A Table For Two

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Pauline Vicard, Co-Founder And Executive Director, ARENIGlobal, London, UK.

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Pauline now directs all Areni’s activities, when she is not studying for the Master of Wine exam or playing ultimate frisbee.

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In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Philippe de Lur Saluces, Co-Manager, Chateau De Fargues, France.

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The de Lur Saluces family received the iconic Château d’Yquem in 1783. The family managed the estate until 2000 when it was sold to LVMH. Alexandre de Lur Saluces managed Château d’Yquem for more than 30 years. After the sale, the family devoted its passion for winemaking on the Château de Fargues.

Alexandre de Lur Saluces was joined by his son who worked previously in the world of luxury then wine. Philippe stayed with his family starting in 2010 in China working for the biggest wine importer, in charge of 5* hotels and free-standing restaurants in Beijing. He followed his wife in Shanghai where she had a job opportunity and started representing Château de Fargues in Asia.

In 2014, Philippe came back to Bordeaux where he started working at Château de Fargues before managing the family group.

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In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Youmna Asseily, Owner, Château Biac, Bordeaux, France.

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However, her first love being painting, she soon veered back to blending watercolours and  made a name for herself and her still lives by exhibiting in London and painting commissions for several private clients . During that time, Youmna archived her father’s private papers, publishing in 2005 excerpts of them in  a ground-breaking book on Middle East intelligence after WWII. She also started the first chapter of the English Speaking Union in Lebanon; her programs were so creative (working with the Shakespeare Globe for instance) that she was elected President of the International Council of the ESU in 2003.

In 2006, as life has it, destiny offered her and Tony the choice of becoming “accidental winemakers” and owners of a most unique property in Bordeaux: Chateau Biac. Nowadays, Youmna can be seen around the vineyard, applying her art where design is needed and feeding souls and stomachs with her legendary harvest lunches…

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Devlin Kuyek, Researcher with Grain, Montreal, Canada.

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GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and international levels, and fostering new forms of cooperation and alliance-building. Most of our work is oriented towards, and carried out in, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Karen MacNeil, Author of The Wine Bible, Napa, USA.

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Known for her passion and unique style, she conducts seminars and presentations for corporate clients worldwide. The former wine correspondent for the Today show on NBC, Karen was also the host of the PBS series Wine, Food & Friends with Karen MacNeil, for which she won an Emmy. And finally, Karen is the creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America, which has been called the “Harvard of wine education.” More information is available at karenmacneil.com.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Wendy Narby, Founder Insider Tasting, Bordeaux, France.

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She studied a master’s in International Agri-Food Marketing in Paris, working there in food marketing for eight years. Marrying a Sauternes wine maker, she moved to Bordeaux and changed cap.

She is passionate about helping people to get behind an often-unrealistic image of what Bordeaux is and how it works, dusting off what can often be seen as an exclusive and unapproachable wine region. She loves nothing more than introducing wine lovers to the people and the place behind the products.

She blogs regularly about the region on the Insider Tasting websiteand has written two books: Bordeaux Bootcamp, an insider guide to Bordeaux basics, and The Drinking Woman’s Diet, a liver friendly lifestyle guide.

A certified yoga teacher, she created the online course ‘7 weeks to a liver friendly lifestyle’to help women develop a healthy passion for wine.

With her family, she is currently renovating a ruined 16thcentury Château in the Entre Deux Mers, to welcome guests on wine and wellness retreats at the very heart of the Bordeaux vineyards.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Monika Hilm, General Manager, Soho House, Stockholm, Sweden

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Monika has travelled and worked around the world since she was 19. When she was 22 she found her passion in the hospitality industry and after graduating from Oxford Brooks with a BSc in Hotel Management she joined Hilton with whom she stayed with for 11 years holding various positions in 8 hotels in 6 countries lastly in Prague as GM. After maternity leave for her 2 children she joined a private real estate company heading up 3 hotels in Czech Republic. The difference in chain and independent hotels gave Monika the space to develop her own management style that in 2017 became the book “Put your people first and the rest will follow”.

After 2 years with Vienna House Hotels as Regional Director for 2 countries - 5 hotels, she returned to Sweden with her family.

Today she is in process of opening the first Soho House in Stockholm.

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In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Tanner Colton, Chief Operating Officer, Transformational Travel Council, Seattle, USA

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My approach to travel and tourism is rooted in the belief that travel is our most powerful tool for connection and for positive change. In its most whole state travel and tourism is a partner in catalyzing regeneration, transformation, and thriving of both people and our planet. My deepest desire is to see communities, nature, and travelers engage in a beautiful relationship that honors and centers the wholeness of all things.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Emilien Boutillat, Chief Winemaker, Piper-Heidsieck, Reims, France

Emilien was born in Champagne into a family of winegrowers. His passion for enology and terroir started at an early age, and his pursuit of viticulture and enology studies was a natural path. Emilien graduated in 2009 from the SupAgro University of Montpellier, France, with a diploma in enology and agricultural engineering. He then travelled the world discovering new terroirs and extending his knowledge at various wineries in France (Bordeaux, and Rhône Valley), New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, and the U.S. After five years of extensive training abroad, Emilien was ready to go back to his roots.

In 2013, he applied his expertise by joining the winemaking team at Champagne Cattier and Armand de Brignac until 2018, when he was hired as the Chief Winemaker at Champagne Piper- Heidsieck. True to his beliefs, Emilien encouraged his winemaking team to fully expand the winery’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices in the vineyards. Piper-Heidsieck is proud of its HVE/VDC certification (Sustainable Winegrowing in Champagne and High Environmental Value) and its core value of working towards eco-friendly practices.

Emilien Boutillat’s Champagne roots and international experience afford him the ability to approach his position with curiosity and optimism. In another life, Emilien practiced theater improvisation for eight years; this unique skillset allows him to create vintages that are true to the House’s spirit, however, with a touch of forward thinking. Emilien is the bridge between the terroir and the world.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Cara Patricia & Simi Grewal, Co-Foundersof DECANTsf, San Francisco, USA

Simi Grewal, Certified Sommelier, Co-Founder of DECANTsf