Join the Exclusive Connoisseur Wine Club - Avid Vines Pt. 2
Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.
Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.
Forrest Kelly engages in an enlightening conversation with David Aferiat, founder of Avid Vines, who shares his unique journey from economics graduate to purveyor of organic champagne. David reminisces about his formative experiences in Southern France, where he not only honed his culinary appreciation through the lens of a host family’s kitchen but also cultivated a deep connection to his cultural roots. He reflects on how his dual citizenship and upbringing shaped his perspective, blending American and French influences into his personal and professional life. This rich background laid the groundwork for his passion for champagne, which came to fruition after a pivotal family trip to the Champagne region in 2018. David emphasizes the importance of understanding the craftsmanship behind champagne production, advocating for visits to both large and small producers to appreciate the nuances of their methods and the significance of organic practices.
The conversation also delves into the importance of community and cultural exchange. David discusses how his experiences as the leader of the French American Chamber of Commerce helped him bridge the gap between these two worlds, enhancing his appreciation for both cultures. He encourages listeners to embrace the idea of self-care through wine, emphasizing that every day can be an occasion worth celebrating with high-quality, sustainable products. Avid Vines aims to connect consumers with artisanal growers, ensuring that each bottle is not just a drink but a story of heritage, sustainability, and passion. The episode wraps up with an invitation to explore the exclusive connoisseur wine club, offering an opportunity to deepen one’s appreciation for organic champagne while supporting responsible practices in winemaking.
Takeaways:
- David Aferiat shares his journey of bridging French and American cultures through his work.
- Living in France greatly influenced David's appreciation for high-quality ingredients and cooking.
- David emphasizes the importance of visiting both large and small Champagne houses for a true experience.
- The organic and sustainable practices of artisanal Champagne growers are essential to David's mission.
- Avid Vines offers an exclusive wine club featuring carefully selected artisanal organic Champagne.
- David encourages listeners to embrace self-care by enjoying Champagne, not just on special occasions.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- avidvines.com
Forrest Kelly
Welcome welcome to The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast with Forrest Kelly, our.
Forrest Kelly
Guest founder of avidvines.com Avid Vines organic champagne standing apart.
Forrest Kelly
The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast
Forrest Kelly
You went to college, you graduated a degree in.
David Aferiat
Yeah, I graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in economics and minored in French. I studied for a period of time during that experience in France and in the city of Toulon on the Mediterranean.
That's where I learned how to drive a stick shift. That's where I kind of placed my roots and became very integrated into a wonderful family, the mother of which also was an amazing cook.
And I truly, I felt like I was, you know, there was a sort of renaissance for me in understanding like, whoa, this is an amazing way to live. Get close to ingredients. Just her cooking was incredible and greatly, you know, influenced me and my time for the whole year.
Most people spend a semester, I spent the year and then summer and again. Keep in mind the context is my, my father is fren. So I'm a dual citizen as well.
I've raised my children to share and to participate in this rich cultural, you know, heritage of the Mediterranean, the southern France that I've enjoyed. And so they subsequently now are fluent in French. But it all stemmed from that year, you know, living and visiting my family.
Yeah, so when my teenage years we would visit, you know, with my, with my parents, this family that had, that was also in France, my cousins and aunts and so forth, great aunts and the like. When I lived there for the year, I saw them as well, but I lived apart from them so that I could at least develop my own kind of identity.
And later as I had my career, I always kept in mind this idea of how do I continue to bridge these two cultures together in my life? That explains for a period of time after college, just about eight or so years ago, I was the.
I was fortunate enough to privilege to lead the French American Chamber of Commerce for the southeast of the U.S. and for two terms and, and that was an incredible experience just to kind of again keep me vested.
And then all the while when, when one particular aspect of my career had reached its, you know, conclusion grow a software company.
I decided to put my efforts into importing the Champagne based on a, on a trip that I had made to to Champagne in around 2018 with my family and extended family.
We're very fortunate enough to, to be able to travel and a lot of my immediate family, my sister and her family, they, they weren't as knowledgeable about the Champagne. So I was like all Right. And then my nephews and such and my, even my, my, my children were of the age to appreciate it. But like let's baseline this.
Let's go to a big house, see how champagne is made. And they're exceptionally well, they're, they're, they' fantastic at presenting the way that champagne is made in English.
You know, it's kind of like a Disneyland experience. You should go.
You know, Tati J is a great example and, but you should also, if you can find someone and like we do with our, those who join our, our website and our eat and our newsletter, we have you know, an itinerary and refer to it often and polish it and update it about. Go to the big house. Then go to a small house, find these owner growers, find the ones like I'm importing and they will welcome you with open arms.
They don't speak as English but they make up for it in like hospitality like pouring champagne and, and you know, everyone starts to understand each other when that happens.
Forrest Kelly
Yeah.
David Aferiat
And, and you just see how different it is. But you understand at least how it's made because you just had that presentation.
Then they'll take you on the tour and they'll show you their, you know, modest but expensive capital and resources that they use to make their champagnes and you suddenly start to realize like, wow, they don't have to buy the grapes there. They, it's their own. And they, you know, they go through the same process but the result is pretty amazing.
Forrest Kelly
Certified organic sustainable products, chilled importation only. Otherwise no ticket to ride. You can join the exclusive connoisseur wine club.
Go to avidvines.com so that you can start to receive the very best certified sustainable organic champagne from their carefully selected artisanal owners and growers in France. Why? Because self care starts@avidwines.com don't wait for the special occasions in your life. You are the occasion.
We've got more episodes coming up with owner and founder David of avidvines.com.
Forrest Kelly
The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast
Forrest Kelly
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Forrest Kelly
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