Our Favorite Memories of 2020

“Looking back at these first four thrilling months among PWC’s team, I have to acknowledge that there’s nothing like ‘experiencing the field’ to soak up our passionate producers’ vibes. Our October visit at Chateau Yvonne with Mathieu Vallée definitely will be etched in my memory for a long time. Having a chance to barrel taste in such a mind-blowing troglodyte cellar was a one-of-a-kind experience that I cannot wait to relive one day!” – Quentin
“An obvious highlight from 2020 was our Wine Weekend in January in Barbirey-sur-Ouche before the announcement of any confinements or restrictions. Over the weekend, more than 100 winemakers, distributors, and retailers gathered together to taste the new vintages, meet each other, and stay up far too late enjoying each other’s wines and company. We won’t be able to do this in January 2021, but we are all looking forward to bringing great producers and distributors back together again soon.” – Josh
“For a few weeks at the end of the summer, I got to forget about the worries of 2020 and picked some grapes / cooked some meals for harvesters in Beaujolais (Dutraive) and in Champagne (Ruppert-Leroy). The experience also brought me back to my kitchen days of sharing and forging new memories through food, and of course, with a few raised glasses. It was exhilarating and humbling to be a small part of our winemakers’ work, and  I’ll always cherish those memories.” – Ryan
“Our recent trip to the Champagne and the Jura was nothing short of magical. We have an annual appointment to taste the new vintage from Champagne Ruppert Leroy, and every time I leave their winery / farm, I’m totally energized (and have ambitions of getting into biodynamic animal husbandry). We drove onward to the Jura to taste with Nicolas Jacob and Valentin Morel; hanging out with them and barrel tasting is always a treat. The final thrill: waking up to see our first snow of the season on the snow-capped mountains of Poligny.” — Francesca
“2020 started on a major high note for me, as I was lucky enough to partake in my first Paris Wine Company #WineWeekend in Burgundy (as Josh mentioned above). Hanging with our producers, sharing meals, and meeting our distributors / retailers from all across the world brought me back to the heart of what we do. The next 6-8 months were a blur, though I was finally able to make it back to Paris in October. The night before reconfinement (27 October), the little street that I live on had a big outdoor party to celebrate our last night of freedom. When one of my neighbors made some negative comments about Riesling, I immediately ran home, grabbed a bottle of Domaine Bohn Riesling, and poured it for them right there in the streets. His eyes widened, and he immediately admitted how captivating he found the wine. To see someone’s perception of a grape / wine change like that in a matter of seconds – especially from a wine and producer that means so much to our company– was a moment I’ll never forget!” – Vicki
“What a crazy year! 2020 was my first official year at Paris Wine Company, and although it was a bit of a rollercoaster, there were many adventures, discoveries, and positive moments. As mentioned by Josh and Vicki, one of my highlights from this past year was the January Wine Weekend in Burgundy. Organizing this weekend with the team was one of my first tasks upon joining the company, and it was such a huge pleasure to see this project come to life by experiencing three very intense days of tastings and  conversations (no masks necessary!) between winemakers and clients. We ended the year on a high note with a trip to the Loire Valley, where we rediscovered the terroirs of Muscadet, Anjou, and Touraine right in the middle of the vines against the backdrop of colorful autumn foliage. It was my first trip after second confinement and it felt great to be in the vines again! I can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store for us.” – Justine