Category: Wine tasting


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By Caro,

Chateau Feely Vineyard in France in Winter

Professional Organic Wine and Natural Wine Shows in France 2024

French Wine Adventures is based in and specialised in Wine Tours in South West France but our wine school also teaches guests and clients about wines of the world and wines of France. We love attending wine shows (Salons du Vin) to meet with old friends and new and to see what other winegrowers are doing (we offer wine tours and wine school here at French Wine Adventures, but we also have an organic vineyard Chateau Feely).

French Salons du Vin French Wine Fairs 2024 Heads Up

Late January to mid February is a time for professional wine fairs in France, particularly if you are interested in Organic Wine and Natural Wine. If you are studying wine via WSET or the Court of Sommeliers, visiting wine shows is a great way to expand your palate.

It can be cold but winter vines are beautiful and there are no summer crowds.

Chateau Feely Vineyard in France in Winter

At French Wine Adventures we focus on organic wine, biodynamic wine and sustainable travel so we recommend travel by train or car sharing to voyage between these shows; or get in touch, and we can custom create an itinerary and travel with you.

January

Millésime BIO, Montpellier

Millésime BIO The biggest organic wine fair in the world that has been running for more than 30 years. It is enormous with around 1500 participants from 20 countries with many participants from Languedoc Roussillon and Provence. We participated in this show for a couple of years. You can read about it in Caro Feely’s book Saving Our Skins which also charts the early days of our wine school and visits to the wine regions of Alsace, Burgundy and Napa Valley.

Full details here https://www.millesime-bio.com/

When: 29-31 January (times are different each day see the site for specifics)

Where: Parc des Expositions de Montpellier, Route de la Foire, 34470 Pérols

A significant hive of ‘off’ salons that have developed around this fair. One of the most well-known is:

BioTop, near Montpellier

BioTop started in 2013. It offers a large selection of organic and biodynamic estates. They started small and have grown into a set of 6 salons across France.

When : 28-29 January 10am – 6pm

Where : Domaine des Grands Chais, route de Vauguières, 34130 Mauguio (This is about 10 minutes drive from the Millésime Bio site)

Book your place https://yurplan.com/events/BIOTOP-Montpellier/114229

For your free time between the end of Millesime Bio in Monpellier and the start of the Loire Valley shows visit Chateau Feely and Bordeaux for the weekend or book a Tour with us – we are about half-way between Montpellier and Saumur.

February

La Dive Bouteille, Saumur

This is a legendary natural fair with hundreds of participants from all over France and a smattering of international participants. You will find many wonderful natural wines and some funky natural wines. You can read about the early days of the Feely’s journey with natural wine in Caro’s third book Vineyard Confessions – Tales of Menopause, Love and Natural Wine.

When:4-5 February 10am – 6pm

Where: Caves Ackerman, 19 Rue Léopold Palustre, 49400 Saumur

More here http://www.dive-bouteille.fr/

La Levée de la Loire, Angers

An organic fair started 7 years ago with participants from all over France.

When: 5-6 February 10am-6pm

Where: Parc des Expos, Route de Paris 49000 ANGERS

More here: https://laleveedelaloire.com/

Within the Levée you will also find:

Salon des Vins Demeter, Angers

We participated in this show a few years ago, it has a good representation of the Loire Valley.

When: 5-6 February

Where: Parc des Expos, Route de Paris 49000 ANGERS

More here Demeter Fair Angers

Take a break for a couple of days before going to Paris for the next crush of pro wine salons.

Raw Wine Paris

Raw wine was started more than ten years ago by Isabelle Legeron, one of the early supporters (and perhaps also a creator of it in some ways, despite not making natural wine) of the natural wine movement. We attended two of the earliest editions when it was a London based natural wine fair. Now it is international with editions across the globe. You’ll find natural winemakers of all colours and sizes.

When: 11-12 February

Where: Espace Clacquesin, 18 avenue du Maréchal Leclerc, 92240 Malakoff

More here Raw Wine Paris

Also hosting wine fairs on these dates in Paris:

BioTop Paris

When: 11-12 February

Where: Newcap Event Center (Paris 15ème)

Salon des Vins Demeter Paris

This wine fair is also a special celebration of 100 years since the publication of the Agriculture Course by Steiner.

When: 11-12 February

Where: Newcap Event Center : 3 Quai de Grenelle 75015 Paris (métro: Bir-Hakeim)

I love their poster – I am a sucker for Paris imagery – I love scenes of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.

More here Demeter Paris

Wine Paris (Vinexpo)

This is a massive fair that can be overwhelming. It has wine of all colours and styles and includes the very big volume players and negociant wines. That said, it wines from over 40 wine producing countries – if you are looking to expand your ‘global’ wine palate this would be a good one. I searched for an organic section but didn’t find it, so have sent a request to understand how easy it will be to navigate to certified organic stands.

When: 12-14 February

Where : Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris

More here https://wineparis-vinexpo.com/

April

Bordeaux En Primeurs

When : 22- 25 april

Where : all over Bordeaux

If you would like to attend an en Primeur event, get in touch for a wine tour in April.

 

French Wine Adventures is specialised in French Wine, Wine Education, Wine Tours in Bordeaux, Organic Wine and Sustainable Tourism.

Discover wine on one of our Multi day Wine ToursVineyard Walking tours or a Wine Course or get in touch for a custom wine tour, course or experience.

 

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By Caro,

New Tours and Activities in 2023

French Wine Adventures are excited to announce our new tours and activities for 2023.

A day of education on the French Wine Regions

French wine can be confusing. Part of the secret to understanding wine is understanding geography and grape varietals. On this course you will discover the major wine regions of France and wine tasting. You will explore the French landscape and taste 10 different wines from across France.

This is a fun day of discovery guaranteed to leave you more confident with a restaurant wine list featuring French wine.

A Relax and Restore Day with Yoga and Wine Mini Retreat

We start with a morning stroll in the vines and an hour of hatha vinyasa yoga in the shade outside (if the weatheris inclement the yoga is inside). From there we move to the delightful tasting room at Chateau Feely – an eco-friendly wood, stone and hemp insulated building made of natural materials for wine tasting with a focus on senses and tasting meditatively. That takes us to a luscious 3 course lunch (please notify us on booking if you are vegetarian or have special food needs) at a delighful restaurant. In the afternoon you explore restorative yoga and meditation. The yoga is suitable for beginners.

To be the first to hear about new experiences or to discover more about wine we invite you to join our mailing list below.

Explore our Multi day Wine ToursVineyard Walking toursWine Day tours and Wine Courses!

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By Caro,

Book your WSET LEVEL 2: globally recognised WINE COURSE now

Up your wine game in 3 intense days. Do the wine spirit education trust level 2 certificate in wine with Caro Feely, accredited wine educator, published author and winemaker on a working organic biodynamic vineyard near Bordeaux and Bergerac on the border of the Dordogne, the Gironde and the Lot et Garonne.

The wset level 2 wine course teaches you about wine and how to taste wine in a structured manner. It is ideal for  winelovers who wish to know more and for working or wanting to work in the wine or hospitality industry.

French Wine Adventures has been a WSET Wine School for ten years and we have a 100% pass rate.

Discover international wines and learn the major grape varieties, wine styles from the key wine producing countries of the world and the factors that influence the style, quality and price of wine. You will taste more than 40 wines from around the world and learn how to assess them and what to expect from different appellations and styles.

The course includes study pack and text book, exam on the 3rd day, wines tasted (including grand cru classés) and lunches. It is 800 euro TTC excluding accommodation (accommodation on site 145 euro for two sharing with organic breakfast or 135 euro for a single with breakfast – we can also propose a B&B nearby).

Book for November 2021 before the end of July 2021 and we’ll offer you 10% off early bird reduction on the accommodation and the course.

WSET provides training in wine for professionals and consumers who wish to enhance their wine knowledge and gain a formal qualification. WSET courses are a benchmark for wine education throughout the world and are offered in 141 different countries, adjudicated by WSET Global based in London and part of an internationally recognised programme.

It is imperative to study in advance so signing up (at least) a month before the course starts is recommended. For level 2 we do 18 hours classroom and you need a minimum of 28 hours study to pass so at least 8 hours pre-reading/ study is recommended – reading the text book in depth three times should do it -and then 2 hours each night here evenings during the 3 days).

You can find the detailed specification of the course online at WSET Global

This is a small group WSET level 2 wine course on a working organic and biodynamic wine farm with vineyard and winery a few steps from your class room. Chateau Feely is in South West France, 1 hour 20 from Bordeaux, 15 minutes from Bergerac airport, 50 minutes from Libourne TGV station.

The next courses are

  • April 2021 – TBA depending on evolution of Covid-19.
  • 4-6 November 2021.

Email caro@frenchwineadventures.com for more info or to book.

Keen to learn more about wine but not in a formal way? Try a ‘Play Winemaker for a Day’ where you create and bottle your own unique blend, book a grand cru classé tour or a wine adventure day.

Our tours and accommodation can also be offered as a gift certificate.

Visit to Chateau Feely in South West France ; stay with us or do a multi day course or multi day tour . You can read about the story of this organic farm the series includes three books Grape ExpectationsSaving our Skins and Glass Half Full by Caro Feely. Join our mailing list to receive our seasonal newsletter, wine school, events, wine pairing, recipes and more info on this topic at the bottom right of this page.