The Journal
Wine, Culture and Power
Original analysis on French wine, professional culture, and the hidden codes of power.
For executives, and culturally engaged readers worldwide.
One feature or essay per month.
How to Talk About Wine Without Drinking
Not drinking does not mean not knowing. For executives who choose not to drink, wine literacy is not optional — it is a professional asset. A practical guide to fluency without the glass.
The Art of Doing Business in France, and Why the Rules Are Being Rewritten
From first-name protocols to the three-hour lunch: French professional culture rewards those who master its codes. And those codes are being rewritten. A guide for international executives.
The Parisian Lunch as a Turing Test: What “Bon Appétit” Really Says About Your Rank
Why saying "Bon appétit" at a Paris business lunch can quietly close a door. A cultural intelligence analysis of the codes that decide rank at the French table — for executives who need more than good manners.
The French Paradox, Revisited: When the World's Wine Country Stops Drinking
French wine consumption has fallen over 60% since 1960. This is not merely a public health story — it is a geopolitical and economic signal whose implications extend far beyond France.
Wine, the Table and the Gaze of Others
From royal ceremony to contemporary social performance: an anatomy of power at the French table, and why every gesture still signals rank to those who know how to read it.