As part of Women’s History Month I am featuring several #WomenInWine on the Paris Wine Girl blog.
Taking off her black leather jacket and pulling her long hair back into a ponytail before she tied her black apron around her waist then said, “follow me downstairs”. This was the first time I met Annabelle. She is cool. I mean really cool and eager to share her love for wine with everyone.
I had just starting working at Ô Chateau, a Parisian wine bar near the Louvre. I shadowed her over the next couple of days. I watched her facilitate tastings at the bar, interact with guests and accompanied her on the Champagne Cruise. Looking back I was pretty lucky. My French was terrible and she was patient with me. Annabelle is knowledgeable about wine and possesses a natural talent for teaching. She takes what is a vast and complex subject matter and makes it approachable for her students and guests. I observed this first hand working alongside her in Paris.
She was one of first people I thought of when I decided to create a special feature for March. I am delight to introduce you to Annabelle Mispelblom !
Lets chat with Annabelle!
The Paris Wine Girl Interview
• You grew up in Paris and now live in Bordeaux. Can you tell me about how you got interested in wine and what your initial journey was like?
I started studying arts when I was younger and left France for Australia as soon as I graduated from my fashion diploma in Paris. It is in Australia, against all odds, that I discovered wine. I met a girl that had been studying wine in Bordeaux and it got me curious. I found out about the WSET courses and passed the level 1 during one of my numerous trip back and forth to Europe. I went all the way to the level 3, which I did in Sydney, and was so enthusiast about it that I decided to leave Australia to enroll in a more scientific course in Bordeaux: the DUAD. I then had various experiences within the field, selling wine, making, wine, writing about it, until I found what I really wanted to do: teaching. I now work for various wine and hospitality schools and WSET program providers. I also go to Paris every once and a while to run wine classes for Ô Chateau, one of the most well-known wine bar in Paris.
• What obstacles or challenges have you encountered being a young female working in wine in France?
Luckily, I never really had to complain about being a woman in a (still) very masculine field. I am sure many times I was not taken seriously but it was never too obvious. What I feel though, is that I often have to prove myself in front of people, being male or female. I do have some awful sexist stories though, that concern some of my French wine colleagues. I think I was always rather lucky in the opportunities I had and the people I met along the way.
• You recently passed the WSET Diploma level. What are your top study tips for anyone else on that path?
My top tip would be: make sure you have time and money! It is very time consuming and an expensive study. It is also necessary to taste as much as possible and this can quickly become pricy. The best is to gather up with a group of people and share the costs of the wine.
• How do you balance staying passionate and curious about wine while also building a business?
I feel I am not good at building my business precisely because I am very passionate about what I do and tend to concentrate on the classes I already have to make sure they are the best possible. One good thing (but also very time consuming) about teaching is that you must always keep up to date with that goes on in the wine world to insure what you teach others is accurate. Especially if it is with the WSET because we go quite deep into the subject. I need to be better with the business aspect though!
• You have traveled extensively to many other wine regions outside of France. How has this shaped your professional path and do you have a favorite region?
To travel has always been a real passion, ever since I discovered Australia. Once you start traveling, it is hard to stop!
To travel for wine is even more fascinating. I have learned many things by visiting vineyards all over the world and discussing with wine professionals around the globe. It also makes me much more “credible” on front of my students when I talk about a country that they know nothing about but where they can see I have been and that I treasure. My most memorable trip is the one I did a few years back to New Zealand. I was on my own and cycled around the vineyards from the South to the North Island. I found the wines outstanding and met a lot of lovely people. Not to mention the country itself, which is beautiful.
• What region have not visited yet but want to?
The wine regions of South Africa is the one place I have been dreaming about going for a while. Especially the Constantia region, because of its very long and fascinating wine history.
• What are you most curious about in wine right now?
I have just treated myself with a book on the science of sparkling wine. This is something I have always been very interested about. I have to say, I am curious about anything that involves wine!
• As an English speaker traveling to Bordeaux for the first time to discover the regions and explore it’s wines, what three tips do you have?
– Plan in advance! France is not like California or other places in the New World wine regions. There is no cellar door and you will have to make appointments if you want to be hosted by the producers/Châteaux.
– May/June is a nice time of the year to come over. The weather is lovely and it is not yet packed with tourists.
– Make sure you have at least 4 days to spend over. One day to discover the city, one day to do the Médoc wine region, one day to do St Emilion and its surroundings and one day to go to the Graves area for Pessac Léognan and Sauternes.
• You are my go to person for all things related to Bordeaux and I often refer people to you for tastings, classes and tours. How can readers contact you to book?
They can get in touch through my instagram @theflyingwineteacher or on my website https://www.bordeauxwineforall.com/
• Anything else you want to mention?
I am putting together a “wine training camp“, starting in the next few months. This is aimed at wine lovers that are willing to learn seriously about wine while having a good time. The idea is to run a 5 days course over in Bordeaux which will include morning training sessions and visits to wine estates in the afternoon. People will be staying in the wine country for a more enhanced experience. More details will soon be available on my website and social media, I hope some of your readers will find the idea appealing!
