La Maison du Chocolat always excels itself with imaginative ideas for Christmas and passing through Paris this weekend I had to stock up for the festive season. Sadly I wasn’t there at the right moment to try some of their tasting classes. There are several to choose from including cooking classes but the one that [...]
READ MORE »Monthly archives for November, 2009
Closure for Burgundy
Never one to be left behind by innovation, Olivier Leflaive has introduced new closure for his Village appellations with the bottling of his 2007 vintage. Created by the Italian company Ardea Seal the new Guala corks have a clever combination of polymers and a centre that not only allows the traditional slight porosity of a [...]
READ MORE »The feminine terroir of Burgundy
Touring Burgundy with a private group organised by Arblaster & Clarke we had the pleasure of meeting Nadine Gublin who has been the wine maker at the Domaine Jacques Prieur in Mersault since 1990. Almost a first in this traditionally dominated male part of the industry. In the stunning new underground tasting room overlooking the [...]
READ MORE »Happy Burgundy
Could it be the success of the recent Hospices de Beaune auctions that is putting a smile on the lips of David Rossignol at Domaine Rossignol-Trapet ? Prices for the 2009 were expected to drop by 20% but in fact did the opposite – reinforcing the buzz around the quality of the new vintage in [...]
READ MORE »Christmas is coming.
The little wooden huts of Bordeaux’s ‘Marché de Noël’ are being built before my eyes in front on the Wine School on the Allées de Tourny. From 27th November to 30th December you can start the festivities and do some Christmas shopping while sipping your ‘Vin Chaud’.
READ MORE »Old vines in Sauternes.
The vast majority of the vines in Bordeaux are grafted to protect them against Phyloxera, but here and there you will find a few plots of non grafted pre phyloxera vines. Just such a spot is in Sauternes on the estate of Château Haut Bergeron . The estate has several unique qualities, one of which [...]
READ MORE »Can I hear an echo ?
Pronouncing difficult wine names can be a drawback to amateurs wanting to order a wine but being afraid to make a fool of themselves – especially in a foreign market. Château names that are the easiest to say and the easiest to remember certainly have a competitive advantage. Château Lynch Bages has always enjoyed this [...]
READ MORE »Old packaging on a new wine
Before Château Bottling became common place in Bordeaux in the 20th century, many owners would check the quality of their wines bottled by the negociants and guarantee their authenticity by sealing them with a wire sleeve. This practice faded out in Bordeaux after the Second World War and is now more common in Spain and [...]
READ MORE »Awards for the Regent Hotel
The Regent Grand Hotel in Bordeaux has just received two awards, the first for its décor and the second for its cuisine. Food first : chef Pascal Nibaudeau has received 3 hats from Gault & Millau 2010 for the Pressoir d’Argent, their top restaurant, and despite what you might think it doesn’t cost a fortune [...]
READ MORE »Is Leeds the new chocolate capital?
Move over Brussels, come to Leeds for fresh hand-made chocolates under the Lauden label, so fresh they only have a 10 day shelf life. Sun (from Singapore) and Stephen created the company in 2007. Their delicious fruity flavours : Lychee and Rose, Sour Cherry, Passion fruit, to name a few, are illustrated with elegant transfers [...]
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Wendy has spent the last 25 years in the French Food and Wine Industry.
Wendy now teaches professionals and the general public in Bordeaux, the UK and as far away as Asia and the US, as well as accompanying private wine tours for amateurs and enthusiasts alike. Her aim is to open the doors of the world’s most famous vineyards, explaining and making the wonderful world of French wine more accessible.
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