A Table For Two

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Wendy Narby, Founder Insider Tasting, Bordeaux, France. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Wendy has lived in Bordeaux for over 30 years, she is a leading Bordeaux wine educator, sharing her passion for Bordeaux through writing, speaking and welcoming people to the region. She studied a master’s in International Agri-Food Marketing in Paris, working the...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Monika Hilm, General Manager, Soho House, Stockholm, Sweden SPECIAL GUEST BIO Monika has travelled and worked around the world since she was 19. When she was 22 she found her passion in the hospitality industry and after graduating from Oxford Brooks with a BSc in Hotel Management she joined Hilton with whom she stayed with for 11 years...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Tanner Colton, Chief Operating Officer, Transformational Travel Council, Seattle, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO I have been working in travel and tourism for almost 10 years in varying roles and capacities. I have been a travel designer, guide, and consultant. Currently I am Chief Operating Officer at the Transformational Travel Council where I...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Emilien Boutillat, Chief Winemaker, Piper-Heidsieck, Reims, France SPECIAL GUEST BIO Named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2021 by the International Wine Challenge, Emilien Boutillat is the youngest Chief Winemaker to lead Piper-Heidsieck, upon taking over from the renowned Chef de Cave, Régis Camus, in October 2018. Emilien’s dynamic...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Cara Patricia & Simi Grewal, Co-Foundersof DECANTsf, San Francisco, USA SPECIAL GUESTS BIO Cara Patricia , Advanced Sommelier, Co-Founder of DECANTsf Cara was a luxury Champagne Specialist for Moët Hennessy for many years, and in San Francisco, she was Lead Sommelier at Hakkasan and won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2013, sim...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Cara Bertone, Vice-PresidentOf Lift Collective, Austin, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO Cara is an accomplished leader in the Wine Industry. She has served as Director of Sales, National Chain Director, and Regional Sales for both importers and wholesalers alike. She excels at managing, organizing, and implementing strategy between Wholesale, Sup...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Alva Sueiras, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Delicatessen, Montevideo, Uruguay SPECIAL GUEST BIO Alva Sueiras is a culinary and hospitality consultant, university professor and food, wine and travel journalist. She also draws and writes. She’s from Spain but lives in Uruguay since 2012. Bachelor degree in Hospitality Business Administratio...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Rania Zayyat, Founder Of Lift Collective, Austin, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO Rania Zayyat is the founder of Lift Collective, a non-profit organization founded in 2018. She is also the Managing Partner and Wine Director at Bufalina, a Neopolitan pizza and natural wine destination in East Austin. Rania has spent 10 years in the wine industry a...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Lorraine Copes, Founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality, London, UK. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Be Inclusive Hospitality CIC is a not-for-profit organisation. Founded by Lorraine Copes in November 2019 and incorporated in July 2020, the goal is to advance racial equity in Hospitality, Food & Drink. Lorraine is an award-winning social entrepreneu...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Christian Holthausen, Founder, Westbrook Marketing Partners , Paris, France SPECIAL GUEST BIO As the founder of Westbrook Marketing Partners, Christian Holthausen is an experienced Sales, Marketing & Communications Director with a successful track record of more than twenty years in the international wine and spirits industry develo...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Michelle Mandro, Founder And President Of Wine Country Women, Napa, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO Michelle Mandro is the founder and president of Wine Country Women, LLC. She was on the forefront of placing a spotlight on the extraordinary women in wine country.  Michelle has worked in the wine industry for more than fifteen years, beginni...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Jon Priest, Senior Winemaker & General Manager, Etude, Napa, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO A native of the Central Coast of California, Jon began his wine career when he returned home from college and joined the legendary Wine Cask Company in Santa Barbara. This became his finishing school for wine appreciation and where he began to refine...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Tahiirah Habibi, Founder and CEO of The Hue Society, Atlanta, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO Tahiirah Habibi is the founder and CEO of The Hue Society. She is an international voice that has long advocated for more Black, Brown, and Indigenous representation in the wine industry. She is an esteemed, internationally recognized sommelier by trade...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Dr. Akilah Cadet, Founder & CEO, Change Cadet, Oakland, USA SPECIAL GUEST BIO Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet is an organizational development consulting firm, which offers a broad array of anti-racism and diversity services for companies and global brands. Dr. Cadet has 15+ years in management and building s...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Preston Mohr, Sales and Marketing Director, Wine Scholar Guild, Paris, France SPECIAL GUEST BIO Preston, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) moved to France during his undergraduate studies in Art History and has been based in Paris since 2005. Upon arrival, he promptly fell in love with the food and wine culture of France and...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Maryam Ahmed, Owner, Maryam + Company, Napa, USA. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Maryam Ahmed is the owner of Napa, CA based Maryam + Company and the co-founder of the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum . She works at the intersection of sommeliers, chefs, activists, sustainability experts, media, and organizations focused on diversity and sustainab...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Cynthia Coutu , Founder & Chief Bubbly Officer, Delectabulles, Paris, France SPECIAL GUEST BIO Cynthia Coutu is Canadian and has been living in Paris for 30 years. She obtained a B.A. in Fine Arts (Photography) in Canada, then came to France to do a Masters in Art History at the Sorbonne. Her love of wine and cheese kept her in Fran...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Naim Maadad, Chief Executive & Founder, Gates Hospitality, Dubai, UAE. SPECIAL GUEST BIO With almost 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry in Australia, Asia and the Middle East, Naim is the Chief Executive and Founder of Gates Hospitality, a home-grown hospitality group based in the UAE, with award-winning concepts such...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Lars von der Wettern , Founder & Managing Host, Singular Places, Berlin, Germany. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Lars is a hotelier. Since always. Certified by the Cornell University and by the Open University – holding various Diplomas in Project and Change Management and Strategic Marketing. Enjoying the dynamic world of hotels he set-up in 20...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Anne de Bérard, Co-Founder The London Women And Wine Club, London, UK SPECIAL GUEST BIO Coming from a wine family in Bordeaux and a passionate Spanish father, Anne’s childhood memories are directly linked to the beauty of St Emilion , the smell of the vinification in the tanks and the noise it makes. After moving around the world (Afric...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Fiona Perrin, CEO & Co-Founder, Champagne Rendez-Vous, France. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Fiona was born in Lyon, France and moved to Montreal, Canada in 2004 from which she began to evolve in the North American market and culture. After an early beginning in luxury hospitality and in the high-end tea industry, Fiona arrives in New York City...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Lindsey Tramuta, Journalist, Author of “The New Parisienne”, Paris, France. SPECIAL GUEST BIO A Philadelphia native, Lindsey Tramuta has called Paris home since 2006. She is a culture & travel journalist for the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Fortune, and Eater, the author of two books, including The New Paris and The New Pari...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Noelle Homsy, Co-Founder, ENVI Lodges, Dubai, UAE. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Imagining she would one day design her own little hotel and retire on a Greek Island, Noelle studied architecture and ended up building an unconventional career. Starting with architectural design and construction project management, she later handled claims, risk mana...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Nadia Frittella, Secretary General, Wine in Moderation, Brussels, Belgium. SPECIAL GUEST BIO Nadia is what we call a true European. Of Italian and Danish descent, Nadia was raised in Brussels surrounded by people from around the world. She holds a master’s degree in Corporate Communications and an advanced Master's in the “Interdiscipli...

In today’s episode of One on One, Antoine Abou-Samra welcomes Nicolas Naigeon, Founder & CEO, Aveine, Paris, France SPECIAL GUEST BIO Ophthalmic engineer by training, Nicolas Naigeon is passionate about technology, and wine given that I come from a family of wine growers in Burgundy. When he arrived in Paris, he had a desire to break the classical wine codes and to built a vision that goes bac...