“explain the importance of organic wine to other cultures, and show the link between organic wine and ocean conservation.”

THOMAS

Montpellier, France

Thomas grew up in Montpellier, in southern France, where he was surrounded by two things: wine and the Mediterranean Sea. As a child, he helped in his family’s vineyards and spent his days swimming and playing beach volleyball.

He discovered his main passion about 20 years ago, when kitesurfing was coming into fashion. Now, his year revolves around the best spots for wind and waves. In the summer, he’s often in the Greek islands of Paros, Antiparos and Naxos, and in the winter, he kitesurfs off the coast of Brazil. Helping friends with local beach cleanups, he saw first-hand just how polluted some of his favorite beaches were becoming. Drawing on his wine-exporting past, he started developing the concept for Souleil to “explain the importance of organic wine to other cultures, and show the link between organic wine and ocean conservation.”