caroline@ frenchwineadventures.com Tel: +33(0)553 227271
Caroline & Seán Feely
French Wine Adventures
Château Haut Garrigue
24240 Saussignac France
-Deep wine knowledge
-Local knowledge and contacts
-Visits to independent vignerons
-Fantastic french food
-Delightful places to stay
-Translation when you need it
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I recommend keeping the number of wines to around 6 particularly at the start. If you meet about once a month except say over the summer holidays this means tasting 60 wines over the year. This will provide you with a great libarary of knowledge particularly if you push yourself out of your comfort zone.
A few words on how you could get started.
In each edition of the Wine Adventurer I will offer ideas for themes for wine tasting club evenings with information related to each of the themes. Join our newsletter below to receive these quarterly offerings:
Bordeaux is the most famous for the grand crus because of the well publicised classification of the left bank vineyards in 1855 as requested by Napoleon III. In Saint-Émilion, on the right bank of Bordeaux, grand crus were put in place 100 years later in a different format. Burgundy was probably the first to apply the concept of grand cru vineyards back in medieval times but it was only formalised there in 1861. Champagne and Alsace followed in 1950 and 1975 respectively. But the idea of grand crus is very ancient. There is proof that the Romans classified their best vineyards more than two millenia ago.
In each edition of the Wine Adventurer I will offer more info on French Wine. Join our newsletter below to receive these quarterly offerings:
This court case made me consider whether there was something to be said for the method of classification which does not change... (like Medoc - one I had always considered unjust - how can a classification of 1855 stand unchanged today?). Seeing the St Emilion machinations I realise there are positives to this method and in the end the market decides. Look at Lynch Bages in Pauillac which is a 5th class but which achieves 2nd class prices.
So who are the recently upgraded chateaux to keep your eye out for?
Chateau Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin Despagne and Monbousquet were upgraded from grand cru to grand cru classé and those promoted from grand cru classé to Premier Grand Cru Classé B are Pavie Maquin and Troplong Mondot.
Until this review Chateau Angelus was the only property to have been upgraded from grand cru classé to Premier Grand Cru Classé. They now have their eyes set on joining the A class ranks of Ausone and Cheval Blanc and the next review. (see panel left for more on Angelus).
You can find details of our St Emilion day tour at DAY TOURS
The Battle for Wine and Love: Alice Fearing. A mix of anecdotes and interesting people in the wine world with a good dose of why natural wine is good by the New York Times Wine Writer. Sean also enjoyed this.
Red, White, and Drunk All Over: Nathalie MacLean. A voyage of stories about wine both old and new; some very amusing. Sean didn't enjoy it, I loved it: perhaps more of a 'chick book'.
Billionaire's Vinegar: Benjamin Wallace. An investigative journalist delves into the world of auctions for fine wines... a page-turning exposé.
Caro Feely
EARL Chateau Haut Garrigue SIRET (company Registration): 48411928400012 TVA Intracommunautaire: FR47484119284
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At our wine school I often recommend starting or joining a wine tasting club. The best way to learn is through experience and a wine club offers a way to share your passion for wine with friends old and new, to spread the cost of expensive bottles and to get out of the rut of your favourite wines.
A grand cru is a regional wine classification designating a vineyard with a history and a reputation for producing great wines. It is the classification of a vineyard’s quality potential rather than the actual quality of individual wines. The grand cru concept has been applied differently across the four regions in France where we find grand crus namely Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne.