Name:
Rachel Love.
What's your position at Bon Coeur?
Business Development and Associate Director.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
My path into the world of wine began at a very early age. My parents have always been wine enthusiasts and most family holidays growing up were based around a wine region, mostly in France, but also Spain, Germany and Portugal. These early visits to vineyards and wineries obviously had a massive impact on me! It was a natural progression to enter the wine trade. After completing an Economics degree I embarked on an MBA in Wine Business Management at The Royal Agricultural College and then joined Majestic wine where a managed stores all over the country and completed my WSET Diploma.
After 9 years I sought a new challenge and joined national wholesaler as a Wine Development Specialist in 2013, developing and supporting the trade and sales team in all aspects of the wine category from wine list compilation, bespoke wine training sessions, food and wine pairing to organising and hosting masterclasses and events. I have completed the WSET wine educator course which enables me to teach WSET courses. I continued working until COVID hit in 2020 and it was time for a change. I spent much of the year copywriting and creating wine content for a couple of different wine company websites who realised that they needed to improve and upgrade their online offering to engage their online customers and meet the increased demand for online wine purchases.
Roll on 2021 and I am delighted to have joined the team at Bon Coeur. I am excited to bring my wealth of knowledge, skills and experience of both the on and off trade to really make a positive impact on the company. I am looking forward to getting out in trade and meeting the customers, as well as getting to know all of the wine producers and meeting the people behind the wines and hearing their stories.
Favourite wine in summer?
It has to be Provence Rosé! My favourites include Whispering Angel, Maison Saint AIX, and Peyrassol. I love the layers of raspberry, cranberry and strawberry fruits with hints of herbs and spices on the palate. They are beautiful, fresh wines with great acidity for food pairing yet they have delicious roundness to enjoy on their own.
Do you have a favourite grape?
Chardonnay for me has such versatility that it can produce a wide range of styles and flavours according to where it is grown and how it has been made. It can be produced in a cool, moderate or warm climate. It really speaks of where it comes from which is what I look for in a wine. From the minerally, unoaked Chablis to the incredibly complex, rich and nutty wines of Chassagne and Puligny-Montrachet. Let’s not forget it’s also the major grape variety of Champagne. Blancs de Blanc anybody? Yes please! It also does amazingly well in the New World, particularly California (De Loach), New Zealand (Kumeu River) and Australia (Robert Oatley). As a non-aromatic variety its affinity with oak brings both a textured, buttery roundness as well as sweet spice, nut and toasty characters.
Who is your favourite wine producer?
I have been a big fan of the handcrafted wines of Kumeu River for a long time, especially their exceptional world class Chardonnays. The Brajkovich family are true pioneers of the New Zealand wine industry, crafting world class wines with integrity, energy and respect. Today, the winery produces around 250,000 bottles annually from 30 hectares of its own vineyards in Kumeu, and another 10 hectares from local growers. They have gained a strong foothold within the international market, receiving outstanding accolades. The Estate has become the globally recognised benchmark for non-Burgundy produced Chardonnay.
Do any wines bring back a specific memory?
Many wines evoke special memories, that is the beauty of wine. On my first visit to Cellar 21 at Moor park a bottle of Viu Manent Secret caught my eye and immediately I was transported back to the winery in the Colchagua Valley, Chile, where I was lucky enough to visit about 10 years ago. A horseback carriage tour of the beautiful vineyards and an incredible BBQ on a raised platform in the middle of the vines with a panoramic view of the Apalta Hills, hosted by Jose Miguel Viu Bottini, was simply unforgettable.
Would you choose a cheese board or pudding?
I would pick a cheese board over a pudding, almost, every time! My favourite cheese wine would be a mature Châteauneuf-du-Pape or a Gigondas. The Grenache dominated blends from these Southern Rhône appellations are really versatile cheese wines and I love the complex earthy, farmyard, leathery character they develop as they age.
Do you like trying new wines or prefer an old favourite?
A bit of both. I do love my classic French and Italian wines and I do have my favourite wine producers dotted around the globe, however, I also love discovering new wines, championing up and coming regions and exciting new wave winemakers. I also really enjoy drinking indigenous varietals that have been revitalised by new, sustainable, viticultural and vinification techniques. The wine world is continually changing which makes the subject so fascinating.
Outside work, where might you be found?
I like to spend as much time as possible outdoors so you would find me out and about, running around the Stray in Harrogate or eating and drinking Al Fresco in one of the many lovely coffee shops and restaurants in Harrogate and surrounding area.
What do you enjoy doing outside work hours?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, usually over a good meal and an excellent glass of wine. My other big passion is Yoga, which I have been practising for about 20 years.
Favourite fact about wine?
Wine is bursting with antioxidants so it has many health benefits. You would need to drink 20 glasses of apple juice or 7 glasses of orange juice to get the same amount antioxidants that are found in one glass of red wine!
