About Us

Pascal MINEAU
Founder / General Manager

FR EN PT ES

Born in Tours, a major city in the Loire Valley, I grew up in the cities of Bourges, Orléans, Chartres and Blois. After specializing in Hotel & Management at University, I worked in fine dining restaurants for the next 10 years.

I am in love with the “Terroirs” of France and have a serious passion for food and wine. My work experience as Sommelier, Chef Sommelier and Wine Buyer for SLH led to my first dream-job at the time, Managing a Michelin Star awarded Restaurant. Then, during my compulsory French Military service, I had the privilege of being the private headwaiter of the French Minister of Health and his high-profile Department.


Greater aspirations were realized when I created the Loire Valley "oenotouristic" enterprise, Caves Ambacia (then called Caves Duhard).
I have been a Wine Speaker in: England, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, United States, Mexico, Russia, and Scotland.

I have a real passion for my French culture and its heritage. It means so much for me to be able to share this heritage with you in the best possible way and in the process convey some of that passion. As a pioneer in the world of Oenotourisme, I can assure you that all the winemakers we work with have bottled references in my personal cellar.

Since “Experience” is the living memory of any trip, a genuinely great one can only be authentic if you, the meet men and women who are in love with their jobs and are ready to share their “Savoir Faire” with you (the wine makers, the cheese makers, oyster farmers, truffle farmers, Chefs, and Master Artisans…).

The hand-picked members of our Regional Guide Teams throughout France are all consummate professionals, each one poised to provide as deep of a context and layered information that our clients wish to have.


It is in this spirit that my staff and I began and continue to develop the fine France Intense experience.


My motto is always: “The best is enough.”

Florie COUSIN
Accountant

FR EN

After obtaining her diploma in accounting and finance, Florie worked in an accounting office for 7 years. During this time she became a professional in all what concerns accounting firms (accounting entry, accounting balance sheet, etc…).
Originating from the very touristic Touraine, she was willing to participate in a more active way in one company; that’s how she joined France Intense team in 2014.

Laure GRÉGOIRE
Agency Manager

FR EN ES

After 5 years of Business school, Laure’s choice was to work in tourism, where she could enjoy to sell “pleasure and leisure” to people.
Hired in 2009, she now knows the agency by heart. Born and raised in the Loire Valley, she learned to accumulate so much knowledge on the other regions, that she can sell them giving remarkable precise details!
Tour planner selling tours yesterday, she just came back to her first specialty: marketing and public relations. She takes care of all communication medium, the development of the new brands, the IT tool, the pricing policy…

Andréa CORUCHO
Travel Advisor

FR EN PT ES

Andréa was drawn into to tourism by her passion for foreign languages. With Portuguese origins, she has always loved to travel and discover other cultures. She graduated from the famous tourism school in Blois with a degree in tourist management.
She has always lived in the historical city of Blois and knows the Valley of the Kings with all the castles, like the back of her hand. But not to worry, she also knows how to share her passion for all the other different regions of France.

Marion PROUST
Travel Advisor

FR EN ES

Marion joined France Intense in 2017, after 3 years in Belgium where she worked in a multicultural environment. She studied Hospitality and Tourism Management in Paris for 5 years, where she graduated from a Business School with a Master Degree and a MBA.
She is passionate about the art of welcoming people: gastronomy, art de vivre à la française, high quality of services... That’s why she decided to join the amazing world of Hotel and Tourism. She even decided to move to Amboise, where those aspects of the French culture are really emphasized: the beauty of the Chateaux, the peaceful of the Loire, the Sunday market of Amboise, and the Loire Valley wines of course!
As you can read, Marion is a hedonism person, proud of her terroir and heritage!

Helena JURADO
Travel Advisor

FR EN ES

Born in Madrid, Helena is an enthusiastic person and full of good energy.
After seven years working as a business development in multinationals and startups in the tourism and accommodation sector in Spain, she decided to move to the Loire Valley.
Passionate about culture, wine and gastronomy, she joined the France Intense family in 2017.
She is a proactive member of staff, who is full of creative ideas for business development.

Marcia FERREIRA
Travel Advisor

FR EN PT ES

Marcia joined France Intense in 2018 after her graduation in a tourism school in Tours.
Born in Portugal she arrived in France in 2007 and discovered the beauty of the Loire Valley and their Castles.
Accustomed to travel since her youngest age she goes on an adventure as soon as she can.
Passionate by the other cultures and languages she decided to dedicate itself to this passion.

Freddy BOUROTTE
Travel Advisor

FR EN

Born in the heart of Burgundy, Freddy studied 3 years at the University of Dijon in order to become a representative.
After school, he spent one year in London to improve his English.
Back to France, he worked 6 years as School Assistant and started to live in Loire Valley in 2017. Fond of History and Culture, he also worked as guide in different castles during the summer season.

Nicolas RODRIGUEZ
Guide

FR EN IT

History and art lover, as well as wine and gastronomy adorer, he purposely decided to settle in Touraine. He appreciates the light, the colors of the trees, the castles and the wines, as well as the palpable presence of our kings, queens and illustrious characters. Amid his daydreams and poetry, He likes to laugh, learn and get interested in all what surrounds him, like nature and literature, art and social life of our ancestors.
That’s with happiness and enjoyable mood that he shares the wealth of our beautiful Loire Valley… In winter, he follows the path of the storks and migrates towards warm countries like Asia or America, in order to, like them, come back in a great shape in spring and welcome you with great enthusiasm.

Raphael MORAS
Guide

FR EN PT ES

Born in Rio de Janeiro with french ancestry, Raphael studied and worked with design in Brazil for 10 years before arriving in Paris in 2010 to try a new life and discover his ancestors homeland.
He started working in tourism to take advantage of his 4 spoken languages, and later chose Champagne to live a quieter life with his wife and kid.
It was just fitting to join tourism with his passion for wines, and to become a guide for France Intense perfectly embodied this opportunity.
After 3 years adjusting and learning, Raphael became the Regional Manager for France Intense guides working in the Champagne Region.