The green ribbon metal (Chevalier de L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole) on Nicolas’s lapel was presented to the 42 year-old Frenchman on Dec. 4 by the government of France, in recognition of his nearly two decades of promoting French wines in Kyushu. Nicolas first came to Fukuoka in 1989 to manage Bordeaux’s booth at the Yokatopia exposition in Momochi. Following that, he joined Iwataya Department Store and was instrumental in building their wine import and retail business. Currently, along with his wife Yuko, he operates his own wine business and a French restaurant Le Chevalier in Akasaka. The award was given not only to celebrate his commercial success, or his educating of at least 8,000 people in Kysuhu who have attended his seminars (fifty each year!), but for his consultation and promotion of the smaller independent wineries in our sister city of Bordeaux. Congratulations! More info: www.nicolasgourmet.com
Hometown: Bordeaux, France
In Japan: 17 years
Identity: Sommelier, Wine Importer, Restaurateur
Originally published in Fukuoka Now magazine (fn109, Jan. 2008)
