Greg Verdin- Sula brings in a new French Brand Ambassador

Gregoire Verdin is quite new on his job as the Brand Ambassador and with only one month on the job, he is working full time to educate and train the staff and evaluate their current knowledge of wine. As a Brand Ambassador he has to do the training and education for Sula staff at all levels as well as meet the customers and conduct trainings at their restaurants too.

So how did he land up a job with Sula, I ask. ‘Rajeev was looking for someone in marketing. I applied as I was looking for an assignment in Mumbai in the hospitality and wine space; I have been in and out of India frequently and living in Mumbai which I love. He thought with my experience I could do that but with a twist-adding training and education as a part of my assignment. My experience in the restaurant and hospitality will also be handy to improve the restaurant standard at the Nashik winery and further improve the Tasting Room and facilities.’

He is quite ecstatic about his role, especially since he is reporting to Rajeev directly. ‘Coming from France I had been very excited about India’s current state of hospitality and wine industry in India. I found Rajeev to be very passionate about wines and his company. I am glad to join Sula and help the company move forward’, he says with a note of excitement in his voice.

The 31-year young Greg grew up in Burgundy, near Chablis till he was 20 when he moved to Paris where he did his Masters in Business Law from Sorbonne University.  Born ‘in wine’ without a formal training in wines, he worked in hospitality industry and various restaurants and even wineries where he did a couple of harvests in Burgundy and Bandol before coming to Mumbai.

What are his personal tastes in wine? I like Italian wines –Barolo and Barbaresco and from Sicily Nero d’Avola. Northern Rhone Valley wines, especially Cornas and Cote Rotie are my favourites. Of course being native of Burgundy, I love local wines-especially from Cote de Nuits.’ In whites, Sancerre are my favourites though Rieslings from Austria and Germany are great. I am always trying wines from unexplored areas like Syria and Azerbaijan are very good. I like to tell the customers to drink what they like but try different wines.’ He loves Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon red (MRP in Delhi Rs. 2200) and Riesling white from the House of Sula.  ‘From our BIO portfolio, Pinot noir Mud House reminds me of home,’ he adds. He also looks after the training and education for imported portfolio.

He is currently visiting Delhi where he was scheduled to meet the sales team after visiting me in my office - to know their personal tastes and their knowledge of wines. ‘As you say, wine is a subjective drink and I must know the tastes of the team.’ Quite impressed with the Sula winery in Nashik, Bangalore Heritage winery is next on his agenda. He has his hands full for the next couple of months...or years!

We wish him happy years with Sula; raise a toast and say- Jai Ho!

Subhash Arora

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