About
The story behind Paris Wine Girl
This started as a blog in 2017. It became something more — private tours, custom trip planning, wine education, and a way to help travelers find their way into French wine country with real human connection.
Emily Lester Fouilleroux
Founder, Paris Wine Girl
I came to Paris in 2017 for two things: to perform and to study wine. For years I did both. I trained as an aerialist, competed, and built a pole and aerial dance studio in Seattle before moving to France. In Paris, I continued performing while working as a sommelier and earning my wine certifications. When COVID ended live performance, wine became everything.
But the creative work never stopped. Wine, for me, has always been about more than the glass. It's culture, place, history, people. I photograph everything you see on this blog. I write. I design experiences that weave together wine, food, landscape, and the kind of context that makes a place come alive. I've partnered with Lost in Frenchlation to bring wine and French cinema together in Paris. I've worked in wine marketing and content strategy for producers, importers, and platforms like CellarTracker and Napa Valley Wine Academy. The thread through all of it is the same: I'm drawn to work that sits at the intersection of creativity and craft.
Today I design private tours and custom itineraries. I act as a cultural guide for travelers who want more than a checklist of tastings. I teach at the Burgundy School of Business. And I continue to build Paris Wine Girl as a bridge between American travelers and the real texture of French wine country.
Certifications: WSET Level 3, French Wine Scholar, Bourgogne Master Level
Languages: English (native), French
Nicolas Fouilleroux, DipWSET
Wine Educator & Sommelier
Nicolas is a Paris native who came to wine after 15 years in classical music — he co-founded Le Cercle de l'Harmonie orchestra and created "Divins accords," a concept pairing wine tastings with live concerts. That background shapes how he teaches: wine as art, as story, as something worth paying attention to.
He holds the WSET Diploma and studied in the Master of Wine program. He teaches WSET courses through Level 4, leads masterclasses across France, and works as a sommelier. He's an official ambassador for the Wines of Provence and faculty at INSEEC business school.
On our private tours, Nicolas brings a depth of knowledge that turns a vineyard visit into something you remember. He makes the technical accessible and the historical vivid. Whether you're a professional sharpening your palate or a curious traveler tasting Burgundy for the first time, he meets you where you are.
Certifications: WSET Diploma, French Wine Scholar (with Highest Honors), WSET Certified Educator and Internal Assessor
Background: Master of Wine candidate (Stage 2), Ambassador for Wines of Provence, Faculty at INSEEC, Certified Educator at Château de Pommard and Oenovino Paris
Languages: French (native), English (fluent), German (fluent), Italian, Spanish
What We Do
Three ways to explore French wine with us.
Private Wine Tours
Custom day tours in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Northern Rhône, Savoie, and Jura. Two longer visits with producers we know personally, plus cultural context throughout.
Learn more →Trip Planning
Custom itineraries for independent travelers. Producer contacts, driving routes, restaurant recommendations. From a 60-minute consultation to full-service planning.
Learn more →Wine Education
Wine Scholar certifications, and immersive programs through Paris Wine Academy. Professional training and enthusiast-friendly learning.
Visit Paris Wine Academy →Paris Wine Academy
We co-founded Paris Wine Academy to build a new model of wine education — one that merges certification with cultural immersion. We offer Wine Scholar certifications, and immersive experiences that go beyond the classroom. Our cohorts are small (capped at six for French Wine Scholar) because intimacy matters to us.
Visit Paris Wine AcademyWhy We Do This
Wine tourism opens doors.
We believe a day in the vineyards can change how you taste, how you travel, how you connect to place. Wine isn't just a beverage — it's a way into culture, food, history, and craftsmanship both ancient and contemporary.
We're not trying to be the biggest. We're trying to be good — to offer experiences that feel personal, grounded, and real. We work with couples and small groups who want to go beyond the surface. We don't do large groups. We don't run fixed routes. We design around you.
If that resonates, we'd love to hear from you.
Ready to plan something?
Whether you're thinking about a private tour, need help planning your trip, or just have questions — we're happy to talk.
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