By Frédéric Cayuela
DipWSET
The Roussillon Wines Embassy
W elcome to the Roussillon Wines Embassy.
I am Frédéric Cayuela DipWSET, DWS, CSW, director of the Roussillon Wines Embassy project, a passionate wine educator at the アカデミー・デュ・ヴァン Academie du Vin, official European Grenache / Garnacha representative and wine event organiser in Japan.
The Roussillon Wines Embassy project is the milestone and the culmination of more than 11 years of work and studies in the wine sector which have allowed me to build a solid reputation in the wine.
I originate and graduated from the Roussillon, a wine producing region located in the south of France and sharing boundaries with Spain. This tiny but 2500-year-old historical amphitheatre, traditionally renowned for its "vins doux naturels", can experience extreme climatic conditions, and it is often blown by the challenging Tramontane wind while being surrounded by both the Mediterranean Sea and by the intimidating peak of Canigou in the Pyrenees mountain range.
And if Roussillon nowadays produces some of the finest dry and modern style of wines, this certainly comes with a price. As I discovered my passion about grape growing and winemaking when I was only 14 years old, since that time I also learned the value of the viticulture and the reward of patience in this challenging producing region.
For these reasons, I have the greatest respect for this mutual and long-term relationship between customers and winemakers.
In order to make this project successful, I have selected 5 of the very best and most representative wine artisans of this niche, and outstanding producing region:
- Domaine la Toupie, artisan winemaker based on the arid and dry black schists soils of the prestigous Maury AOP.
- Château Nadal Hainaut, organic and family estate which owns some of the oldest vines in the heart of the plains of the Roussillon.
- Domaine Vaquer in the Aspres subregion, located at the foot and under the rain shadow effect of the Canigou peak.
- Domaine Coume del Mas and Mas Cristine, on the historical terraces of Banyuls and Collioure AOPs, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Pyrenees mountain.
- Terra Remota, organic and family estate located just across the Pyrenees mountains on the Spanish side of the magnificent Emporda DOP.
In addition, and in order to guarantee the satisfaction of our customers, here are a few of my qualifications and accomplishments in the industry:
• Diploma WSET holder. (DipWSET).
• Graduated from Rivesaltes Sch. of Agriculture in France (DWS)
• Certified Specialist of Wine from Society of Wine Educators (CSW)
• French Wine Scholar Program Instructor (FWS)
• Champagne Master Level holder, completion with highest honors.
• Certified Whisky Ambassador.