Well, we are in Spring, sunny cool 23C or about 73F in my neck of the woods. Anyway, always good to bring the best of Wines news of France. By the way for the non Romans L is no 50, First ,thanks to all my readers and/or followers since November 26 2010 of my blog! Oh yeah, the wines of France are just super simply awesome and a great tradition. Often imitated, some time equaled ,but never surpass! Let me give you some news shall we. Hope you enjoy it as I.
The Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (COJO) has decided not to allow alcoholic beverages at all competition venues. Except for a lucky few. But exceptions will occur. Indeed, a few lucky ones will be able to toast… in the VIP boxes. As provided by the Evin law, these reserved spaces are not affected by this regulation. the lodges have a restaurant license since they serve champagne, wines, beers but also petit fours or even complete menus. However, the restaurant license allows you to serve all alcohols. Of course, for the magnates of the COI only,
Bordeaux celebrates wine, a nice vintage the wines and gastronomy of Bordeaux and New Aquitaine closed its doors on an enthusiastic note, with an increase in attendance. From previews from June 15 to 18, 2023 to festivities on the quays from June 22 to 25, 2023, on this occasion, some 1,200 winegrowers and merchants representing 80 local appellations were on hand to exchange and have everyone taste their nectars. visitors with the famous tasting pass. As of June 15, winegrowers and merchants have taken over 55 restaurants, wine bars, delicatessens, and 71 cellars in the Metropolis, which have been decorated in the colors of Bordeaux Fête le Vin. The quays between pavilions dressed in wood, lanterns and pennants, relaxation areas with deckchairs, or even welcoming counters to sit down while admiring the river, everything has been designed to promote conviviality, exchange, learning and relaxation. An unmissable stop, the spectacular wooden stand of the Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux near the Place des Quinconces, which offered, as usual, innovative and uninhibited workshops for all levels and all tastes , To complete the experience, twenty pavilions restaurants, led by local producers and artisans, unveiled the specialties of the region, thanks to the AANA (Agence de l’Alimentation Nouvelle-Aquitaine). a luminous ballet of 500 drones, which lit up the sky on Friday and Saturday, and provoked cries of admiration from the crowd massed on the quays. Imagined by the organizers and orchestrated by the Bordeaux company Dronisos, it paid fitting tribute to the wines of Bordeaux, to biodiversity and conviviality. Be alert for next year , webpage : https://www.bordeaux-wine-festival.com/ticketing.html?o=tdv-juin
The heat and storms of the past few weeks have made mildew flourish in the Bordeaux vineyards, mortgaging part of the harvest to come, according to professionals. First touched the left bank of the Garonne, in the south of the department, before extending to Entre-Deux-Mers to the east and Blayais to the north. Within the Margaux appellation in the Médoc, for the time being, the mildew spores are sparing the bunches and no impact is to be expected on the yield, The situation is also complicated by the lack of labor to keep the rhythm of treatments (pesticides, copper, salt water, etc.) and by the presence of numerous wastelands, vectors of disease, in a vineyard in crisis of overproduction. Until July 20, 2023 it is critical for the vine. The professionals rely on the weather forecast for the coming weeks ,and it would take good weather for 15 days as the only effective product is the sun, with wind, it dries everything.
France’s second surplus export sector, wine now accounts for 17% of world production. Performances that make it one of the spearheads of our economy, encompassing a whole spectrum of professions, among which we immediately think of winegrowers, sommeliers, oenologists or even wine merchants. Between 2020 and 2022, according to the site specializing in job offers in the wine trades Vitijob, a 60% increase in the number of advertisements submitted was noted with more than 60% of offers on permanent contracts, and an increase 10% of work-study contracts, which reflects both a need for qualified profiles, but also for young people who have acquired new skills that have become essential on the market. , which requires more and more technical skills, Also,by trade, then winemaking and cellar work, wine tourism, and finally administration and finance. Advini, LVMH, Chapoutier, Gérard Bertrand, interprofessions, so many companies which are now recruiting en masse and offering career opportunities in the provinces, in line with a desire on the part of workers to leave the big cities for more comfort. Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, wine-growing regions where the cost of living and land are often an argument of choice for young people looking for their first job . On the salary side, the spectrum is again relatively broad, with according to figures published by Indeed an average of 22,746 euros gross annually for a winegrower , around 28,000 euros gross annually for an oenologist at the start of his career, 31,000 euros for a sommelier, just like for a salesman (excluding bonuses), and up to 49,000 euros gross annually for a cellar manager.
When the temperature rises outside, how do you bring it down in your glass? We can never say it enough, the wine serving temperatures have a decisive importance on your tasting experience. Tasting a red wine that is too hot, a white wine or a champagne that is too cold harms the taste pleasure. During a heat wave, it will nevertheless be preferable to serve a wine that is a little colder than too hot, as the latter heats up quickly in the glass. Remember, the ideal serving temperatures for a red wine are between 14 and 18°C bearing in mind that light and fruity red wines should be served cooler than tannic and opulent red wines. White wines should be served between 8 and 14°C, and champagnes between 8 and 12°C depending on their aromatic complexity and texture on the palate. Count about three hours in the refrigerator for a cold bottle, four hours for an ice cold bottle. Choose the coldest parts of the refrigerator, avoiding doors and crisper drawers. In general, putting your bottle in the freezer is a bit aggressive and should remain a last resort. You can place the bottle for twenty minutes without danger. A pro tip, which requires few utensils: wet a cloth or paper towels ,and wrap it around the bottle to be cooled, place the bottle for fifteen to twenty minutes in the freezer, or an hour in the fridge. The water in the fabric will freeze and seize the cold bottle. The first option requires a champagne bucket. Fill it with cold water, add a big handful of coarse salt and lots of ice cubes. Immerse the bottle up to the stopper. The bottle will be cool in minutes. Can you put ice cubes in your glass? The answer is no, at least for a complex wine that you are curious to discover, Ok hear all about it and do not make mistakes…..
The wine produced in Île-de-France is once again a reality. The culmination of these plans materializes, as in the domaine de la Bouche du Roi, located in Davron, on the plain of Versailles. First of all, let’s remember that this is indeed a rebirth. Indeed, the Ile-de-France vineyards have long been a land of wine before collapsing under the pressure of the phylloxera crisis and growing urban development. If it is not a question of returning to the 55,000 ha allocated to vines in the 19C in the region, After having planted 25 ha of vines, faces the material constraint of being an area isolated from other wine regions and after discovering that, ultimately, growing vines 20 km from Paris was not so different than in Bordeaux. In white, we fell in love with Chenin, very delicate and complex, whose citrus freshness was appreciated, working wonders on creamy goat cheeses. In red, the Pinot Noir stands out with subtly integrated tannins and hints of undergrowth. Webpage : https://la-bouche-du-roi.com/
The Loire wine lovers know that there are two types of terroirs in Anjou: Anjou Noir and Anjou Blanc. where the Chenin grape can truly express itself in a different way. The Anjou Noir is located near Angers. It includes the sector of Savennières on the right bank of the Loire, and on the left bank the appellation Anjou, Coteaux du Layon, Quarts de Chaumes, etc. The soil is mainly composed of schist, a very dark, almost black stone, which gives its uniqueness to the wines of this sector. This schist serves as a thermal regulator by storing heat and releasing it to the vine. Here we find Chenin varietal wines with a very mature expression, which also rise quite high in alcohol levels in the latest vintages. To find Anjou Blanc, go up the Loire a few tens of kilometers towards the town of Saumur. The Château de Saumur is made of an immaculate white stone found in the surrounding soils, tufa, a fine-grained limestone which gives a very particular style to the chenins which plant their roots there. he archetype of fine Loire white wines, chiselled, slender, very fresh with a saline depth. This tufa is a regulator for the vine. The insistent saline sensation brought by the tufa gives a real palatability to these concentrated wines. Webpage : https://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/en/wine/anjou
The Maison Taittinger Champagne house is paving its way in the United Kingdom. Since 2015, the Reims brand has invested in a vineyard in England. First cuvée planned for 2024. The Taittinger champagne house from 2015 in partnership with its UK importer, Hatch Mansfield, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger decided to buy nearly 70 ha in Kent near the village of Chilham ,and plant vines and produce top-of-the-range sparkling wine. How can you resist paying homage to the French poet, epicurean and literary critic Charles de Saint-Évremond ? This bon vivant was a very popular personality at the court of Charles II and the first true ambassador of Champagne in 17C England. The joint project will be called Domaine Evremond. Webpage : https://www.domaineevremond.com/
The Maison Aubert & Mathieu renews the wine trade with a cuvée created by ChatGPT, It is difficult not to compare the duo of young Languedoc wine merchants Aubert & Mathieu to the biscuit brand Michel & Augustin launched in 2004. Started modestly in 2019 with their savings and 7,000 bottles, their company based in Carcassonne marketed 300,000 bottles in 2022, 60% of which for export (28 countries), is aiming for 500,000 for 2023 and the million mark for 2025. Moving the lines , draw inspiration from the viticultural creativity of the New World, produce altitude wines, fresh, modern, fruity and balanced, certified organic, High Environmental Value (HVE) and respectful of bees for the most part, rely on a network of partner winegrowers (currently 30) all ecologically responsible. Carbon footprint calculated as accurately as possible, local dry matter. Their target? Wine merchants, restaurateurs and these new uninhibited consumers between 30 and 40 years old. Non-conformists as sensitive to the taste qualities of products as to their ultra-disruptive labels. Their latest creations: Kisumé, a sparkling rosé without alcohol, Mushaboom, halfway between wine and beer, and an ephemeral cuvée of 600 bottles (60% Grenache, 40% Syrah) created entirely by ChatGPT. (artificial intelligence) Webpage : https://aubertetmathieu.com/
Located in Kientzheim, not far from Colmar, the Schlossberg was the first vineyard to obtain the title of Grand Cru. In 2025, he will celebrate his 50th birthday. The granitic arenas determine the personality of this cru planted with 90% Riesling. Of the 80 hectares of the Schlossberg, only 55 are bristling with vines on a steep hillside. The Weinbach and Albert Mann estates represent the elite of great Alsatian wine. If the Schlossberg of the Albert Mann estate offers a refined and chiselled style, that of the Weinbach estate offers a more sensual and deep profile. Both are aging beautifully…I did dwell into Alsacian wines in my early stages of wine tasting/drinking then drove away for some reasons,
Webpage : Weinbach : https://www.domaineweinbach.com/
Webpage Albert Mann : https://www.albertmann.com/
The Pauillac is my preferred area in the Médoc of Bordeaux, This 2019 Château Haut-Bages Libéral is wonderful, recommended, The 2019 marks a turning point and propels the château into another category. it is already irresistible. Marked by a very beautiful black fruit, liquorice and mineral notes. The palate is voluptuous and very aromatic with a hint of salinity. A nice balance and a lot of freshness. The finish combines powerful tannins with elegance. The wine is of great length. The 2019 is a very great vintage with ripe tannins, richness and power. The style is very representative of the appellation and in particular due to its tannic quality. Webpage : http://hautbagesliberal.com/en/our-wines.aspx
This is a first in France, the Var Estandon cooperative union is transforming into a Cooperative Society of Collective Interest (SCIC) to involve winegrowers and employees more. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the house, the 9 member cooperatives, the 300 cooperators and the 120 employees have therefore changed governance “for an inclusive democracy” at the initiative of its manager,, The Les Caves de Provence, who has been in office for 30 years and who gave its name to the group in 2012. In 2019, the banner #Estandon c’est nous was deployed, serving as a rallying cry and in 2021, the participative strategic approach “Estandon 2030” had led all the group’s actors to involve in the new perspectives. The coop is 10% of the total production of Provence wines (AOP and IGP), 20% of the bulk marketing of Provence wines with 20 million bottles eq/75 cl including 56% AOP 92% rosés (4% white, 4% red) and 2500 ha of vineyards, Webpage : https://estandon.fr/en/
For its 100th anniversary, Mercurey thinks big, The winegrowers await you on Saturday July 8, 2023 from 10h to 19h for tastings, commented walks and demonstrations of vineyard work, In 1923, a court decree marked the birth of the Mercurey appellation, making it the one of the oldest in Burgundy. Various festivities will be spread over a one-km route, between two cellars in the village: the Caveau Divin de Mercurey and the Caveau de la Chapelle This reminds me of Château de Chamirey – Mercurey clos de la Maladière 2021 red captivating pinot with its fruity notes crushed woods, its floral nuance and its beautiful persistence, on the freshness. Of great elegance. Webpage : https://mercurey.com/appellation-mercurey-100-ans/
There you go folks, another wine episode of my belle France! The wines news from Francethat is, superbe, sublime, wonderful, gorgeous, enjoy without moderation but accompanying a meal, family table just perfect. We are in Summer, see you in the vineyards of France
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 