Daughter of one of Chapoutier’s colleagues, and born in a house that is situated right in the middle of the Tain L’Hermitage wine area, Marie-Josée Faure was a wine enthusiast from an early age. When I was a student, I worked for the summer either with Chapoutier or Jaboulet and, once I’d completed my studies at the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse, I became a wine merchant for 17 years in Saint-Vallier. But I decided to follow a different direction in my career and, having taken a course at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London, I decided to create my own business in October – Les Sens’Ciel – which hosts groups of between eight and 30 people to help them discover the wines and spirits of France and the world. It’s a fun discovery tour, based around the various aromas and tastes, which can be delivered either in French or in English .

Currently Marie-Josée Faure operates mostly in the Drôme and Ardèche areas, where she works closely with four partner wine producers: Domaine Michel Poinard in Mercurol; Domaine Roland Betton in La Roche-de-Glun; Domaine Boissonnet in Serrières, and Domaine Voge in Cornas. I also work with bed and breakfast properties and hotels, like La Veyrardière in Saint-Donat and Roure Soleil in Mauves and I can go into other regions if needs be, continues the wine consultant.

Her reputation is spreading through word of mouth as well as her website, and she’s already been contacted by the Ardèche and Drôme ADT as well as various tourist offices who have clients wanting to stay in the area. I’ve also been contacted by event agencies, including one in Luxembourg wanting to organise an incentive for about 30 people in September in the areas of the Gard and Ardèche, she states. This consists of a half day vineyard discovery tour plus a blind wine tasting that is aimed at getting participants to appreciate the characteristic aromas of our grapes. On 18 April, I also led a discovery tour of the Côtes-du-Rhône vintages for a Franco-Russian wedding party, organised at the Château de Rochegude. I also work on the cruise boats during their trips to Tournon… in fact, I’m pleased to say that my business is doing pretty well .

Several companies have also contacted her to give a presentation during their meetings. Her services start at 15 € per person for a simple two to three hour escorted tour of a vineyard for a group of more than ten people. And an afternoon spent with a wine producer, including cellar visit and introductory wine tasting, works out at 50 € per person for four hours. Finally, a day-long trip including discovery of two or three cellars costs 90 € per participant. Marie-Josée Faure can also organise simple wine grower snacks or meals with wines chosen to match the various courses, costing between 15 and 30 €.