Uncorked: Mathilde Prot

Parisian Mathilde Prot has been the agency director of Sopexa for Hong Kong and Macau since June 2016 and has been with the group since 2013 where she joined from the Hong Kong French Chamber of Commerce. Before, Mathilde worked in the publishing industry in France implementing communication plans for comic books and newspapers. She has lived in Hong Kong’s sunny Southside since 2011 and speaks to dbHK about enjoying Pouilly-Fuissé and oysters in Brittany and her love of Prieuré Roch.

What vintage are you?  

1979, it is said to be a forgotten vintage in Bordeaux. I hope my generation has still time to make its mark!

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

Probably a Bourgogne rouge but I can’t be too sure. We French start drinking wine from an early age, and so enjoying wines has always been a part of our daily lives!

What would you be as a wine?

Light and fruity at first but you can quickly feel a strong character underneath.

Where are you happiest?

In Brittany, with my friends and family on a long summer day, with a glass of Pouilly Fuissé from Valette and a plate of fresh oysters.

What’s your greatest vice?

If given the chance, I could talk about food and wine endlessly, gastronomy is such a large part in my life

Best advice you ever got?

Fais toi confiance – trust in yourself!

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save?

A bottle of Clos des Corvées from Prieuré Roch in Nuits-Saint-Georges. It’s one of the best wines I have ever had and is also produced by one of my best friends.

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business?

I love sharing experience, knowledge, taste and happy moments in the wine business. Actually, I can’t complain about the industry – there are tougher jobs out there!

What’s on your wine bucket list?

Living in Hong Kong has opened my mind to many other wine regions, aside from France. I guess my goal is to keep being surprised at different things.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I would mix people from F&B who I have been dreaming about meeting one day – Alain Passard, Pierre Gagnaire, Philippe Conticini – and also people from my former job in France (comics book authors). I guess they have extravagance, passion and diligence in common which could keep us entertained until late!

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

My personal happiness and satisfaction have been growing over the last few years, it is quite a good level today! Maybe 75?

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

Anything that will make my family and friends less sad.