It’s not every day you taste 100% Cabernet Franc. It’s not every day you taste 100% Cabernet Franc from three different soil types. Nor is it every day you do exactly the same with Merlot and with the wines coming from the Premier Grand Cru Classé A St Emilion, Château Cheval Blanc. It is [...]
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Staying in a working vineyard is always a treat and in Bordeaux you are spoilt for choice. Between luxury hotels on, or associated with, vineyards (think Les Sources de Caudalie, Hostellerie de Plaisance and Cordeillan Bages) and more low key but often just as luxurious B & B’s think Chateau La Molle and Chateau Grand [...]
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In all the excitement over the prestigious châteaux in Bordeaux, the role of the Bordeaux negociant or wine merchant is often overlooked. The 300 Bordeaux wine merchants sell 70% of the volume of Bordeaux wine with the 8 leading companies representing 57% of this business. Their role covers the range of Bordeaux wines from the [...]
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Vinexpo seems a way away now a couple of months down the road but a reminder recently arrived on my doorstep. One of the pleasures of Vinexpo is to be able to taste wines from all over the world and California was well represented for a region whose wines are under represented in the French [...]
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Saint Emilion is considered by many as the most democratic of the Bordeaux classifications due to the fact that, unlike its 1855 counterpart in the Medoc, Graves and Sauternes it is up for grabs every 10 years (or thereabouts). The first qualifier for candidates to this classification is that they must produce wines in the [...]
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Spring is definitely allowing Bordeaux château to open up their doors This weekend was the open door weekend in Saint Emilion, and next weekend is the turn of the Côtes de Bourg. Everything from treasure hunts to car rallies and tastings to fashion shows you name it to discover the vineyard on the other side [...]
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Terroir remains the key to fine wine for many wine makers despite arguments from some that it’s all about wine making. The buzz in Bordeaux is definitely in favour of expressing the famous terroir which changes from one property to another and one appellation to another. More importantly doing so using the most natural agricultural [...]
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Visiting Saint Emilion but don’t have time for a château visit? Stop by l’Envers du Decor for a cellar experience. This Saint Emilion wine bistro is famous as the canteen for most of the right bank winemakers. Keen to allow his clients the experience of a barrel tasting, usually only available for visitors to a [...]
READ MORE »Just in case you hadn’t heard that the 2009 vintage is going to be great – I’ll repeat it again, but this time in the words of the right bank or rather the Libournais. The Saint Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac appellations are now working together (yes different appellations do work together in Bordeaux!) to present [...]
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Here’s last night’s ‘Amuse Bouche’ from 2 star Michelin chef Philippe Etchebest at the ‘Hostellerie de plaisance’ in Saint Emilion.
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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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