Tour de France 2021 Open House at St Emilion – portes ouvertes

Venez nous voir cette semaine tous les jours du 14 au 18 juillet (de 10 à 19 heures chaque jour) pour célébrer le Tour de France à St Emilion. Franck Moureau, vigneron et propriétaire de la 9ème génération du Château Béard la Chapelle sera présent avec Nicolle Croft auteur et dégustateur professionnel, pour répondre à …

Hooray – France opens its doors!

From June 9th France reopens its doors to all travellers who have been vaccinated against Covid. Restaurants will also be fully open - you just have to be home for 11pm! (curfew ends 19 June) This fun-loving, pleasure addict country will be back on its feet! We have missed you all! - link to French …

Wine Tour with Kids…Wine not?

As a parent to a three year old, wine is an important part of my daily survival kit. I cannot say I always savour every nuance of taste (as a professional winetaster I do know the difference) but it is an important milestone to celebrate at the end of another frenetic day and serves as …

Whats new in Bordeaux – look to the dynamic Small Châteaux

Despite its crusty past image, Bordeaux today is full of fresh ideas as a younger generation are holding the reins and directing the wines made in Bordeaux in a different direction. It is the small independent producers (who I call the SIPs - see my book Bordeaux Sip by Sip Editions Sud Ouest) who are …

A Sea of Wine Guides? launch of a new network to find the best

100% experts, 100% wine, 100% local I am pleased to announce the creation of new network of specialist wine guides which I am proud to be a part of: My Local Wine Guide! Passionate wine experts trained in wine or coming from a family of winemakers, local (or adopted) who know their 'territory' better than anyone …

History and Science at Château Grand Corbin Despagne

Historically it was the robust oxen that  worked the dense blue clay soils in the vineyards here in the north western corner of St Emilion and over the border into Pomerol. Horses were too fragile for the job, explained François Despagne, who has run the family estate of Château Grand Corbin Despagne, St Emilion Grand …

Launch ‘Oeno-Apero!’ Bordeaux

For friends and family - an hour's fun aperitif to practice the language of winetasting in French and English! 6.30 to 7.30pm (any evening) - 1 hour of fun and tasting 3 classic wines from Bordeaux from great undiscovered smaller producers. Other timings possible 😉 Where? In your own home (St Emilion area) or a …

What makes a Great wine in 2020

When I first came to Bordeaux in the 1980s, the sign of a good well-made wine had always been one that would last for 20 or 30 years. Ripeness was not understood. It was about waiting for a minimum alcohol level and harvesting as quickly as possible to avoid the risk of losing the crop. …

Celebrate Christmas in Bordeaux with food and wine matching and cooking classes

Come to Bordeaux in-between Christmas and new year in 2019 and enjoy a series of food and wine tasting sessions and cooking classes with your own chef! Here is some text from my book about the region's specialities to whet your appetite"Bordeaux Sip by Sip - getting to the heart of Bordeaux." Bordeaux’s Food Specialities …

Step by Step how to Taste Bordeaux wine

What makes great wine? In France they say that a GREAT wine has the 4 'E's; E for Equilbrium (Balance), that its éléments are in harmony E for Elegance its subtlety, its class E for Expression of its birthplace and time E for Emotion that it stirs in you Every wine has a story but …