Hélène Dion
Agent Papilles is the essence of my passion:
the pursuit and sharing of everything that is good and beautiful.
This passion took shape early in my life. As a child, my father was a beekeeper, inviting others to taste his honeys just as I do today with wine. At the same time, my mother, an artist, introduced me to the world of ceramics in her studio. These early experiences shaped my way of seeing, tasting, and sharing.
I began my journey with a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University. But something within me kept drawing me back to honey, to taste, to the art of the table.
I then completed my Sommelier Consultant training at the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse in 2001.
And from there, everything unfolded. I worked in the restaurant industry, then as a wine columnist, in sommelier education at the ITHQ, and as Director of Public Relations for a leading French wine company. Wanting to experience every facet of my profession, I also had the privilege of working in viticulture and in the cellar of a Québec winery — discovering the craft at its very source.
Agent Papilles represents the culmination of all these years devoted to my desire to discover the world.
Patrice Lavoie
Agent Papilles is the second life I am creating, by sharing the passion that lives within me. My mission is to bring forward the work of winemakers and artisans who transform the everyday into something extraordinary.
I have always been a connector and a team player, driven by a love for people in all their complexity, their talents, their strengths, and their challenges.
Today, the team has grown to include winemakers from around the world. Nothing is more motivating than supporting them and carrying our shared aspirations all the way forward.
Creating emotions to be savored together.
The joy of cooking has been rooted in me since childhood, growing up with parents who knew how to host generously and bring people together.