 hour days...weekends...nights... and it was so unnecessary. Ask for help when you need it!
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9. Who are some people that inspire you in the world of wine? YOU, OBVIOUSLY! It's true!
You really changed the Instagram scene and I hope you are proud of that! On the more traditional side, I really look up to Pascaline Lepeltier. She was one of the first women in France to really prove that the country needed to take sommelières (female sommeliers) seriously. I'd drink anything she gives me!
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10. Anything in the works you'd like to mention or promote?
Include any website, social media, or info you want to share. You can always find me on the 'gram - @FrenchWineTutor - and my website, www.frenchwinetutor.com . Send me some pronunciation requests, I love to hear from everyone!
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Merci Katie!