SHAPING THE AGAVE INDUSTRY: ANNE-SHOPHIE'S STORY
- barronegroathens
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Anne-Sophie Vacher
Founder Team Terroir
Co-founder Viva Agave - Autour de l'Agave
The agave industry is constantly evolving, shaped by tradition, innovation, and the people who dedicate their lives to it. Anne-Sophie, a long-time advocate for Mexican spirits, has spent the past 17 years bridging cultures and growing her expertise. In this interview, she offers insights into her journey, the lessons she’s learned, and her perspective on the future of tequila and mezcal.
To start off, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I'm a Mexican spirit lover - both agave and non-agave. I'm also a Tsipouro and Tsikoudia fan, coffee and chocolate addict, and always searching to understand the flavors of drinks and food. I fell in love with Mexico when I lived there for five years, and to this day, Mexico continues to give me professionally more than my country of origin ever did. My hometown is Angers in France, where I was born 46 years ago
What’s a significant moment that had an impact on you?
My time in Mexico, the people I met there, and the shift it made in my life, as Mexico has been giving me work and passion for 17 years.
What made you decide to be a part of the agave industry?
Actually, for me, this is the saying "You don't find Mezcal, Mezcal finds you". I got to meet one of the founders of Bruxo, who gave me the opportunity to work on the development of Bruxo mezcal in 2015. And I never stopped working with agaves since then.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced within the agave industry right now?
Actually, more than the agave industry, the challenge was the bar industry. What I faced in the beginning was mostly to understand and adapt to the bar industry as I was not coming from there. Show I could belong even if I'm a women who was not from a bartender background. In the agave world was more the need for education of the people and myself. I trained myself, I offered myself agave classes focusing on the technical side and I am still studying and training myself constantly.
Nowadays, with all the brands and activities, the challenge is to bring something different, to stand out which is quite an interesting goal.
What do you think the future of tequila is going to be like? (Sales, consumers, bartenders, products, processes)
Tequila and Mexican spirits are blooming right now. The sales at some point will be more stable, the consumers already have more knowledge on the product and will go on.
Regarding the bartenders and the industry, some still will be focused on price which makes it difficult for them to be focused on quality and environmental issues, some will be more interested in education and understanding what is behind the liquid.
Some high volume brands will go on focusing on volume mostly and communication. Some different products will arrive on the market and some passionate brands will go on focusing on quality, environmental issues trying to limit at the maximum their impact and on the well being of their production team.
What would you say to someone that wants to dive in the agave industry? How to become an agave aficionado?
Begin with the basics. Go at your pace, don't rush, and study and work, this is the only way and when you don't know to lie, just say that you will come back with more info.
Tell us a story or a fun fact about your brand and yourself that no one knows.
On Bruxo Mezcal: the brand was not called Bruxo in the beginning, and the first office was in the garage of one of the 4 Mexican founders in 2008.
On me : I managed to crack 2 ribs falling on the bar stool of a very famous Mexican bar (I was quite clumsy because of a strong hangover...) 5 years ago.
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