I held this position until 2001, when I started my own wine consultancy business, which has lead me to organize corporate and private wine events on a regular basis in France and abroad. Key clients include multinational companies such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, AXA, Calyon, Ernst & Young, Bain & Company, and Freshfields.

As a wine taster and journalist, I regularly contribute to French and English magazines like Revue du Vin de France, World of Fine Wine. In addition, I'm a member of the tasting jury for "Gerbelle & Maurange, best wines at best prices" and the "Solar Bio wines" guides.

Since 2001, I have acted as a consultant and contributed to the development of Caves Legrand, one of Paris' most beautiful wine stores. My responsibilities include selecting the wines, as well as organizing and conducting tastings, private events and wine tours.

As I wanted to broaden the selection of my wine offerings, and unite my various activities under one single name, I created Oenotropie in 2004. In 2006, I have also started importing to France some of the finest wines from Italy, but also from Germany, Spain and South Africa.

Oenotropie refers to wine tropism, or having an unexplained liking for wine. I felt this name was a fitting way to brand and describe all of wine activities/services I currently provide. It was also important to have a name that could easily be pronounced and remembered by French and English-speaking persons alike. Today the interest and passion for fine wines is worldwide, to the point where interest is greater outside of France than inside the country. Real connoisseurs seem to be English or American, some of whom have taught me more about French wines than any of my countrymen.

Although my main activity is to conduct tastings and being a merchant, I am also available as a lecturer and consultant for journalists. I'm currently working on a database of more than 20,000 tasting notes written over the past ten years. I'm also the creator of a 24-episode documentary program on winegrowers, which will be broadcast on French TV in autumn 2006.

In my free time, I enjoy being with my beloved wife and newborn child, cooking for friends and exercising--- because when you're a wine taster who appreciates gourmet food, you have to work hard to stay fit ! Every partner and assistant selected by Oenotropie has been chosen based on his or her professionalism, competency and ability to share a high level of wine knowledge and instruction. These may seem like obvious requirements for a wine tasting host, but suprisingly, they are not always available with other members of the French Wine trade.

I have also chosen to become a student again, following the programme of the prestigious London-based Institute of Masters of Wine. I have successfully passed the First Year Exam and am now working hard to pass the Second Year Exam, which will be held during a whole week in May 2007.

THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS OF WINE

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) exists to promote the highest level of educational achievement for the wine industry, culminating in the internationally recognised qualification of Master of Wine (MW). As a corporate entity it organises all aspects of the Master of Wine examination and education programme, runs tastings and other events programmes, provides membership services to the 250 MWs world-wide, and information and access to specialist advice for the wine industry in general.

Visions and Aims

The IMW pursues the goal of excellence in the wine industry, and aims to promote:

- the highest standards of quality in wine
- the highest standards of excellence in wine
- the highest standards of conduct within the wine industry

The IMW intends to achieve this by:

- support for individual members as they pursue both professional and personal goals in wine related activities
- encouraging candidates from round the world to sit the examination
- taking a leading role in international events and discussions which affect the wine industry
- obtaining support from all sectors of the wine industry for these aims

History

The first Master of Wine examinations were held in 1953, under the auspices of the 'Worshipful Company of Vintners' and the 'Wine and Spirits Association', and 6 candidates achieved the standard required to become the first Masters of Wine. The Institute was established as an entity in 1955 and there are now 250 Masters of Wine who comprise its membership. For the first 30 years the annual examination was limited to UK 'traders in wine' (defined as importers, merchants and retailers) but in the 1980s the examination was opened to anyone earning their living in wine world-wide and the first non-UK MW succeeded in the examinations in 1987.

Facts and Figures

The Institute now has 250 members of 18 different nationalities, living in 20 countries throughout the world. Education seminars and examinations are held in 3 countries, the UK, the USA and Australia. 76 members live and work outside the UK, almost all of whom have become members in the last 12 years.