What About Us

38 years old – Married – One child – Sales Manager – Kaly Wines’ Shareholder

Honestly, Lionel, did you imagine yourself to be a partner in a wine trade company?

Obviously, when I used to go to school in Marseille I did not imagine me as a partner in a wine company in China at all! But, with my Armenian origins, I know that nothing is dictated in life in advance. As our saying goes: “each step is in advance over the other”.

To you, what is Kaly Wines?

First of all, Kaly Wines is a friendship story, and above all a friendship with success. Because of my professional duties, I am unfortunately less daily present. But I know that each of my trips to China, each of my meetings with a customer represents a great pleasure. To me Kaly, it is above all that happiness!

From the four partners, is it true that you are the most demanding?

In the company, I have the financial role. Yes, of course, I am demanding, because that is the role’s requirements! I can be seen as the spoilsport, but this is the way how good decisions are made.

A memory from China?

During my first trip to Beijing in 2006, I was wondering if it was useful to try, because the knowledge about wine was very soft/fragile. I immediately changed my mind in 2007 when I saw the progress of the Chinese in one year and their ability of reactivity and fast learning.
This is a real pleasure to work with these people.

36 years old – Married – Two children – Wine-grower – Kaly Wines’ Shareholder

Sébastien, to be the 7th Carreau’s generation to work for the family vineyard, what does it mean to you?

I just realize a kid’s dream, as a daily pleasure! When I walk along these hundred-year-old grapevines thinking of my great-great grandfather who himself planted these pegs, I cannot prevent myself from feeling proud of keeping the tradition up.

Your leitmotiv: Tradition but modernity ?

Of course, we cannot do anything without tradition. It allows us to keep a permanent quality in our wines’ production. But, we must improve our know-how using new wine making methods. For example, we already do that for the Major vintage!

About the marketing, has everything changed?

From now on, we must work with efficient partners for the marketing, especially for the export and more for the Asian area. That is why I wanted to join Kaly Wines’ adventure! I was sure that from the double structure, of merchant and importer with our offices in Beijing, Kaly would have been a good means to make sold the Château L’Escadre in China. I thoroughly do not regret it!

A memory from China?

I have one, not so old though from my last trip in January. We have made an opening for a new shop in Shenzhen, 50 m2 next to the stadium where will happen the youth Olympics games. I have to confess that watching 150 people savoring Château L’Escadre, I thought again of my grandfather who often said to me: “When China wakes up, L’Escadre will be there”…. This is it!!!

35 years old – Married – 2 children – Technical Manager – Kaly Wines’ Shareholder

François, the dream is now true?

Yes, this is it! I did not think to be here after only five years! When I wrote the basis of Kaly Wines’ development in Inner Mongolia, I could not imagine being here three years later.

You are said to be more Chinese than the Chinese, is it?

Before all I am and I will always remain Basque! But it is true that I am living in China since seven years and I understand well the wheels of Chinese society. Traveling all around China and living in such towns like Xi’an, Hohhot, I easily became accustomed to Chinese customs and Mandarin language.

What would you like now for Kaly’s development?

I wish Kaly to be definitively known as a professional by our Chinese customers. Their impressions are very important to me. We are still starting. We must carry on our formation’s approach close to Chinese people, and every actor in France should gather to make
flourished the wine Chinese market. I regret it has not been done because there is a real comer/ability.

A memory from China?

A lot of memories in my mind for seven years! China has so much changed since the day I came here… My best memory may be the first words in mandarin said by my first daughter. About me? My memories are more the Rhune in the French-Spanish borders and the spires of Saint-André cathedral in Bayonne.

36 years old – Married – 2 children – Merchant/Trader – Kaly Wines’ Shareholder

For one year, Kaly’s daily, is it you, Christophe?

Yes indeed. After more than ten years of working in purchases for transport and logistics companies, I decided to be fully committed to Kaly Wines since one year. Due to our deep success, we have to change our organization in France in order to daily ensure Kaly Wines. It is not easy to send two containers a month!

If you had to summarize the Chinese market in a few words, what would it be?

Everybody today runs to the Chinese market. We can see all and anything!
Some colleagues work very well, some others export bad quality wines because they are sure the Chinese do not know nothing about it. Kaly Wines is against these methods which take risks to destroy the great potential market.

What are the development axes of Kaly Wines in the future?

We will carry on making Kaly Wines in a paramount place on Chinese market and more especially on Asian market. Kaly Wines will continue to ensure a more typical approach of trade in France towards traditional actors of supermarkets and restauration services.

A memory from China?

A wonderful Lafite tasting/degustation, where I thoroughly felt that all our guests around the table understood the nuances, flavors, fragrances and the tannins of this nectar. I fully understood that day that wine has truly a future in China.