Fermob’s Album shoot team headed to the west coast of France to meet a family of Ocean Lovers and members of the #FermobPeople community. Here, we catch up with one of the girls, Amy – a keen surfer and wine expert who’s always ready to share some of her unusual pairing tips. 😉

Tell us about the shoot…

It took place at our home in Cap Ferret. We’ve been coming to the peninsula for over 30 years. It was great fun! My mum’s an interior designer, so we really enjoyed talking about design and decoration with the team. We also like our food and drink, so I think we were very generous hosts!  The shoot itself felt really spontaneous and natural. I’ve done shoots on my own for other brands, but this time around we applied as a family – me, my sister and my mum. I have fond memories of the shoot.

How did you end up working as a wine expert?

As part of my master’s degree at INSEEC School of Communication, I did an internship on a wine estate. The experience really opened by eyes. I decided that was my calling – not surprising when you consider that my maternal grandparents have a home Bédoin, in the foothills of Mount Ventoux, nestled among the vines. Then I took a course at the Le Cordon Bleu school, set up Franck Ramoche, former head sommelier at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. There were 19 of us on the course – people of all ages and from all walks of life. There was a cosmopolitan feel to it, with instructors from around the world. It was a whirlwind year – an invigorating and exciting experience to say the least! I spent time falling in love with France again, travelling the length and breadth of the country to learn about the history and features of different soils and regions. Then I took an internship at Pierre Gagnaire restaurant.

What took you to La Dame de Pic?

The course at Le Cordon Bleu was life-changing. It was the best thing that’s ever happened to me! My class supervisor was world-famous Argentinian sommelier Paz Levinson. At the graduation ceremony, she offered me a job as an assistant sommelier at La Dame de Pic, Anne-Sophie Pic’s Parisian restaurant. Working for the world’s most decorated chef is a real honour. I couldn’t have been happier. And I’m still just as happy today…

Can you recommend any food-and-wine pairings that are easy to enjoy at home?

There aren’t any special rules. It’s about savouring the experience. Let’s say you’re having Chinese food. Go to your local wine merchant and pick up a bottle of Loire or Sauternes – sweet and refreshing wines that will really compliment your food. A crisp, slightly chilled red will make the perfect partner for fish, since it’s delicate in the mouth. If you’ve got more to spend, go for the complexity of Champagne. It adds sparkle to any meal, and it goes great with any dish.