In this small town in Loire-Atlantique, the wine merchant is one of the 40 best in France

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From October 19 to 21, 2024, Cognac hosted the 5^e edition of competition for the best wine merchant in France. This competition, created by the Union of Professional Wine Merchants and organized by the magazine Land of winesbrought together the 40 finalists.

Including Nicolas Barbou, owner of the Les Flacons winery in Paimboeuf (Loire-Atlantique), the only candidate from Pays de la Loire.

First participation

In May 2024, the Paimblotin wine merchant managed to escape the preselection test, by responding to forty varied questions about winesspirits, liquids in general and food and wine pairings.

This time, he rubbed shoulders, as a novice, with the elite of the profession. “25 wine merchants had already attempted the competition, for some, it was even the 3^e or 4^e times,” explains the former sommelier.

In the Charente sub-prefecture, the 40 wine merchants had to complete a new written qualification test to be decided, via a detailed questionnaire: sixty questions around wine (especially foreign), terroirs, agreements… followed by a comparative tasting of five alcohols.

On the verge of the semi-finals

Eliminated at the gates of the semi-finals (the 15 best), Nicolas Barbou did not emerge too frustrated.

Like all competitions, the results remain a mystery. I just know that I performed well on food and wine pairings, less on other tests.

For the Paimblotin wine merchant, participating in this type of competition is important.

“It allows us to continue training and personally, I am proud to be able to put Paimboeuf on a map ! The customers are super happy too. When I put my photo with the diploma, I got 500 likes during the day on Instagram.”

On the ground

This year, the Flacons team and the Les Raffinés wine bar – the other establishment managed by Nicolas Barbou – made numerous trips to meet the winegrowers.

For each bottle we sell, we must know the winegrower and the plot from which it comes.

At the beginning of October 2024, the team flew to Martinique, where tensions are very high at the moment in a context of discontent with the high cost of living.

“It was a work seminar, not a vacation!” », smiles the boss.

The professionals have visited 12 rum distilleries in just ten days on the Isle of Flowers, the only region in the world to have an AOC for agricultural rum.

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