About Shoshanna
Shoshanna used to work for Michelin starred restaurants in England and wine and food pairing is an essential part of her life. She often had clients that requested information about the wine list and as time went by she decided that in order to better inform customers, she should take the extra step and further educate herself in wine and the regions these come from.
It started out as a very innocent learning experience that turned into a passion. Shoshanna continued with this passion during three years as a part time wine advisor with Oddbins in Wimbledon and it was during this time that I became very seriously involved with wine to the point of taking her WSET (The Wine and Spirits Education Trust).
Interview with Shoshanna
How did you decide to become a tour guide?
I am fascinated by the entire cycle of the life of a vine. Many people think only of the bottle of wine the final product – however there are so many aspects that contribute to the production of the final product. I am very passionate about wine and wish to share this passion with others, I want to be able to bring people to the source of the wine, not just tell them about a bottle in a remote wine shop far away from where the wine was produced.
What are your key highlights of the Provence wine region and When is the best time to visit Provence?
If it beautiful weather then I would suggest between the beginning of May and the end of September, contrary to popular belief the winters though often short can be very cold and harsh and there can be snow and icy conditions. Summer is absolutely ideal and if you are after more than just visiting vineyards, there are many festivals – music, photography and art amongst many and if you are a fan of lavender then a visit to the Lavender museum is a must. If you are into ancient history then this is the place to be as there are thousands of years of it. Provence is a dream come true there is something to do for everyone and the wines which were once known as being of low quality have improved in quality over the past 40 years and rival those produced in other countries and regions in France.
Do you have a personal favourite winery in the region and if so why?
When speaking of the Provence region it also includes parts of Southern Rhône notably the famous producing region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Therefore as my choices of favourite wineries in Provence Domaine Aureto is amazing www.aureto.fr and you can also have a wonderful lunch or dinner in the Relais and Chateaux restaurant; owned by a swiss couple as expected everything is top perfection. They produce a chardonnay that rivals many. Château Beaucastel in the Southern Rhône one of the oldest and most famous wineries in the region is not to be missed. www.beaucastel.com
Finally, which wine region in the world would you like to visit next?
I would like to visit Chile – the wines that come from this country are of a very good quality and the country is even described as having the perfect growing conditions. To be honest; it is difficult to choose a region as there are so many but this would be a good starting point.