Romain Noël has made his passion for wine his new profession

ABefore being a wine merchant, Romain Noël experienced other horizons. After a young career in corporate communication strategies with start-ups and a stint as a communications trainer for young people in BTS, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he left Paris and settled in Charente-Maritime to open a local commerce. “A childhood dream” for the man who has now been the new owner of Cavavin, 17 rue Cochon-Duvivier, for two and a half years now.

“I always dreamed of having a small local business. I like human contact, exchange and advice. I did a lot of student jobs as a salesperson in specialized stores. I wanted to find that again, this side of commerce and exchange with the customer. » And it is not by chance that he decides to embark on this adventure. Indeed, Romain Noël has been passionate about wine since the age of 18: “I lived in a family who loved wine, with whom I tasted good bottles and who were curious about what wine was. »

Wine lovers

But you don’t become a wine merchant overnight. For this, Romain followed training for more than a year. Between Bordeaux and Paris, he follows training courses, meets wine growers and exchanges with them. “Although I had some knowledge, I went back to the basics. And all this is learned by tasting the wines. I had to understand the wine chain. » And it is long from the grapes and the vine to bottling, passing through the terroirs, maturation, harvest, blending and aging in barrels.

What to choose?

Within Cavavin, more than 600 references are available. And Romain Noël works with all regions of France: from Alsace to Burgundy, including the South-West. Wines from all horizons, both classic and organic. In the shop, also a whole range of spirits: whiskey, rum, tequila, gin as well as a whole range of local products such as Pineau des Charentes and cognac. Without forgetting foreign products and others without alcohol. “Little by little, we are seeing a demand for non-alcoholic drinks,” analyzes Romain. A trend observed in recent years in particular by the French observatory of drugs and addictive tendencies (OFDT).

I always dreamed of having a small local business

To choose his wines, Romain Noël has a simple method: “We select them through tasting and if we have a need. Then there is the value for money with the desire to discover something else. »

But the store’s trademark is that there is something for all prices, all wallets. Romain Noël and Katell Desury guide their clients in their choice. No more clichés, they ensure that you can enjoy a good bottle without breaking the bank. With this wine cellar, the two managers have one objective: “We are trying to break preconceived ideas by showing that the products of a wine merchant are not overpriced. »

rochefort.cavavin.co