Rhône Trip's Art of Wine Tourism: A Blend of Passion and Precision
“Sharing.” This single word best describes Edouard, or “Eddy” as he’s known. With a blend of pedagogy and genuine connection, Eddy brings that special touch of joy to the wine tours he leads. Discover his profile and life philosophy, driven by his thirst for knowledge and understanding.
- Eddy, tell us about your background and your role at Rhône Trip!
My name is Edouard, I’m 47, but everyone calls me Eddy. I’m a native of Beaujolais and have been passionate about wine since my youth. With a Master’s in International Business and being perfectly trilingual, I’m truly self-taught. My background includes roles as a merchandiser, a wine merchant, and a nomadic traveling salesperson.
I work as an external consultant, and I’ve been in the wine industry for about 20-25 years. I see myself as a bringer of energy and happiness. I love taking care of people to ensure they have a good time. For the past year, I’ve been a wine tourism guide for Rhône Trip.
- Passion for Wine: What excites you most about the world of wine? Why did you choose this field in particular?
Sharing. They say water separates people and wine brings them together. For me, exchange and closeness are sources of energy. I chose this field in particular because you learn every day. The best way to maintain your zest for life is to learn something new every day. It’s about encountering new things and developing reasoning to understand them. Knowledge is a continuous fount of youth.
- What’s your personal approach, and how does it reflect in your work?
My approach is wine popularization – making sure people can remember and understand without using overly technical terms. My goal is to give people a toolkit for the basics of wine tasting if they’re not familiar with the world of wine. I aim to provide the fundamentals of observation, sensory analysis, and tasting, emphasizing a process and the various elements that interact during the visit. I’d say pedagogy and building connections are integral to my personal approach. I also believe that group energy is fundamental, and it’s a priority I always place at the center of the day.
- According to your personality, which grape variety would match you? And why?
For their nobility and the fact that they produce truly great, long-aging, almost spiritual wines, I would choose Pinot Noir and Syrah. They are true shortcuts to emotion, sharing, and even ecstasy. Wine, as a general rule, is a spiritual archetype.
- A lighthearted anecdote from a tasting:
During one tasting, because of my professional and responsible approach, I made sure to spit out the wines. A client there that day was doing the complete opposite, drinking quite a lot, to the point of intoxication. I suggested she could spit the wines to avoid feeling unwell. She looked at me and said, “I am not that professional, Eddy!” It’s a pretty fun little anecdote.
