Have you ever thought it'd be fun to import some wine? It's pretty easy to do for yourself, but not so easy to start a company. Wine clubs? Mixed cases? And now, virtual webinars? If you're scratcing your head, you're not alone. You're going to want to hear from Asma Ben Tanfous and Jean-Gabriel Vignault of Déserteur, a company known for its event planning and wine tasting events in Montreal. They've been there. Deserteur's focus is on the curation of and education surrounding artisanal wine. Now, they're about to start importing their own sakes and Grower Champagnes, meaning it's going to be even harder to get your hands on their coveted mixed cases as word spreads. Here's what you need to know.

The 5à7 Podcast is a series of happy hour conversations with cool people. They’re based around food, but guests go beyond chefs and restaurant owners to artists, entrepreneurs and other inspiring people you might have heard of. It takes a sneak peak into the homes and lives of interesting people and is based on conversations that revolve around food – with a nod to the Quebec happy hour, aka the 5à7. These are the stories that only seem to come out over a drink with a friend…or by Zoom during COVID-19.

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Here’s everything we mentioned on the podcast (mostly in the order we mentioned them):

Deserteur website: https://www.deserteur.vin/

Deserteur Instagram: https://www.deserteur.vin/blog/natural-sake-is-it-a-thing

Jean-Gabriel and Asma’s sake: The Junmai Ginjo made with omachi rice polished to 50%, from the Jikon brand out of Kiyasho Shuzo brewery, imported by Déserteur in Quebec and That’s Life Gourmet in BC, Alberta and Ontario

https://www.thatslifegourmet.com/

Amie’s sake: Dewanosato from Dewazakura Brewery, imported by Metropolitan Premium Wines and Sakes in Quebec and Ontario: https://www.saq.com/en/14286572 

Asma used to work with Bacchus 76: https://bacchus76.com 

Jean-Gabriel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justedujus/?hl=en

The sake that made Jean-Gabriel fall in love with sake: Tamagawa Daijingo Namazake.

The Yamahai is imported by Bacchus76 in Quebec:

https://bacchus76.com/boutique/vins/tamagawa-yamahai-2017-cuvee-sauvage

Tokkuri: a traditional Japanese carafe for heating and serving sake

Sake Confidential by John Gaultner (I also have this on my bookshelf): https://www.amazon.com/Sake-Confidential-Beyond-Basics-Understanding/dp/1611720141

Where they do wine lists in Montreal: TimeOut Market, Roch Le Coq, La Capital Tacos and Café Pista

https://www.timeoutmarket.com/montreal/en/

http://pouletfritmontreal.com/

https://www.lacapitaltacos.ca/

https://cafepista.com/en

Gluten-free fried chicken from Rubie’s (courtesy of Miel restaurant): https://restaurantmiel.com/fr/test

Bonita’s: http://bonitas.ca/

The stream of the sake webinar with Mariko of That’s Life: Natural