Rhône In New York, Pamela Wittmann puts the spotlight on Beaujolais wines
Translated extracts of an article published in Le Progrès on 11/15/2023
Pamela Wittmann has been president of the Compagnons du Beaujolais brotherhood in New York since September 2022. Meet this passionate oenologist whose aim is to "educate consumers" about wine.
Pamela Wittmann is the President of Les Compagnons du Beaujolais New York. Photo Charles Wolf
Born in Paris to a French mother and an American father, Pamela Wittmann was at the heart of the creation of the Compagnons du Beaujolais de New York. It was in 2002, with Jacques Capsouto, restaurateur until 2012, that she imported the French association to the heart of the American metropolis.
Trained as an oenologist, Pamela Wittmann began her winemaking career in northeastern France, in the Champagne region. She obtained her diploma there before embarking for California.
Continuing her life in the United States, she founded her own agency, Millissime PR, in 2001. She joined the Compagnons du Beaujolais New York office in 2012, at the request of President Jacques Capsouto, as secretary. She succeeded him in September 2022.
Intoxicated by the "Beaujolais bug”
It wasn't until 2001 that Pamela Wittmann made her first trip to the Beaujolais region. "I met some wonderful people and discovered many new producers," she says. It was an opportunity for her to get what she calls "the Beaujolais bug". It was from that moment on that her passion for the region developed.
She came to take part in the first Revole des Compagnons in October, and has always kept a link with France. "My travels have been very beneficial. That's why we now organize them for our Maitres Compagnons who have not yet visited this part of France. The next lucky ones will travel to Beaujolais in June 2024.
A committed president: "The Compagnons' goal is education.
For Pamela Wittmann, the Compagnons du Beaujolais fraternity in New York is a mix of "great Beaujolais enthusiasts, whether experts or not. It's an order in which we don't seek profit. The Compagnons' objective is education.”
And it's thanks to this, and to the work of all the Compagnons du Beaujolais, that this wine has regained its letters of nobility. "There's a big difference between the way we saw Beaujolais 20 years ago and the way we see it today," says the oenologist.
"Today, I dare to hope that the Compagnons have played a role in the reputation of Beaujolais," she adds. But there's still a long way to go: "When we talk about Beaujolais today, everyone thinks 'nouveau'. Yet the region has other wines that are highly regarded by professionals. Hence the need to educate consumers.
Nevertheless, Beaujolais Nouveau remains a must this season, and the Compagnons du devoir de New York still intend to celebrate it, despite supply difficulties.
On Monday, November 13, members of the association were able to taste Beaujolais crus over dinner. In the days to come, the Compagnons du devoir will even be thanking and encouraging places to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau on the streets of New York.
Trained as an oenologist, Pamela Wittmann began her winemaking career in northeastern France, in the Champagne region. She obtained her diploma there before embarking for California.
Continuing her life in the United States, she founded her own agency, Millissime PR, in 2001. She joined the Compagnons du Beaujolais New York office in 2012, at the request of President Jacques Capsouto, as secretary. She succeeded him in September 2022.
Intoxicated by the "Beaujolais bug”
It wasn't until 2001 that Pamela Wittmann made her first trip to the Beaujolais region. "I met some wonderful people and discovered many new producers," she says. It was an opportunity for her to get what she calls "the Beaujolais bug". It was from that moment on that her passion for the region developed.
She came to take part in the first Revole des Compagnons in October, and has always kept a link with France. "My travels have been very beneficial. That's why we now organize them for our Maitres Compagnons who have not yet visited this part of France. The next lucky ones will travel to Beaujolais in June 2024.
A committed president: "The Compagnons' goal is education.
For Pamela Wittmann, the Compagnons du Beaujolais fraternity in New York is a mix of "great Beaujolais enthusiasts, whether experts or not. It's an order in which we don't seek profit. The Compagnons' objective is education.”
And it's thanks to this, and to the work of all the Compagnons du Beaujolais, that this wine has regained its letters of nobility. "There's a big difference between the way we saw Beaujolais 20 years ago and the way we see it today," says the oenologist.
"Today, I dare to hope that the Compagnons have played a role in the reputation of Beaujolais," she adds. But there's still a long way to go: "When we talk about Beaujolais today, everyone thinks 'nouveau'. Yet the region has other wines that are highly regarded by professionals. Hence the need to educate consumers.
Nevertheless, Beaujolais Nouveau remains a must this season, and the Compagnons du devoir de New York still intend to celebrate it, despite supply difficulties.
On Monday, November 13, members of the association were able to taste Beaujolais crus over dinner. In the days to come, the Compagnons du devoir will even be thanking and encouraging places to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau on the streets of New York.