Daphné Sonn: open-mindedness and precision are her hallmarks
From her native Corsica, via the Rhône Valley, and after travelling the length and breadth of the globe, Daphné settled in Saint-Martin… as a much-needed break, but above all to share her love of wine.
Having arrived on the continent at the age of 11, she discovered her passion for wine in the heart of the Rhône Valley, a wine-growing region where wine is a natural part of everyday life. From the age of 15, she took part in the grape harvest and spent her free time tasting wines at the vineyards or accompanying Annie-France Crouzet, a distinguished sommelier, during her masterclasses. Despite this, she embarked on a different course of study and, having obtained a double Master’s degree in International Business and Marketing, began an international career in telecommunications. It is from this experience that she now draws her ability to adapt and her understanding of the expectations of very different clienteles.
COVID, as for many, proved to be the catalyst. She decided to change careers and enrolled at the school run by the highly acclaimed Franck Thomas in Paris, with the support of Philippe Faure-Brac, then president of the Union de la Sommellerie Française. There she discovered the geosensory approach, which places terroir at the heart of understanding wine.
At Anne-Sophie Pic’s restaurant—run by the world’s most Michelin-starred female chef—where she completed her apprenticeship, she found the atmosphere of excellence she was seeking. She went on to develop her highly sophisticated expertise in food and wine pairings, as well as pairings with spirits, cocktails and even non-alcoholic alternatives. She also tried her hand at restaurant management for two years in Paris’s 17th arrondissement. Before joining Saint-Martin last October, she worked at several renowned establishments, notably the Royal Mansour in Marrakech, where she was head sommelier at Hélène Darroze’s French brasserie. Working now at the Ocean 82 restaurant, she has found the freedom she values: the freedom to curate the wine list, oversee purchasing, and promote her personal favourites in an establishment boasting rare bottles.
Next step… she doesn’t know yet, although Fabrice Sommier, president of the UDSF, has hinted that she might start preparing for the MOF competition. Until then, she has no shortage of projects, notably with the reopening of Le Tastevin for the coming season and the creation of a brand-new wine list. At 33, she’s already had a remarkable career!
