A sommelier or a wine lover near us: Geneviève Boucher

Why this new line of blog post ? Because I find it captivating !

Wine world is full of wine lovers who, by their interests and unique personality share theirs attachment to this lovely, intriguing yet touching beverage!

My life as a wine passionate was to this day sprinkled with wonderful encounters. Many have shaped of influenced my relationship with wine. So I’ve decided to share some of these persons that, at a moment or another have contributed to the flourishment of the wine lover I have become.

My questions and their current interest will be the base of these interviews.

Who’s the first person to have accepted the invite? The Dynamic and smiling Geneviève Boucher

Why Geneviève? First, as I client at réZin wine agency, I had the opportunity (and pleasure) to meet her on multiple occasions. I then was able to see how passionate she was for life and for wine in a contagious way. Then, it was almost natural for me to begin with her to start this new line of blog articles!

I met her for a coffee in the decor of Café Vasco da Gama on Peel Street in Montréal.

Coming from Westmount in Montréal and being French (which is kind of rare around there!), Geneviève was brought to wine by Steve Beauséjour and Xavier Burini, two colleagues at the resto-bar Le Cube. At that moment, she was doing a police course while having a job there. These guys played a key role in the interest she will develop for wine. This new passion was so strong that she dropped her police studies to register at the ITHQ (Quebec’s Hotel and Tourism Institute) to become a sommelier.

When her sommelier training was done, she worked as a sommelier at the Brontë restaurant then almost 8 years as marketing Director at the wine agency réZin. Also passionate about the restaurant world, she perfected her skills at Joe Beef, Lawrence, les 400 Coups and le 357C. Excellent to bring up front lesser known products and really into wine, Geneviève is, at only 27, on a new start. She just begin a new job as Canadian and Caraïbes Export Director for Michel Chapoutier.

Here is now her answers to the core questions that I will use as a base for all the upcoming interviews as well for this one with wine lovers and sommelier that will be opening themselves to us:

Passion for wine usually comes gradually, but from amateur to wine lover commonly origins from a specific moment. What is yours ?

« It happened when I was working at Le Cube. Back then, a colleague invited me on a visit of the Québec’s vineyard Les Pervenches. The wines, the people and their passion were contagious! »

“Comfort food” usually brings up the joy of eating a well appreciated meal that warms ourselves up. Do you have a “comfort wine” ?

« Many type of wines could fit there, but a Savigny-les-Beaunes or a Savagnin from Jura (with a bite of comet cheese), feels like heaven! »

It is almost impossible to split apart wine from the word “share” or “generosity”. Many of us, wine lovers, had the opportunity to share with amazing persons incredible wines in what could be called a magic moment. Any memories of one of those moments ?

With no doubt, she answered: «The evenings with my previous team at réZin where we had magnums of Fidèle de Vouette et Sorbée Champagne meant party time and happiness. » One another great moment that will stay in her mind was: «That time when, beside Alessandra Bera, a wine producer, we were looking at a sundown in the Piedmont hills while having a glass of old Moscato d’Asti. It was an unforgettable moment. » «Lately, I got caught on the origin of a wine while tasting blind. It was a Shiraz from Domaine de Tournon and it had the elegance of a Northern Rhône Valley wine. You got to be open minded when tasting wine ! »

In the recent years, Grand Cru level and well renowned wine prices just went crazy. Do you have a suggestion of a moderately priced good wine ?

Without aiming at a specific wine, Geneviève did point out regions to look after when looking for good value wines: « Southern France, Languedoc, the Rhône Valley or Greek white wines can be enjoyed without emptying your pockets! »

As a wine geek, it is nearly impossible not to have wine while camping of during a stay in a cabin. Any suggestion of a wine for outdoor aficionado ?

« Magnum size bottles are a « must have », especially with good company. Beaujolais and Sicily wines can be match with a lot of dishes while being enjoyable by themselves. » «If you’re out on a skiing trip, then I recommend Les Meysonniers, a Crozes-Hermitage from producer Michel Chapoutier »

Wine do bring us up to amazing things and discoveries, but also is at the origin of projects. What is your current project?

« Beside my new job for Michel Chapoutier, which is a challenge by itself, I do support some causes close to my heart. For example, on November 18^th there will be an Art and wine Pop-up and the money gathered that night will go to the Fondation des étoiles for research on child diseases. »

To attend that event and meet Geneviève, here’s the link : fondationdesetoiles.ca/

Thanks again to Geneviève for having met me and share again her passion with me, and all of you !