Ever have a place that feels like home even thought you aren’t from there?

By now we all know that for me, that place is France. It was home for awhile, where my babies were born, and our home-base while we lived in Africa. It’s the foreign country where I felt confident enough to go by myself with my kids over and over again. Because we were with a French company and my kids went to a French International school I actually started to feel a bit French.I’ve told my husband that when we left Canada, I always identified as being part Ukrainian. After all, I am a second generation Canadian who grew up on Baba’s perogies and spent 22 years of my life as a Ukrainian dancer.

But when I went to Ukraine, as great as the trip was, there was such a disconnect for me. I couldn’t speak the language, I no longer knew anyone who lived in the country and the connections I had through dance were of Ukrainian folklore, I had very little that connected me to the Ukraine of 2009.

It was very strange to return to Canada this summer feeling more French than Ukrainian. Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing more amazing than that first cabbage roll crossing my lips at my parents’ house. That will never change. But I have LIVED French culture for years. I earned my way in as an international local. I’ve learned the language, I have French friends from all over the country, I’ve eaten the food, cooked the food, and made all the cultural mistakes necessary for learning the right way to live in the country.

Not to mention the two little French kids I’ve left the country with. They’re now in Canada with their French accents, humorous to me, labelled as ‘English Language Learners’ at their school. But it makes sense, this is the first time they’ve ever lived anywhere that speaks English and they mainly speak French at home. They went from being the stars of English class in the French International schools, to being the ‘new Canadians’ who speak English as their second language; or as their second first language, at best.

Now in Canada, whenever I come across someone, or something French, it’s almost like the instant connection I felt abroad when I’d meet other Canadians. I’m certainly not French, but I have humbly and awkwardly earned that French passport that will eventually come my way(…French paperwork can NOT be rushed!).

So, there I was in October, at the wine festival in Calgary, only one glass in at this point, and I walk up to a booth and start chatting. Turns out they are a boutique, family-run winery from France.

“Wait, what? Where in France?” Was my reaction. “Why aren’t you advertising that? People love France!”

We got to chatting and found out that this winery was quite new. I grabbed my phone to add them to my Instagram and when I saw their page, nearly empty, I looked up at the women behind the booth who was quickly becoming a new friend through our French connection.

“You want some help with your social media?” I found myself offering.

My offer was genuine, and graciously accepting. A few days later we were chatting over coffee and finding out about each other’s stories. One thing we both knew, the French aren’t into social media the way North Americans are, so it made sense that the winery had an extremely small online footprint. It’s the French way. We started brainstorming ways for Calgary to fall in love with with this French wine as much as I had. Getting into local restaurants would be ideal!

Reuilly Dyckerhoff wine comes from Reuilly, France, right next to Sancerre in the Loire Valley. If there’s anything my French friends have taught me, it’s that you can’t go wrong with Sancerre wine; which explained why I felt just as fondly towards this new wine from Loire Valley. I love that part of the world.My new friend stopped by the following week with some Reuilly Dyckerhoff, for me to enjoy outside of the wine festival.

She also happily reported that the finest French dining restaurant in Calgary, La Chaumière, is going to be making Reuilly Dyckerhoff the house wine on their menu. This is HUGE! Trust me, I was at La Chaumière for my birthday and this is very much a ‘special occasion’ restaurant.

I couldn’t be happier for my new friend! As a budding entrepreneur, who has been working my side hustle for years, I know just how much it means to catch that first big break. This is theirs.

If you’re in Calgary, next time you’re at the liquor store(Willow Park Wine or Calgary Co-op), or if you’re celebrating at La Chaumière, try out my French-connection. You won’t be sorry. And then, like me, you’ll be cool enough to say you knew of Reuilly Dyckerhoff wines before everyone else did. Hurry, you don’t have long!

As for me, tonight I’ll be finding out which pairs best with my kids’ Halloween candy!