Behind the vine

Marianne Fabre-Lanvin - Souleil Vin de Bonté - France

When do you think you fell in love with wine, enough to make a career of it?

Wine is so ingrained in French culture, and my own personal ties started before I was even born. My grandparents owned vineyards in Sigean, a charming little village by the Mediterranean in the Languedoc. When my brother and I were young, I remember my father let us taste a sip of a Greek Muscat de Samos out of a 2,000-year-old Roman terracotta cup! You can imagine how cinematic this must have felt. I remember the wine tasting sweet and delicious, and it seemed so exotic to be enjoying something that came from outside France. It transported me to the Greek islands and felt like I was partaking in an ancient Roman ritual. It left a lasting impression on me.

While I grew up around wine, I didn’t realize how deeply rooted it was in me until I was about 30 and living in New York. That’s when I made a more intentional shift to incorporate wine into my daily life. Of course I was familiar with wine from the Languedoc — where I grew up — and other regions of France, but I wanted to understand wine on a deeper level, so I started to train. I studied wine and sommellerie to deepen my empirical knowledge. The blind tasting process, in particular, was fascinating to me. I then worked in communications and events with a lot of wonderful wineries and wine regions, and feel grateful to have had these opportunities.

What story does your wine tell?

Souleil is a Vin de France, and we are blending organic grapes from a few different parcels cultivated by independent winemakers scattered throughout southern France, all within sight of the Mediterranean Sea.

Growing up in southern France, in a region of such diverse and striking natural beauty, we learned the importance of seasonality and locality, which you can find in neighborhood bistros where there are fantastic house wines by the bottle or carafe and bright but simple regional staples like a wild asparagus omelette, or zucchini-flower beignets. The lifestyle in this region is all about enjoying the beautiful natural surroundings with friends and family. It’s very laid-back. We wanted to embrace this sentiment and make a wine that feels approachable and easygoing, something that could be a Monday or Friday night kind of wine and would appeal to everyone at the table — since we want to enjoy it alongside friends.

Last but not least, Souleil, we're ocean lovers and our company was launched with a clear idea to give back to the ocean. We give part of our profits to 5 Minute Foundation, which works toward ocean preservation. It’s part of our project completely, so Souleil is truly a way to entertain while doing something good for (and with) our friends, communities and environment.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

A lot of people feel adamant about what’s good and what’s not. They also overthink wine and can feel intimidated if they don’t know a region or producer. Wine can be extremely technical — but it doesn’t have to be. I think a good wine is one that appeals to you, personally. You don’t need to be a wine expert to appreciate wine. Everyone can trust their own palate.

What great things about wine do you think people should remember?

Wine is such a transportive and sensory experience. It pairs perfectly with the moment you enjoy it, so much so that it will bring you back to the island or terrace when you were sipping that bottle, and remind you of the moment and the people you were around. When you think back on that moment, you can start to pair the wine with meals and moments. The thing to remember is whether the pairing enhanced the wine — and how.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a woman interested in breaking into the wine world?

Don’t assume you know less than the person you’re dealing with, and be open to learn from more experienced professionals without being intimidated. Everyone has to start somewhere, and by constantly tasting and learning from the pros, you’ll realize how much your palate is developing.

Who is a woman that inspired you?

Saskia de Rothschild took over Domaines Barons de Rothschild, her family’s company, a few years ago in her early thirties. She is a very inspiring figure in the wine world. I’m sure it’s not easy tackling some of the challenges she’s been presented with, but she has a ton of ambition. She’s working hard to create a more sustainable ecosystem within the vines and is increasing biodiversity by converting all of their French estates to organic farming. She’s working alongside local talent and constantly learning and striving to push boundaries in an industry that isn’t always the most adaptable or welcoming of change. This is a trait I think we can all admire and learn from.

Where can women find your wine?

In the U.S. you can find Souleil in various restaurants and shops like Convive Wines in NYC or online stores. It is also available in Europe, and in Australia. You can find your local option here.