How did you meet?

A+F: Of course, it was much more romantic than a normal Tinder date: in the summer of 2022 we found each other on Bumble. Our first date was in Zurich at Restaurant Terrasse. Anna was wearing a stunning bright yellow dress and Fabian came with his red vintage car and a bottle of wine from his cellar.

 

How did the proposal go?

A+F: We were about to move in together. Although Anna hadn't expected it, Fabian felt the urge to follow an unwritten protocol: Moving in together without being married or engaged seems too modern for us. We were then in Italy on the island of Elba for a friend's wedding. The day before the wedding, we went on a hike to the most beautiful place on the island. Fabian organized snacks and Franciacorta. And to Anna's amazement, he insisted on glass glasses for the wine. Then, at the top of the mountain by a seemingly indestructible fortress, he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring he'd been carrying around with him for a while and popped the question. 

 

Why do you belong together?

A+F: We have very similar values, but opposite characters. That's why we don't argue about basic life issues, while at the same time we complement each other very well. Yes, we are that couple where one sleeps at 10pm and the other chills out until 2am. And where one is at the airport two hours early and the other says that anything earlier than last call is way too early. And then they get married... Of course we missed the return flight on our first trip.

 

Why do you want to get married?

A+F: Because we want to pay more tax, of course! We believe that the value of such a commitment is more valid than ever and is far too often overlooked for the wrong reasons. We don't need God to tell us that, but we ourselves want to pursue higher goals than just sitting around waiting for our next life partner - we want to create a new life. Together. That's why it seems fundamental to us to show the value of our commitment to each other - and to our friends and family.

 

Why did you choose Italy for your wedding?

A+F: We both love the wine, the food and the landscapes - especially in Italy. Anna can spend hours reading dozens of cookbooks looking for the one reason why a carbonara must contain both Parmiggiano and Peccorino. And Fabian, as a huge wine fan, has to get married in a vineyard, if not in its cellar. The marriage proposal also took place in Italy, and parts of Fabian's family live in Piedmont, where he has attended several weddings. So here we are...

 

What's your favorite thing to do together?

A: A nice dinner with wine, then sitting in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea

F: Going on trips together to set new boundaries for body, soul and mind. This could be a day trip by bike through the Swiss Alps - or a drive through the parking garage in Anna's new car.

 

What has been your best trip so far?

A: Southern Africa with a safari in Botswana, a road trip through Namibia and a wine tasting in South Africa.

F: One night, one flight, one chance - and the most beautiful Northern Lights you can imagine. It was crazy, surreal and endlessly magical.

 

Where were you born?

A: In the Soviet Union in Togliatti - also the birthplace of all Lada cars in the world. Togliatti was named after an Italian communist, is about 1000 km south-east of Moscow and has a continental climate with +30°C in summer and -30°C in winter.

Now I call Zurich my home. When I first traveled here almost ten years ago, I was fascinated. I decided that I had to live here one day. It took seven years, I invested a lot in my financial career and changed citizenship to realize this dream. Now I hope to call Zurich and its surroundings my home for the rest of my life, because it's the best place in the world.

F: Zurich. The best place in the world. Apart from the weather predictability in August.

 

What's your favorite color?

A: All shades of green: jade, petrol, bottle green, British racing green.

F: All shades of red wine, of course:
fuchsia to purple.

 

What did you want to be as a child?

A: Ballerina or figure skater, a little later interpreter, so that I could travel and learn different languages. Later I realized that I could do both and pursue any profession.

F: Boss of Audi.

 

What was your first job?

A: As a student, I worked as a counselor at a summer camp in the USA, in New Hampshire. It was a great experience spending time with kids, hiking in the woods and sleeping by the lake.

F: Trainee at Suzuki.



What is your middle name?

A: I had the patronymic Vladimirovna as my middle name. When I was 23 years old, I moved to Frankfurt am Main for my Master's degree and to start a job. After living there for ten years, I obtained German citizenship, after which my middle name was dropped.

F: Felix. Also my father's name, which I like to use often: it helps to make my name a little easier to remember and find in a professional environment, for example, and above all reminds me what a large part of my general happiness is directly attributable to the man who helped raise me.

 

What is your favorite music?

A: 80s rock, jazz, oldies, classical music - as long as it's older than me and has stood the test of time and changing tastes.

F: Let's add punk rock and electronic music. There are a dozen speakers and three different music systems in our apartment to provide an appropriate musical setting for our beloved togetherness at home.

 

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

A: Pistacchio number one, coffee number two.

F: Fior di Latte with fresh white truffles. If that's not available, please bring me another glass of this Barolo.

 

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

A: I had both cats and dogs as a child, but the cats stayed with me. Now we have two fat furry demons, Simba and Leo (or maybe they have us?).

F: I like them both. But I value independence and angular character more than affiliation and blind loyalty. And I acknowledge the zodiac sign Leo in its cliché, so the cat might win.

 

What was the last book you read?

A: I listen to a lot of audiobooks. The last book I read in physical form was a German fairy tale I bought at a thrift store for 4 CHF that was published in the 1920s. The book I consult most often is called Let's Eat Italy - highly recommended for anyone interested in Italian food and cooking. The book is a real treasure.

F: I'm also an audiobook listener. The biography of Elton John was the last one. "I am Zlatan" and Jordan Peterson's books come to mind as recommendations.

 

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

A: Cats are perfect. Although I adore big cats, I wouldn't want one taken from the wild.

F: I would still like a serval. If I can't have that, I'd like a peacock and a donkey. A magpie would be cool too.

 

What is your favorite flower?

A: All flowers that aren't yellow or orange.

F: Sunflower.

 

If you were to start a business, what would it be?

A: I work at a bank as an investment manager and I love my job. I would never have thought of opening a business. But if I were to do it... I love cooking, so it should have something to do with food. A restaurant (I know no one makes money from restaurants...) or a delicatessen store.

F: I've started a parking app and a headhunting agency in the past, which is in line with my enthusiasm for taking my car everywhere and trying to understand the human species as a whole. At the moment I don't have an idea, but it would be nice if it had to do with wine.

 

What is your favorite weakness?

A: Chocolate

F: My openness. It will hurt others' as well as my own feelings on a regular basis. At the same time, it provides me with all the ingredients for what I would call an authentic, instructive, and colorful life.