This episode features a live audience conversation and tasting at The Oenophile Institute in Smyrna, GA with Arnaud Bourgeois, the General Manager of Domaine Henri Bourgeois in the Loire Valley of France. For 10 generations, his family has been helping people discover and appreciate the unique terroirs of Sancerre. He shares his passion for being in a role as an ambassador for the region, and we collectively discuss the role of wine education in helping people unlock the beauty of the wines from the Loire Valley. Following in the footsteps of his family of winegrowers, Arnaud studied viticulture and oenology in Mâcon for two years before going on to study wine sales, marketing, and commercialization at the Tecomah center in Paris. He also worked for several estates in the Rhône Valley and traveled to South Africa several times during the harvest season, so we talk about how his winemaking has been influenced by various locations throughout his studies. His versatility allows him to be in contact with production, professional customers, and journalists in order to constantly improve the wines from the vine to the glass. His heart is clearly anchored in his role within the vineyards, but he also recognizes the importance of his business decisions in distribution and production, especially within the current political and social climate. You can visit https://famillebourgeois-sancerre.com/en to learn more about their family history, their wines, and their philosophy in the vineyards.

Recorded March 4, 2026 with a live audience at The Oenophile Institute in Smyrna, GA

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Episode 173 - A Live Audience Tasting at The Oenophile Institute Celebrating 10 Generations of Sancerre with Arnaud Bourgeois