About us
HE FELL IN ONE OF HIS UNCLE'S WINE BARREL WHEN HE WAS YOUNG
Antoine
As a good Frenchman, descendent of a winemaker family, I am a lover of good food and good wines.
Captivated by the diversity of landscapes, species, and food on our Planet, I studied agriculture, agrobusiness, and environment. Driven by curiosity and in search of inspiration, I took advantage of my studies to explore and learn about various agricultural systems in France, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands (NL), Senegal, and Mexico. During my stay in NL, I met my beloved Carmen, on a climbing wall, with whom I share my love for good food.
In 2019, I graduated from a double degree which combines an M.Sc. in engineering, plant production and agroecology in Angers, France, and a M.Sc. in Organic Agriculture in Wageningen, NL. It wasn’t long before I flew to Colombia for a consultancy job aiming to support small-scale farmers in their agroecological transition.
After that, in 2020 when Covid was striking and Carmen working on her PhD, I decided to focus on my true passion and my blood : wine, and I applied for a job in a vineyard in NL. Animated by the understanding of natural processes, biodiverse and small-scale farming systems, the “Natural Wine” movement caught my attention. Shortly after, Agrotopia was born…
SOME SAYS SHE MAKES THE BEST BAGUETTES IN THE NETHERLANDS
Carmen
I was born in Calatayud (Spain) on 1st November 1990. During my childhood, I lived in many small villages around Segovia, although Calatayud and the tiny village of Montón were my main home. Growing up in the countryside kept me close to nature and taught me a very simple lifestyle.
I am passionate about cooking, understanding the chemistry behind it, and curious about the natural reactions occurring within the living systems. For this reason, I chose chemistry as the field to master, My desire to explore new places brought me to the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands) in 2014. There, I discovered advanced ways to analyze and understand the chemistry of plant aromas.
Slightly bored of my job as research assistant, I took a break to travel around South-East Asia, and worked as a cook in a Tacos restaurant in Amsterdam.
Thereafter, I chose to go forward in research and I started my PhD degree in aroma chemistry of soy sauce and yeast derivatives. At that time, I also met Antoine with whom I shared the same vision: living more sustainably and minimalistic, and eating and drinking authentic food products. I was also very curious about exploring the nomadic lifestyle living in a van. Hence, in 2021, when I just graduated doctor of science, I bought a van and became part of Agrotopia.