A Table For Two

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Maryam Ahmed, Owner, Maryam + Company, Napa, USA.

SPECIAL GUEST BIO

Maryam Ahmed is the owner of Napa, CA based Maryam + Company and the co-founder of the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum. She works at the intersection of sommeliers, chefs, activists, sustainability experts, media, and organizations focused on diversity and sustainability to design impactful educational programs and execute strategic projects in the food and wine world.  In 2022, Maryam + Company launched Field Blends, an immersive food and wine travel experience focused on bridging a gap between industry and consumers as well as opening up conversations about wine, food, land, labor, and agriculture. Maryam is a cast member on SOMM TV and a partner at PLAYTE Kitchen.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Cynthia Coutu, Founder & Chief Bubbly Officer, Delectabulles, Paris, France

After working at the Canadian Embassy in France and the OECD for 20 years managing their digital communications, she hung up her international civil servant hat and pursued her passion. She studied wine at L’Académie du Vin and L’École du Vin, and is certified Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 3 with Merit. She then specialised in champagne - the king of wines and the wines of kings!

She founded Delectabulles, a champagne networking club for women. She hosts champagne workshops in Paris, judges wine contests, and loves taking people to visit her favourite producers in Champagne. She only uses champagnes made by women, and only takes guests to visit champagne houses where women play an important role. It is her small way of supporting women in the male-dominated wine industry.

She has be mentioned in Le Monde, New York Times and Paris Match. She was also voted "Best Wine Tasting in Paris" by Expatriates Magazine and “Best Wine Experience in Paris” by Travel and Hospitality Awards. She is currently researching the role of women in the history of Champagne for a book project.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Naim Maadad, Chief Executive & Founder, Gates Hospitality, Dubai, UAE.

Having led a wide spectrum of both operational and senior positions throughout his career, Naim was Managing Director for both Six Senses and Minor Hotels prior to setting up Gates Hospitality in 2010; two roles (amongst many others) that allowed him to gain significant operational and commercial experience as a leader, as well as nurture significant owner and stakeholder relationships.

Naim has been based in the Middle East for more than twenty years, and so has witnessed tremendous industry growth and gained a deep cultural understanding of

the ways of the region, allowing him to support businesses and owners, and be a credible and respected voice of authority for the industry.

As well as his day-to-day role, Naim is on the boards of various hospitality

businesses such as The Middle East Food Forum, Dubai Restaurants Group, Almont Global, Australian Business Council and others.

A visionary and yet clear and direct leader, Naim is passionate about nurturing local and regional talent, and is known to have to supported and guided many hoteliers, chefs and restauranters as a mentor throughout his career.

Now, leading a team of 700 colleagues across Gates Hospitality, he is considered one of industry’s most respected spokespeople and a ‘Godfather’ figure, nurturing the careers of many new faces of the future.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Lars von der Wettern, Founder & Managing Host, Singular Places, Berlin, Germany.

In his second life he is a start-up entrepreneur with Singular Places to accelerate the change he wishes to see in the industry he loves! Especially supporting the amazing hosts and small enterprises around the globe that have a true impact every day!

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Anne de Bérard, Co-Founder The London Women And Wine Club, London, UK

After moving around the world (Africa included where Anne sold Toyota pickups) and drinking lots of different wines, Anne arrived in London and dedicated herself to sharing her passion with others.

She passed her Diploma (today Level 4) at the WSET and while doing so she had created her own wine group to gain more knowledge by touring the wine regions and tasting wines. Wines lovers always share a common language but their tastes are so different that whether you are a professional taster, an amateur or a beginner, there is always something to share and learn.

After a few more moves, she became a WSET tutor in the Netherlands and started her own business as a wine entertainer creating team buildings, wines events all around the Netherlands. Some clients also asked her to help them create their own wine cellar which was the start of a new idea and a new business. While doing so, Anne was and still is today, judging wines at various wine competitions in Europe.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Fiona Perrin, CEO & Co-Founder, Champagne Rendez-Vous, France.

After an early beginning in luxury hospitality and in the high-end tea industry, Fiona arrives in New York City in 2012, which marks a new stepping-stone in her carrier.

It is as one of the most renown 1st Growth Sauternes, Château Guiraud that Fiona starts to make her mark in the US Market, as the Brand Ambassador for North America. For more than 2 years, she is building the brand’s recognition and identity, in charge of the sales and Marketing development and builds the reputation of the Château on the American and Canadian markets.

Early 2014, Fiona goes back to her native roots in France to continue and build her wine knowledge, as Sommelier and Head Sommelier in France in two prestigious Michelin star restaurants in Saint-Tropez and in Lyon.

End of 2014, Fiona takes on new Challenges, this time in the new world, spending 3 years working for two of Chile’s top wineries– Viña Lapostolle & Viña Errazuriz – developing the brand’s strategy & sales in the US.

In July 2018, Fiona takes a new role, as VP America for Champagne Jeeper, the co-owned Champagne House of Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, building the brand and its distribution across the US, which allows her to embrace the beautiful world of Champagne.

After spending 10 years in the wine business, in the fall 2019, Fiona begins a new adventure with her partner, a brand new project, and launches her own company, a direct to consumer business based in California along with her own brand of Champagne, Champagne Rendez-Vous, the first digital native champagne brand in the US. The start of a whole new chapter.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Lindsey Tramuta, Journalist, Author of “The New Parisienne”, Paris, France.

SPECIAL GUEST BIO

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Noelle Homsy, Co-Founder, ENVI Lodges, Dubai, UAE.

SPECIAL GUEST BIO

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Nadia Frittella, Secretary General, Wine in Moderation, Brussels, Belgium.

A true passionate about Europe and communications, Nadia trained in the European Commission and other European Associations before joining Wine in Moderation in 2013 where she has grown professionally.

Travelling has also always been a passion of hers and she has visited a number of countries, discovering at the same time beautiful wine regions around the world.

In 2020, Nadia became Secretary General of the association.

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Nicolas Naigeon, Founder & CEO, Aveine, Paris, France

When he arrived in Paris, he had a desire to break the classical wine codes and to built a vision that goes back to basics, based on the sharing and conviviality wine’s core value.

His wish is to succeed in democratizing wine tasting and making it accessible, which is why he created Aveine, the first connected wine aerator to enhance your wines.

His commitment to this vision of wine led me to develop Aveine, with the promise of perfect and instantaneous aeration for all wines. Hence, every epicurean can enjoy a moment of sharing and conviviality around a glass.