Poussin plans pan-Europe student wines

Jérôme Poussin of The Cellar of Knowledge, the new UK importer of French student wines, has said he desires to have a portfolio of winemaking academies’ produce from across Europe.

Speaking to db ahead of The Cellar of Knowledge’s UK launch on Monday, where a tasting of the top wines from the French winemaking academies in its portfolio will take place, Poussin said, “There are [winemaking] schools all over Europe: in Spain, in Portugal, in Germany.

“So eventually, the idea in the future would be – could be – to have a portfolio of wines from across Europe. In the future. I can’t speak to a new programme, but it’s just an idea.”

Explaining his passion for the young winemakers currently in the portfolio, he said, “We all learn something from a young age. Location, education, sensation; this is what it’s all about – to valorise these schools and what they make.”

And the UK market, currently at the beginning of a boom in wine consumption, is the perfect place to do so, according to Poussin.

He said, “The UK market is the number one market to go. The platform is there; there is already a recognition of these [winemaking] schools, and the communications network in the UK is very important.”

Jérôme Poussin, The Cellar of Knowledge UK Ambassador

Poussin, who will host the tasting of eight of the Cellar of Knowledge wines on the 26 January at The Westbury in London, has worked as head sommelier and wine buyer for some of London’s top restaurants. He was previously MD at Bragard UK and also set up his own wine distribution company in 2012.

The Cellar of Knowledge, founded by former students from Avize Viti Campus with their label Champagne Sanger in 1952, encompasses academy labels from Champagne, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Mâconnais, Côte du Rhône and Sauternes.

The wines being showcased at the London event will be:
Champagne Sanger, produced by Avize Viti Campus
Château La Tour Blanche, produced by École de Viticulture et d’ OEnologie La Tour Blanche
Château Dillon, produced by Lyvée Viticole de Bordeaux-Blanquefort
Château Réal-Caillou, produced by Lycée Vitivole de Libourne-Montagne
Château Grand Baril, produced by Lycée Viticole de Libourne-Montagne
Château Mongin, produced by Lycée Viticole d’Orange
Château de Bel-Air, produced by Lycée Bel Air
Domaine de Poncétys, produced by Lycée Mâcon-Davayé