Hear a fascinating explanation of how to describe a wine’s impact and the sensations we feel when enjoying it.
This episode is a wonderful mix of French and English that’s easy to follow.
It’s so interesting to hear how French people develop their passion for wine since its so closely linked to their national identity.
My conversation with William is a great one with 2 amazing restaurant suggestions in Paris!
welcome to what’s the finish our weekly podcast where we talk to experts and individuals just like you to discuss not only the flavors and finishes of spirits and foods but also all the flavors life has to offer along with the Magnificent finishes they bring so joined our host David aarat as he asks the question what’s the Finish hello everyone my name is David aarat and this is what’s the Finish podcast our regular show uh about wine food and the flavors of life and how it all finishes uh I am thrilled to to welcome a very special guest a European guest a a a Frenchman uh who who will talk with us today about his tastes and passions for the flavors of life I am so pleased to welcome William guts to our show today William Hi how are you and tell us where you’re calling from please hi David um I’m uh calling from uh [Music] um so um coming from the south part of France I imagine South part of uh Paris I imagine that you visit Paris often and what you don’t have to answer immediately but I would like for us to one of the last questions I will ask is what are some of your favorite uh places to eat uh when you are in uh when when when you return to Paris so we’ll okay we’ll talk about that but um yeah so it’s a it is a pleasure to to speak with you uh William and tell me a little bit about what’s the what how did your journey uh into wine begin and what is it that a specific memory or event that inspired your interest in one um uh a good friend uh introduced me uh to the pleasure of tasting about uh 15 years [Music] ago blind wine tastings yeah I love that and a friend a friend of yours um introduced you to this yeah yeah yeah and you know the the principle was um everyone has had to bring a bottle and write a description of their wine in advance uh based on the information they found on the internet and we then played like a detective to find which wine the description matched that’s fantastic and quick background do are you uh tell us is is your passion for one um part of your job or is it a a hobby is and how if it’s a hobby how much of a how much you know does it consume your your life outside of work I think it started uh uh as a hobby but now I’m trying to um to to work in the in the in the wine business so um we very good very good so so to actually work in The Vineyards is your goal uh and work for a chateau or a domain exactly very very good in the marketing area you know it’s uh it’s more to help them with their digital strategy or something ah very good and is that part of your background as well digital marketing yeah exactly okay excellent excellent so I think it’s very fascinating for uh for others to hear how people from France actually nurture their their passion and their um their their curiosity around wine so uh already it’s interesting to know that a friend introduced you to Wine through blind tastings and now as with anything it’s become more of a passion and you want to apply your skills uh toward that I think is great um let’s start with maybe some more basic questions which what kind of wines of France or perhaps outside of France do you do you enjoy the most is it red is it white and then what region uh most appeals to you h I think um for a long time I thought I was a red wine person um probably out of a cultural familial uh background you know because U as a as a child mostly saw red wine uncooked at the table to accompany a nice piece of meat for for example but when I think about it I think um white wine gives me the more and otions um and you know I like the the floral and buttery Aromas of a well-aged Burundi for instance or the acidity of a nice Shand or the Exotic Touch of a Soven BL from New Zealand so yeah I think I’m I’m as a matter of fact more of a white wine person fr [Applause] excellent it’s sometimes it’s very hard because I don’t even realize we’re speaking in French but we’re speaking in French and just for the audience that that that answer was the question do you can you find New Zealand wines easily enough in France and the answer was at the beginning no and then more more recently yes and um you also ticked off some uh French you know areas where s Blanc is made in France and and then the appearance of more and more New Zealand which I think is a good thing so um thank you for that let’s see what um so let’s hear from from you for our audience how would you what advice would you would you give our audience about how to enjoy and appreciate wine especially given your how you you’re your original blind tasting introductions to it and now your experience uh helping wineries with their digital marketing how would you convey that that marketing message to a friend let’s say to to to a friend that that was trying to learn more about wine and now came to you as you came to your friend years [Music] ago okay okay okay okay um I think to to appreciate uh the wine tasting you have to take your time and create an appropriate uh moment to tasting uh for me tasting means feeling Sensations like visual uh Al Factory um with the with the with the tongue too Etc so it’s leading to mental pictures so when I taste the wine I’ll try to picture um uh what what kind of a wine it can it can be and um I I think um um this picture will gradually evoke uh memories and um I think it’s really important to to think the wine tasting as a potion of memories wow and something that wow so just to explore that a little bit more you’re saying that when you’re tasting you you you your eyes may close and you go to a visual um representation of what the wine is and the Wine’s Sensations are are are creating in inside of you and if that means a particular memory of being at the beach might it be more TR iCal notes that you’re tasting or if it’s it can be a landscape it it can be a it can be a um uh somebody meal or a meal it can be you know it’s a like an association of idas and I think it really depends on the the wine lately for instance I um I I tasted um a wine from Som champ uh so um I have a this picture of a very strict lady but also very intellectual and inside she was really warmhearted you know and so um uh for instance for this kind of a cab I had this picture when I tasted this wine from I think it’s a from do and um yeah so it’s it can be that or sometime it’s like a forest you know there is a great manga maybe you you know this manga um in French we it’s drop of God drops of God we so we’re talking about drops of God and when the from from that episode in that series when the young woman tastes the wine I found it fascinating that there were these splashes of color you know in her mind that that were creating a a sensation for her and your description reminds me of of that visual way that they were describing how she was reacting to the wine and you’re is yours is slightly different in that more than just colors it’s bringing actual memories Andor situations where this wine would fit either inside the memory of a dish a place visited a person met or even a uh yeah I think that’s that’s that’s that’s a pretty amazing uh way of describing it and if it’s not everyone’s reaction to Wine it’s certainly is it certainly is an interesting one to explore and to to have you explain so thank you thank you yeah no that’s um that’s pretty cool that’s that’s very very that’s very interesting and I think for everyone listening it is important to to head to stop and to really think about what is the sensation happening uh to you when you drink the wine and if you’re if you’re present enough and you let your mind wander for an instant or two to best describe your reaction I think imagery does does play A Part quite quite a significant part and then you just have to be able to describe what it is your subconscious has associated with the sensation I think it’s both um a good way to uh relax and enjoy the wine uh without studying in a way you know just being uh uh enjoy the wine and I think it’s really great to remember the sensations and so it’s a it’s a good way to contemplate things you know it works with wine but it works with many things it just think I I think it’s just a state of state of mind but wine is really a good tool to take time um to be connected with others and with our inner uh Spirits yes couldn’t agree more with you uh William I think that is I think you I think you nailed it I think we could almost end there it’s such a such a fine and wonderful Point um wow so let’s see um yeah I think I’d like to end it right there I think this was a f fascinating conversation William and uh I certainly appreciate uh you’ve taught us something and you’ve taught us this pretty amazing way of U approaching wine which I’m thankful for and I know others who are listening are thankful for so thank you thank you for bringing your perception and uh your ability to explain even in English I’m sorry sorry I’m giving you my hat I’m saluting I am saluting your English it is phenomenal and so I know that our audience appreciates Le and uh so with um with a full glass of gratitude thank thank you so much William for for being with being with us today we really app appreciate it thanks for the invitation and I almost forgot all these thank yous and I come back to the question I wanted to ask which is when you go to Paris what what’s what’s your favorite restaurant that you’d like to um because I’m writing this down and keeping a list what is your favorite restaurant I think I think if I have to choose one it would be um uh the first one that that that comes to my mind is liso Blan it’s really really beautiful uh restaurant you have a view on the FL Tower and um it’s a two stars Mich so of course you have to to to spend a little money but it’s really worth it it’s amazing food and wine is perfect so yeah I really recommend this place yeah so waso Blanc white bird W Blanc yeah exactly was BL okay do you have a runner so that’s a nice one to Mich and star that’s great definitely thank you perfect now if if if it’s just you and friends and you want to be more casual but it’s solid good where locals might go uh sure what’s that restaurant that you that you’ll take uh people too or your friends you find yourself in without all of the ceremony I must confess David that I I must confess that I I go I often go to um forign forine restaurant so I I I have only like Taiwanese food in mine for instance or amazing Taiwanese restaurant that is named after um sh AIA uh it’s really typical Taiwanese food and I’m just searching for a French one I think no no no no no that’s even better like uh that’s even so so tap if you can to the chat I want to make sure I get this Taiwanese restaurant we want that one the Taiwanese one is is in the mar it’s AIA and uh it’s really typical Taiwanese um street food so it’s really affordable and the atmosphere as the restaurant is amazing and the the manager is so cool so I recommend yeah I perfect a g e a g e okay a g e a j i a exactly okay n okay William we we got everything that we need here so again thank you thank you so much look Co [Music]