Emily Who? Meet Marianne Fabre-Lanvin, Official It Girl Of The Paris Wine Scene

I’ve never watched Emily in Paris, but I’m already over it (it’s probably the only kind of French cheese I’ve ever turned down, and that’s saying something). What you may not know is that the real Parisian It Girl walks among us, and her name is Marianne Fabre-Lanvin. 

Publicist by day and wine entrepreneur also by day, Marianne is the epitome of effortless chic à la française. So, when she told me she was launching her own wine brand, I had zero doubt that both the liquid and the label would be on point, and of course, she and Souleil haven’t let me down. Here’s everything you need to know about Marianne, her equally iconic (and French) co-founder Thomas Delaude, and the aesthetically-pleasing organic wine project that’s saving the planet one beach cleanup at a time.

What was your inspiration for Souleil?
Co-founder Thomas Delaude and I grew up by the Mediterranean in a region with such diverse and striking natural beauty (the salt flats and marshlands of the Camargue, the wide swaths of sandy Mediterranean beaches, the garrigue, the red soil of Lake Salagou), where it is all about natural colors and warm sunlight. Southern France’s landscapes and the sea were certainly an inspiration for the design of the label. We wanted to feel the warmth and vibrancy of the scenery of our native region. 

As for the name, “Souleil” means sun in ancient French. It’s also the name of a club on the main road to the beach in Montpellier (along the route des plages) where Thomas and I often went with our friends. I really like that in the word Souleil, there is “soul,” which nods to the brand’s philosophy and commitment of doing good for the environment and creating awareness around a cause like ocean preservation. 

In your opinion as a Française, what makes Souleil different from other French wines that people are most familiar with?
First of all, a majority of French wine labels tend to be classically traditional. It can be beautiful, but it can also be intimidating if you don’t know how to decipher the label. Our wines are more modern and approachable. We want to appeal to a wide audience of everyone from connoisseurs to those just starting to discover wine. We chose warm colors because we were thinking of the endless summer vibe that our wines carry. Everyone can relate to that—especially in the middle of winter!

Secondly, we’re trying to be creative—or even daring—with our wine blends. Our white “Le Blanc,” for example, is unique and very expressive. It includes characteristic southern French varietals—Piquepoul, Terret Blanc, Ugni Blanc, and Muscat – and we’re even adding a bit of Grenache Blanc in the 2021 vintage. Le Rosé 2021 will be mostly Grenache Noir with a dash of Piquepoul (a white grape). Le Rouge is a classic Syrah Grenache, but very juicy and best served slightly chilled.

How would you describe the lifestyle of the quintessential Souleil drinker?
I imagine that the Souleil drinker lives in the moment. They enjoy a simple beach day sipping rosé on the sand or an impromptu lunch cooking with friends.

I also believe that most Souleil lovers care for nature, because by choosing us, they’re choosing an organic wine. They’ll also be supporting the nonprofit 5 Minute Foundation and their commitment to protecting our oceans through cleanups, plastic upcycling programs, and education. We hope to help shine some light on their valuable work.

What's your ideal place/time/situation for drinking your wines? What's the vibe/outfit/music etc.?
I am fond of apéros (pre-dinner drinks) al fresco and always longing for sunsets and long summer nights by the sea—as we all do, I’m sure! We had a few soirées à la plage last summer, starting with a beach cleanup and ending in a festive apéro. One of the most memorable was at Plage de l’Espiguette in Camargue, in southern France. It was a perfect summer evening, and there was even a sax player enchanting us with songs like Hair’s “Let the Sunshine in.” Everyone was in a casual-chic summer outfit (lots of white and beige linen), with their skin still salted from the sea, and beach hair sculpted by the breeze. Another memorable Souleil apéro took place in Biarritz at the gorgeous art deco rooftop “Bar de la Côte”, which overlooks the ocean. Le Rosé’s label blended perfectly with backdrop of golden hour and the sunset, and the sun then disappearing into the Atlantic. Lights down, spirits up!

How would you sum up the role of wine in the French lifestyle? How does that differ from the way we view wine in American culture?
Wine is part of the culture in France—it’s everywhere. I would say wine is a necessity in a French shopping cart. Also, most French people live near a vineyard and the wine culture permeates (almost) every home, café, restaurant, or social gathering. It is for everyone, young and old, available at all price points. People love to talk about wine, but not necessarily as experts. For example, drinking a glass of Patrimonio can evoke memories of a trip eloping to Corsica, and prompt discussion about the delicious, local charcuterie they have on the island. 

It is difficult to speak in broad terms about the way Americans view wine. In the past, wine has not necessarily been in the picture or a fixture for most U.S. households. Other alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages were more prominent. Most states weren’t producing wine, and proximity to the production site is important for that beverage to be part of your culture. Breweries were more common, for example. Good wine was seen — and probably still is, to some extent — as a sophisticated product and, therefore, consumed on special occasions. Today, it is demystified and more approachable. I often find Americans are curious to know what they’re drinking (varietals, areas of production, etc.). They're eager to know all the details, in order to fully appreciate the qualities of a given wine, which is a great mark of respect for the winemaker. However, I feel that the way Americans appreciate wine is increasingly resembling the European mentality/mindset.

Where can our readers buy Souleil?
Souleil is distributed throughout the United States, and available at shops like Verve in San Francisco and Convive Wines in New York City. They ship to most states.

You can also sip on Souleil wines by the glass at French bistros like Claudette and Bobo in Manhattan, for example. Le Blanc pairs delightfully with Claudette’s roasted sasso chicken. Just saying!

Any future updates from Souleil that you can share with us today?
We are working on the organization of several apéros, which will follow beach cleanups this summer in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), Porquerolles (an island off the coast in the French Riviera), and The Rockaways. Depending on the location, Thomas will give kitesurf initiation classes. His wife, Mireille, will organize yoga sessions. The apéros will certainly involve brass bands – and I may join them as I started to play the cornet a couple of years ago and need to fight stage fright. Stay tuned!

[Photos by Charles Roussel, Laurent Vilarem, Doris Poe/David Fritz Goeppinger]