Samantha Barroero
Art Go Fast
Linda Grabe
Sommelier-ethylist
She was 4.7 kilos at birth, doubtlessly predestined for future enjoyment of gastronomy and wine. Deaf to the signs, Linda wandered off to study law just the way anybody else did. Then, to become a perfect housewife, she did the famous Ecole du Louvre (art history and appreciation). After a few joyful years spent at the famous French art gallery Air de Paris, she was finally caught up by her destiny and wine began to play an important role in her life. With her innate modesty, she left for Hong Kong in 1997 to teach the local population the wine culture. But conversation proved more than limited and incomprehension was great. She returned to Paris. She began by joining l’Ecole de Degustation Grains Nobles, well-known for receiving generations of French viticulture specialists. There she met François Mauss, in charge of the organization of the European Grand Jury, and is how she began two years of travelling across the world that gave her the opportunity to taste, calibrate and master her passion for excellent wine.
But then her bank manager called her to order. And this is how she decided to turn wine into her profession. She studied wine in Bourgogne and in Champagne, where she met Pierre Anderegg, the owner of Bubbles. He suggested that she become a sommelier, a profession that she still practises today as a consultant. Later, Jean Georges Vongerichten invited her to create the “furious/ extravagant” wine menu (so called by the French gastronomic review GaultMillau) for the opening of his new restaurant, Market, in which French and foreign wines came together and were classified according to taste. The menu was quickly noticed and has inspired other restaurants.
Between 2002 and 2006, Linda Grabe works for the Tasting Committee of La Revue du Vin de France. Then, for the next three years she worked for La Maison Richard creating a wine selection. Her objective is to open up wine consumption so that best wine is drunk by more and more customers.
In 2005 she created www.lindaboie.com, her own website, where she shares her vineyard discoveries with her friends. Currently, she is preparing a book with Valerie de Lescure which will be a collection of wine drinkers, to be published by Editions Solar in September 2007.
To be continued …