Welcome to Episode 1686 in which host Giulia Stocchetti interviews Gilles Coffi Degboe this week on The Next Generation where young Italian wine people 30 and under shake up the wine scene. More about today’s guest Gilles Coffi Degboe (Coffi is his first name and means "Friday") was born in Benin, a tiny strip of land located in the western part of Africa, between Nigeria and Togo. In 1994, because of his father's wishes, he moved to Bologna with his family. Gilles met wine when he was a teenager, working at the restaurant Albergo "Da Marino," in Rufina (Località Masseto), an establishment run by people his father already knew before their arrival in Italy, who later became great family friends. During this experience Gilles sipped his first goblet of Sangiovese, a goblet that created in him a curiosity about the scents of wine, its anecdotes and stories. Curiosity that then led him to begin a real journey into the world of wine. His studies began at the Pellegrino Artusi Higher Education Institute, where he also had the opportunity to attend the first level of the sommelier course organized by AIS Romagna. His first work experience abroad was in China, in Beijing, a city where, during the 2008 Olympics, he worked at Casa Italia for the C.O.N.I. (Italian National Olympic Committee). In 2012 Gilles decided to return to Emilia Romagna and complete his Sommelier studies. Shortly thereafter, the school at which he completed his studies offered him to work as a lecturer in Restaurant service -Bartending, Cafeteria and Enology. He still lectures today, alongside his work as a consultant. Gilles was until 2023 the first and only Ambassador of the Negroamaro grape variety in Italy, Europe and the World. He also has the title of Ambassador of Albana, a typical grape variety of Emilia-Romagna. Connect: Instagram Gilles Coffi Degboe LinkedIn Degboe Coffi Gilles Facebook Degboe Coffi Gilles More about the host: Giulia is an AIS Sommelier and holds the WSET Diploma. She has 360° experience in the cellar, harvesting, tasting and teaching. Enthusiastic communicator of wine, she believes every bottle is a small universe to discover and her slogan is “sharing wine means love.” She’s passionate about terroir wines made with autochthonous grape varieties and constantly looking for them and their small producers. Connect: Facebook: Giulia Stocchetti Caravaggi Instagram: theWineSoulGirl LinkedIn: Giulia Stocchetti Caravaggi _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! If you want to be part of the next generation then like and share this track! We will remember you when you need dentures and a straw for your wine!