Terres de Syrah, the wine tourism and events department of Cave de Tain, was created in January 2016 when Cave de Tain’s Director Xavier Gomart met local wine guide Marie-Josée Faure.
The wine tourism project of Cave de Tain, originally started in 2009, has not stopped growing since then:
Our team consists of three permanent members: Marie-Josée Faure, Delphine Ledent and Bénédicte Bruley. During high season, Guillaume Reynaud and Justine Goudard, both wine guides, regularly come strengthen the team.
Marie-Josée Faure – Wine Tourism Manager
Born in Tain l’Hermitage, Marie-Josée has always evolved in the wine world. She has been working many years as a wine merchant and then created a wine shop and bar of her own in Tournon-sur-Rhône, through which she gradually got involved in wine tourism. Her thirst for learning led her to start the challenging and elitist Master of Wine study programme, the most prestigious title in the world of wine. Her encounter with Managing Director of Cave de Tain Xavier Gomart in 2015 led to the creation of Terres de Syrah in January 2016.
Marie-Josée is both working as Wine Tourism Manager for Terres de Syrah and teaching at the hotel school in Tain l’Hermitage (WSET educator). But her greatest passion is to share her love for the wines and terroir of our region.
A few questions to Marie-Josée:
- Which film or TV show could you watch over and over? Amélie
- If you were a meal, what would you be? A « blanquette de veau » (French veal stew)
- What object are you always carrying with yourself? My WSET corkscrew
- What is your favorite book? All the books by Christian Bobin or Philippe Delerm as well as Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin in the Middle Taiga, by Sylvain Tesson.
- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Singer! And later: school teacher!
- What is your favorite quote? Carpe Diem
- What is your dream destination? Iceland
- If you could step back in time, which period would you chose? The 19th century. I would have loved to meet Beaudelaire and other artists of the Romantic period.
- And if you were a wine, what would you be? For a white wine: a Puligny-Montrachet. For a red wine: a Chambolle-Musigny for its delicacy and elegance. And an Hermitage because it’s the greatest wine in the world!!
Delphine Ledent – Wine Tourism Sales Assistant
Born in the region, Delphine got her management assistant certificate in Valence and has worked several years in some major local companies. She has been a management assistant at Cave de Tain for 5 years before joining Terres de Syrah as a sales assistant when it was created in January 2016. Delphine takes care of the administrative work, answers your requests and helps you choose your wine tourism activity!
A few questions to Delphine:
- Which film or TV show could you watch over and over? Dirty Dancing and French Fried Vacation 2 (Les Bronzés font du ski)
- If you were a meal, what would you be? Lasagna
- What is your favorite book? Happy people read and drink coffee, by Agnès Martin-Lugand.
- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Schoolteacher in order to get a lot of vacation time!
- What is your dream destination? Papeete on the island of Tahiti, at a beach bar with a mojito in my hand and my feet in the water!
- And if you were a wine, what would you be? An Hermitage or a beautiful Meursault.
Bénédicte Bruley – Wine Tourism Coordinator
After Intercultural Management and Translation studies in Paris and several years spent in Germany working in the export and later in the hospitality industries, Bénédicte went back to school in 2015 to take a new direction into wine tourism, allowing her to combine her passion for tourism, languages and wine. As part of her Wine Tourism degree at the University of Nîmes, she joined Terres de Syrah for an internship in March 2016, just after the creation of the company. She coordinates the activities of the team during the season, creates new products and is in charge of the business development of Terres de Syrah. She can also take you on a tour through the vineyards of the winery in French, English or German.
A few questions to Bénédicte:
- Which film or TV show could you watch over and over? Live and Become, by Radu Mihaileanu, Arizona Dream, by Emir Kusturica and My Uncle, by Jacques Tati (a classic!). And I love the TV shows The Big Bang Theory and New Girl, which I find hilarious.
- If you were a meal, what would you be? A creamy and comforting « gratin dauphinois » or a spicy shakshuka (I love eating, I can’t just choose one!)
- What object are you always carrying with yourself? A book
- What is your favorite book? Les Mains du Miracle, by Joseph Kessel (so far not translated)
- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Firefighter or doctor.
- What is your favorite quote? I don’t have one but if I had to chose: The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page (Saint Augustine)
- What is your dream destination? Nepal eventually, but first: hiking up the summits in Corsica.
- And if you were a wine, what would you be? For a white wine: a vin jaune (« yellow wine ») of the Jura region (I love it!). For a red wine: a Saint-Chinian but also an Hermitage!