Three years ago, in May 2023, I chose the name that would carry this adventure: Vino Dilectio. Three years later, on the occasion of this anniversary, I wanted to share where this name comes from — and why it still resembles me so much.
A forgotten word from Old French
Dilectio is not an invented word. It is a term from Old French, now fallen into disuse, that referred to a passionate and deep love for something — well beyond a simple taste or preference. A dilection was an inclination of the heart, almost a devotion.
Upon rediscovering it, I immediately knew it was the word I needed. Because what I feel for Burgundy wine, and for the profession of sommelier, has never been a polished or superficial passion. It is something older, more rooted — the kind of love one has for a land, a know-how, a passed-down gesture.
I simply added vino, for wine, of course. And for the obvious too: this name could only tell that.
Why this name rather than another
In Burgundy, we don't just talk about wine: we talk about terroirs, climates, winemakers, a heritage that is passed down from generation to generation. Choosing Vino Dilectio rather than a more classic or commercial name, it was a way to assert from the start what I wanted to offer: not a standardized tasting, but a moment of sincere sharing around what I love most in the world.
It is this philosophy that guides every workshop I lead in my cellar in the center of Dijon: to discover Burgundy through the eyes — and the palate — of someone who is truly in love with it.
Three years later
Since May 2023, Vino Dilectio has welcomed hundreds of curious individuals, both novices and connoisseurs, from all over the world, in a vaulted cellar in the historic heart of Dijon, for wine and cheese tasting workshops designed as intimate moments rather than classic tourist visits.
The name hasn't changed. The meaning hasn't either. Simply, three years later, I can say it has never better represented what I do.