Born in Chalon/Saône Burgundy in 1946, I studied hostellery management, marketing and finance and began my professional life as a hotel receptionist and became hotel manager in 1975, for the ACCOR international group of hostellery and tourism. My job was to take hotels over and try to relaunch them with a new strategy. Since 2007 retired, I am involved in the Rotary as a member, but also as district assistant governor, and district rep. for Shelterbox. Married with Françoise since 1969, we have 3 children and 7 grand children (all guies). I have real passions for travels (discovering people, cultures, religions), reading, bridge, golf, cycling and hiking. my home in Meursault
I am looking forward to learn all about the wine history of Ohio, meeting the professionals there and share their experience. But before that, I am eager to receive the Group Study Exchange Team to be their guide in Burgundy and especially discuss with Phil Mariolla who spent a part of his life in Boulogne- Billancourt where we lived 10 years long!
BUATOIS Nicolas I am 25 years old, I am single and I am from Dijon. I have been a sommelier since I was 2 and a half years old. I studied 5 years in a catering school in Dijon where I did an extra year in wine. During this year, I have learnt about wines and spirit ( winemaking, the beverage business, marketing and wine laws). I worked in Monaco a couple of months before leaving for England (Birmingham) to improve my English language but mostly my wine knowledge. It was a very good experience; I was able to discover world wines and their different tastes during several tasting. Today, I am working in Courchevel as an assistant-sommelier where I advice guests of different nationalities. There over 300 references on our wine list and we manage the whole cellar ( whites, reds, champagne and soft). I am enjoying thoroughly working this environment, where I am able to share my passion of wine with the customers and staff like. What I would like to get out of this trip: Coming to the United States is a dream come true to discover even more new wines and other landscapes with their vineyards and culture as well as the different ways of making wine as well as the marketing methods. Tasting different wines during this trip would be to widen my wine knowledge and to compare them with other countries such as France. Going to stay with several families will be a great experience, I will be in the heart of American families, meet new people and learn their habits. In conclusion, I hope that during my month abroad I will spend both a personal and professional experience.
I grew up in Vosne-Romanée where my parents herited the Domaine Cacheux from their parents. A few years from now, I plan to take it over with my younger brother Charles. I finished my viticulture and marketing studies two years ago. and I have been working as a flying winemaker since: I have been doing vinifications in Oregon, in Australia (Hunter Valley and in Tasmania). I just joined a small Négociant in Burgundy as an export assistant : tastings with clients as well as all paperwork which accompanies the sales are my daily occupation. I am living in Gevrey-Chambertin with my boy friend Pierre and our dog Dora. Pierre works with his father on their own Domaine. I met Pierre three years ago when I started rock climbing. Now, we often go to climb on an artificial wall or on the hills in the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. I am looking forward to learn all about the wine history of Ohio, meeting the professionals there and share their experience. But before that, I am eager to receive the Group Study Exchange Team to be their guide in Burgundy.
I spent 11 years working in winemaking in Australia mainly; Chile, South Africa, New Zealand for the vintage period. In 2006, I returned to the Domaine, completely and officially, to work with my brother Raphaël. Working as brother and sister isn't easy at all, but something I love. At 38 years old, we manage 23 ha with a range of 20 different appellations from Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, white and red, such as Regional appellation, Village appellation and Premier Cru like Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Crus and the Clos de Vougeot. (www.burgundy-wines.fr ) We produce around 100 000 bottles per year and we export around 45% in different countries, the rest in French market. I'm also secretary of Femmes & Vins de Bourgogne burgundy women wine www.fevb.net and I'm member of Union des Oenologues de France French oenologist. This exchange with United States is a great discovery, a new experience. I expect from this trip to complete my knolwedges of the wines worlds and discover new cultures and tradition of wines, mainly an other approach of this fantastic product wine and meet some wine lovers...
Béatrice Dubois
Stéphanie FUTAULLY I am 36 years old, married and mother of 2 little boys: THOMAS 6 ½ and JULIEN 3 ½ years old. In my former life I was a logistics engineer; but working most of the time behind a computer or travelling around European airport I realised that I didn t even know what season it was or what the weather was like outside. So in 2004 I came back to take over the family estate because my dad was just 60 years old and my brother was not interested in it. My husband CHRISTOPHE supported me a lot in the decision and found a new job near Auxerre. I trained in viticulture and oenology for one year and then immediately started to work with my dad. The family estate is situated in Beines near Chablis, we hold 19 hectares and produce 3 appellations: Petit Chablis, Chablis and Chablis 1er Cru (2 different climate: Beauroy and Cote de Léchet ). We have some very old vines from 50 to 90 years old planted by my mother s grand parents and parents. We bottle and sell directly (mainly in France via Vignerons Independants fairs) around 40% of our production and the rest is sold to shippers. I love my new job and life because it is really a unique opportunity nowadays to create a product from my hands; from start to finish and control the whole production process. My expectations during this Ohio travel: I ve never been to the USA so it is like a dream coming true to have the opportunity to go there and especially attend the Study Exchange experience around wine. I love the idea of staying in American families and having a real contact with them. As I decided late to be a winegrower I haven t had the opportunity to attend any training in foreign countries like USA, Australia or South Africa, as many of my colleagues. I hope to learn about USA vineyard, the winemaking process there and meet winegrower, importers or retailer to know the American customers preferences. Everything around wine is interesting for me. Christophe Thomas & Julien