Category: Wine and Food Pairings

Hermitage Launches Online Charity Wine Auction

Hermitage, the Rhône Valley wine appellation has launched its online wine auction, which is now open for bidding until Tuesday, June 21-  4 pm via the fine wine auction marketplace Bid For Wine https://www.bidforwine.co.uk/legendary-hermitage.

The lots available to bid on have been donated by Hermitage winemakers with some unique vintages for wine lovers and collectors.

The Centre Médical de La Teppe (France) and The Epilepsy Society (UK) are the two charities that have been chosen for the auction, with all proceeds being donated equally between the two.

Hermitage is also hosting their ‘Legendary Hermitage’ event at the Four Seasons Hotel, London, at Ten Trinity Square on Monday June 20th. The event is hosted by several of the Hermitage winemakers which includes a tasting of the prestigious cuvées available on the UK market, and a gastronomic dinner curated by award-winning chef, Anne-Sophie Pic. Chef Pic is the most decorated female chef in the world, with eight Michelin stars to her name.

Michel Chapoutier, president of the Hermitage appellation, said: “Our Legendary Hermitage event is an opportunity to share our wines with the UK wine trade, and along with our online charity wine auction, we are also helping out some charities which are important to our winemakers. We can’t wait to meet everyone and allow them to taste some exciting wines, some of which they won’t have tasted before.”

The auction lots include:

Lot 1 – Maison Les Alexandrins 2020, White – 6 bottles

Lot 2 – Christelle Betton, Arpège 2004-2011-2019, White (3 bottles)

Lot 3 – Maison M.Chapoutier, Vin de Paille 1999, Magnum

Lot 4 – Maison M.Chapoutier, Pavillon 2007, Red, Magnum

Lot 5 – Maison M.Chapoutier, De l’Orée 2007, White, Mathusalem

Lot 6 – Maison Jean-Louis Chave, Red 2015, Jeroboam

Lot 7 – Delas Frères, Domaine des Tourettes 2015, White, Jeroboam

Lot 8 – Ferraton Père & Fils – 6 bottles

Les Miaux 1998, White (2 bottles)

Les Dionnières 2001, Red (2 bottles)

Le Méal 2001, Red (2 bottles)

Lot 9- Ferraton Père & Fils – 6 bottles

Les Miaux 1998, White (2 bottles)

Les Dionnières 2001, Red (2 bottles)

Le Méal 2001, Red (2 bottles)

Lot 10 – Maison Guigal – 6 bottles

Ex-Voto 2012, Red (3 bottles)

Ex-Voto 2012, White (3 bottles)

Lot 11 – Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné, La Chapelle 2006, Red, Jeroboam

Lot 12 – Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné, La Chapelle 1982-1985-2009-2012-2015-2016, Red (6 bottles)

Lot 13 – Domaine des Martinelles – 6 magnums

Domaine des Martinelles 2013, Red, Magnum (2 magnums)

Domaine des Martinelles 2015, Red, Magnum (2 magnums)

Domaine des Martinelles 2020, White, Magnum (2 magnums)

Lot 14 – Gabriel Meffre, Laurus 2015, Red – 3 bottles

Lot 15 – Domaine Marc Sorrel, Le Gréal 2018, Red – 3 bottles

Lot 16 – Cave de Tain, Gambert de Loche 2015, Red, Jeroboam

Lot 17 – Maison Tardieu-Laurent 2006, White – 6 bottles

Lot 18 – Maison Tardieu-Laurent 2005, Red – 6 bottles

Lot 19 – Les Vins de Vienne, La Bachole 2010, White – 2 bottles

Lot 20 – Les Vins de Vienne, Les Chirats de Saint-Christophe 2009, Red – 2 bottles

#rhonevalley #hermitage #bidforwine #AnneSophiePic #rhonewine #wineauction #wine #redwine #whitewine #winelovers #winecollectors #wineinvestors #wineandfood #womeninfood #womeninwine #Michelinstarred #Michelin #chef  #RhoneValleyWines

List of Michelin-starred Restaurants in Europe Under 30 Euros

Travel restrictions are FINALLY relaxing across Europe and it’s now time to travel and spoil yourself!  Good News! You can surprisingly dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant without breaking the bank and here is their advice – shift from a dinner reservation to a lunch reservation. Most restaurants offer a menu du jour, or menu of the day at lunch, which is more affordable than the regular tasting menu at dinner.

Chef’s Pencil recently featured a map of the top Michelin-starred “most affordable” restaurants in Europe (under 30 Euros) – here is their top 10 for you to try!

  1. L’Antic Molí, Ulldecona, Spain – 20 euros / person

 L’Antic Molí is one of the best restaurants in Spain and is about a two-hour drive south of Barcelona, ​​is the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant in Europe. Here, surrounded by greenery and with a beautiful panoramic view, you’ll spend 20 /person for a lunch by chef Vicent Guimerà Sales, if you choose to have lunch in the Espai Bistro.

  1. La Robe, Montaigu, France – 24 euros / person

La Robe restaurant in Montaigu, France, is in the Pays de la Loire region. The dining room is spread over two floors. Here you can taste chef Xavier Giraudet’s lunch dishes at affordable prices.

  1. Hostellerie la Montagne, Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, France – 25 euros / person

The Hostellerie la Montagne – a Michelin-star restaurant located in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises in the Haute-Marne department of France’s Grande Est region.  This is the region where the former French president Charles de Gaulle lived (and later buried). This is why the restaurant’s dining room is called A la table du General (at the General’s table). Chef Jean-Baptiste Natali proposes a lunch ‘menu du marché’, a market menu, starting at 25 euros, consisting of an entrée, main course and dessert.

  1. Les Clefs d’Argent, Mont-de-Marsan, France – 25 euros / person

Another French restaurant, Les Clefs d’Argent in Mont-de-Marsan, is located in the southwestern part of the Hexagon. Here, chef Christophe Dupouy offers a menu that interprets the flavours of the territory in a contemporary key, with an exotic spin. A ‘très chic’ address, where you can stop and try ‘Le Menu Retour du Marché’, three dishes prepared according to the produce of the day and Christophe’s inspiration, available only for lunch from Tuesday to Friday.

  1. Essência, Budapest, Hungary – 25 euros / person

Essência can be found in Budapest, and is the restaurant led by the Portuguese-Hungarian couple Tiago and Éva Sabarigo. Guests can savour an original menu that draws on Hungarian and Portuguese cuisine, choosing a “fusion” tasting-menu that combines the two cultures. Among the most convenient options, there is no shortage of proposals for lunch starting from 25 euros / person.

  1. Hotel Restaurant Le France, Villers-le-Lac, France – 26 euros / person

The Hotel Restaurant Le France is in the heart of the Haut-Doubs. Here, chef Hugues Droz tempts you with creative dishes, capable of blending flavours, colours and great technique. All can be savoured in a warm environment, where design meets the territory, including refined details and decorative elements made with local materials.

  1. Le Mascaret, Blainville-sur-Mer, France – 26 euros / person

Le Mascaret is located in the spaces of a former convent for women in Blainville-sur-Mer, a small town in Normandy. The setting is decidedly baroque, but with a modern touch, while the dishes by chef Philippe Hardy are super-creative and well defined. With a ‘la petite table’ formula, at lunch, guests can try a very economical fine-dining experience: at 26 euros / person, the menu includes dishes revisited by the chef with a ‘French touch’, capable of combining tradition and modernity.

  1. Silabario, Vigo, Spain – 27 euros / person

The Silabario restaurant is located in Vigo, in the region of Galicia, in the north-west of Spain. Here, right under an imposing glass dome that houses the headquarters of the Real Club Celta de Vigo football team, chef Alberto González Prelcic prepares a delicious array of dishes with fresh ingredients from the local market at a very affordable price. The menu, at 27 euros / person, is available from Monday – Thursday for lunch and dinner, while only for lunch on Friday.

  1. Auberge du Cep, Fleurie, France – 27 euros / person

Auberge du Cep is located on a famous Burgundy wine route, in the Beaujolais region. The restaurant is led by chef Aurélien Merot, who stands out for iconic dishes with a very French style, mainly focused on jus and sauces. There are several tasting menus to combine with the remarkable selection of regional wines. Try the ‘menu du marché Grille-Midi’ for 27 euros, served every day for lunch, except Saturdays and public holidays (one starter, one main course and one dessert).

  1. La Grange de Belle-Église, Belle-Église, France – 27 euros / person

The Michelin-starred restaurant La Grange de Belle-Église, located in Belle-Église, in northern France, expresses the quintessence of French gastronomic attitude according to Chef’s Pencil. Directed by chef Marc Duval, who offers dishes prepared with high-quality ingredients and a wide selection of Bordeaux wines and champagnes. The menu du marché is served at midday, during the week (except holidays), and offers fresh seasonal produce.

 

Sources:  Michelin/Chef’s Pencil

#michelin #michelinstar #chef #instachef #wine #winelovers #foodandwine #finedining #gourmet #funsunday #Sunday #travelling #europe #traveldiaries #champagne #burgundy #bordeau #frenchwine #frenchfood #foodie #restaurant #michelinrestaurant #spanishfood #winesofspain #hungarianfood #winesofhungary

Abruzzo Wine Region is in an Exciting Phase of Transformation – Part l

I discovered, during my recent trip to the Abruzzo wine region, that it’s in an “exciting phase of transformation” – there are a higher number of family estates; I see more wineries adopting organic farming; and the winemakers are moving toward terroir-focused wines – which are more complex and have distinctive characteristics of the region.

In the early 1970s through to 1980s, this region was dominated by large co-op wineries. During this period most families sold their grapes directly to the co-ops.

About the Abruzzo Wine Region
Abruzzo is an Italian wine region which is on the East coast of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. I found the geographical features of Abruzzo to be quite extraordinary. It’s a rugged, mountainous region with an extensive rugged coastline, a landscape of lush green, scattered with national parks and forests. Abruzzo is situated between the Adriatic Sea (to the East), the Apennine Mountain range with the Maiella massif (to the West). Gran Sasso, one of Italy’s highest peaks at 2,912m (9,554 ft) can also be found here.

There is only one DOCG, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane, and there are three DOCs: Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and one white: Trebbiano d’Abruzzo.

The grape varieties include native red Montepulciano and native white Trebbiano. Other native grape varieties include Sangiovese, Passerina, Pecorino and Cococciola. Other international varieties include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Please Note: Abruzzo’s signature red grape “Montepulciano de Abruzzo” should not be confused with Vino Nobile de Montepulciano from Tuscany.

Fun Fact: According to local legend the native white grape “Pecorino” was named after the sheep that ate this grape in the vineyards.

According to the Consorzio Vini d’Abruzzo (the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo) this region currently has approximately 250 wineries, 35 co-ops, 34,000 hectares of vineyards – which produces over 1.2 million bottles of wine per year.

Weather
The coast has a Mediterranean climate – abundant sunshine, with average rainfall of 26 inches per year, followed by cold winters. Inland has more of a continental climate. with snow in the winter. In the high altitudes there are measurable diurnal temperature variations, combined with cool mountain air currents. There are also moderate temperatures on the slope-vineyards, which provides a mesoclimate for the vines.

Abruzzo Viticulture – Vine Training
80% of the vines are Abruzzo-pergola training system which was designed to shade bunches and to make harvest less arduous. The remaining 20%, which are mainly new plantings, have planted in rows with spurred cordon, free cordon, GDC.

Interesting Facts

  • Winemaking traditions in Abruzzo date back to the sixth century BC due to the Etruscans, who played a major role in introducing viniculture to the area.
  • There is also evidence that vine-growing goes back further, as far as the fourth century BC, when sweet, Moscato-style grape “Apianae” was grown. It is also believed that when Hannibal made his epic journey over the Alps, his soldiers were given Abruzzo wine from Teramo, previously known as Pretuzi.
  • In terms of quantitative wine production, Abruzzo is Italy’s fifth most notable wine region followed by Sicily, Puglia, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna.

Located a scenic two-hour drive east from Rome, the Abruzzo wine region marries centuries of tradition with modern style. Cin-cin!

Stay tuned for Part ll – Abruzzo Wine Region is in an Exciting Phase of Transformation, where I will do a deep dive into some of the estates.

#vinidabruzzo #abruzzowines #abruzzo #abruzzoitaly #abruzzowine #wine #winelover  #winetravel #winetourism #womeninwine #wineexperience #winetravels #winetasting #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #winenews #instawine #italianwines #vin #abruzzowines #vinidabruzzo #abruzzolovers #abruzzo #abruzzodocpecorino #montepulcianodabruzzo #trebbianodabruzzo
#abruzzodoc #cerasuolodabruzzo #italianwinelovers

The Trabocchi Coast – Abruzzo

I’m just back from Abruzzo, Italy – It’s a fascinating region of majestic mountains, national parks, stunning seascapes, charming villages, breathtaking views, and exceptional wines.

The coast of Abruzzo ranges from flat golden sandy beaches to dramatic coastlines with high cliffs to pebble beaches, which is on the Adriatic Sea.  The water temperature can reach 28 degrees in the summer. I was told by the local lifeguards that you can swim starting in April to the first week of October.  It’s interesting to note that Abruzzo has one of the highest densities of “blue flag” beaches in Italy!

What I found fascinating is the “Trabocchi Coast” a UNESCO World Heritage-protected for its traditional wooden fishing structures “Trabocchi.” This stunning 70-kilometer coast goes from Ortona to San Salvo (Chieti) and is a beautiful drive where you can see the striking collection of these stilt wooden huts. Some have been left abandoned, which make them more mystical, and some have been turned into restaurants.

Trabocchi were constructed by local fishermen in the 18th Century and were simply an extension of the rocky coastline. In order to facilitate fishing, boards were placed on the submerged rocks on the beaches so the fishermen could fish further offshore. Gradually, wooden stilts were used to erect freestanding platforms, which allowed the fishermen to project further out into the sea and were connected to land by long narrow boardwalks. The local fisherman fished for for anchovies, sardines, sea bream and sea bass.

The Trabocchi have been described as “colossal spiders” and “machines that seemed to live their own lives”  Gabriele D’Annunzio.

After speaking to locals, I found out that some of the Trabocchi are a few centuries old and still belong to fishing families.

It truly was an amazing experience .. walking along the boardwalk suspended above the sea, the smell of algae and crashing waves over the rocks – the atmosphere is both magical and romantic.

Having dinner on the Trabocchi we ate fresh fish and drank local white wines Pecorino and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo – an unforgettable evening with amazing views!

The “Trabocchi Experience” is a must when you visit Abruzzo!

#consorziotutelavinidabruzzo #montepulcianodabruzzo #cerasuolodabruzzo #trebbianodabruzzo #abruzzodoc #abruzzopecorino #winelovers #italy #discoverabruzzo #abruzzowines #abruzzowineinusa #vinidabruzzo #discoverabruzzowine #abruzzotourism #italianwine #Trabocchi #italianwinelovers #vinidAbruzzo

charmeu_usa

 

Discover the Kingdom of Vernaccia di San Gimignano Through the Wine Preview “Anteprima  2022”

March 2022: The Tuscan Previews explore the charming hamlet of San Gimignano. The event was dedicated to Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021, Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg Riserva 2020 and the wines of previous vintages that are yet to be released, all accompanied by an impeccable sommelier service. For the occasion, the consortium chose two principal venues: the De Grada Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art for the tasting of the seventy-six wines produced by thirty-five wineries and the Sala Dante in the Palazzo Comunale that will be the location of the 17th edition of the comparative technical-professional tasting series “White Wine and Its Territories”. A day in which the whole town of San Gimignano is coloured “gold” showing off the sense of belonging and sharing of this small piece of land.

2022 marks an important year: fifty years ago, a group of landowners and forward-looking producers gathered to organize a Consortium. The road was paved, and with every passing year, more awareness and determination are put in by the producers enhancing the path of success of the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. It is a place where man and nature have lived together for centuries in a mutual relationship of respect.  It is this indissoluble link to the theme of the tasting because San Gimignano has always been an example of the quality of life, professionalism, and know-how in terms of viticulture. Man brought art, culture and wrote its history, nature gave them the extraordinary Vernaccia Grape, a real “White Queen in the Land of Red Kings”. Surrounded by the city wall of San Gimignano every year professionals and wine lovers have the chance to taste the new vintages of wines made in this fascinating territory.

SAN GIMIGNANO, THE CRADLE OF THE WHITE WINE PRODUCTION IN TUSCANY 

San Gimignano is a small town of Siena, rich in charm and history. The village of San Gimignano is located almost halfway between Florence and Siena (about 60 and 45 km) and is easily reachable by car or a bus. It is a territory situated completely on hills with altitudes of between 200 and 400 m above sea level. The soils are of the Pliocene era, dating back to between 6.8 and 1.8 million years. And it is certainly the composition of the ancient soil that makes the wines produced in this denomination extremely fascinating and complex. The terroir of this area is characterized by the presence of fossils and shells, it is composed of Pliocene soil and clay. These extremely calcareous sediments make the soil ideal to create vigorous and mineral white wines. The surface area of the Municipality of San Gimignano is about 12,500 hectares, 5,600 of which are destined to farm productions (vineyards, olive groves, cereal crops). The San Gimignano hills present variable exposures, altitudes, soil compositions and availability of water, the multiple and sometimes unique combinations of these single factors have, even in such a small area, a significant impact on the characteristics of the wines produced there.

San Gimignano, A Magical Wine Destination 

San Gimignano is definitely a destination worth discovering and visiting. Hidden in the Tuscan countryside, the small “town of the towers” is completely integrated into the gentle nature surrounding it. It is a land characterised by a long farming tradition that dates back to the middle of the 13th century, a place where the experience of wine blends with the history of man on its rolling hills. San Gimignano was a place loved by important nobles and political figures of the past who left the trace of their passage, enriching this unique place with culture and art.

The city of San Gimignano in the first centuries after 1000 AD was embellished with seventy towers and numerous palaces, built by the many wealthy families to display their wealth and power. Still today, fourteen beautiful towers remain to characterize the city centre and making the unique and recognizable silhouette on the crowned hill.

TASTING REPORT 

During my stay at San Gimignano, I have blind tasted all the wines, majestically presented by the Consorzio del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 (40 wines reviewed)

on my radar

Winery:  Fornacelle  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

Pale yellow core with greenish hues. The nose is fresh and fruity with scents of lemon and apricot. Vibrant entrance with medium alcohol. Dry with good acidity and a fruity finish. Lovely wine.

Winery:  Casale Falchini  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 –  Benozzo   

Pale straw core with a watery rim. Intense flavour of ginger with scent of apricot.

Dry, fragrant palate with good acidity. Rich and elegant aftertaste. I enjoy it!

Winery:  Guicciardini Strozzi  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 –  Villa Cusona

Brilliant, deep yellow colour. Intense bouquet of lemon and jasmine flowers with a hint of mint. Fragrant entrance, round with ripe fruit and good acidity.  Well structured, mineral and complex.  I like it very much.

Winery:  Fattoria di Fugnano  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021 – Da Fugnano 

Medium yellow core with light hues. The wine displays an intense perfume white grapefruit, and lemon with a light note of mint. Dry, sapid, and intense with lively acidity. Well balanced and harmonious. An excellent wine.

Winery:  Tenuta Le Cancinaie

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

Straw coloured with paler rim. Pronounced flavour of pineapple with peachy overtones. Vibrant entrance with medium alcohol. The mouth is intense and fresh with racy acidity. Quite a long finish. A very good wine!

Winery:  La Lastra 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2021

Brilliant, yellow colour. Intense bouquet of lemon and jasmine flowers with a hint of petrol. Fragrant entrance, round with ripe fruit and high acidity. Well-structured, mineral, and quite complex. I really like it!

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 (12 wines reviewed)

on my radar

Winery:  Montenidoli   

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Fiore 

Pale yellow core with greenish hues. The bouquet is intense and ample with notes of grapefruit and apricot with scents of ginger. Dry with good acidity and a fruity, long finish with pleasant light notes of almond. A great wine.

Winery:  Panizzi 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Vigna Santa Margherita  

Yellow core, lighter on the edge. Intense flavour of citrus fruit and green apple with light floral notes. Dry with lovely acidity which matches a good alcohol level. The aftertaste is persistent A fine, charming wine!

Winery:  Cesani 

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 – Clamys 

Straw yellow core. The wine expresses a beautiful bouquet of lime and orange peel with overtones of thyme. Fresh, balanced palate with good persistence. The acidity matches well with the fruit. A delicious wine!

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 Riserva (4 wines reviewed).

on my radar

Winery:  Signano     

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2020 Riserva – La Ginestra

Clean with a beautiful nose of apricot and mango with flowery overtones and a hint of almond. Medium body with crispy acidity and lovely sapidity. The alcohol is well balanced with the fruit, elegant aftertaste. A fine wine with aging potential.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva (10 wines reviewed).

on my radar

Winery:  Cappella Sant’Andrea  

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva – Prima Luce

Clear gold yellow core with paler reflections. Intriguing nose with flavour of pear and matured fruit with a hint of almond. Lovely, creamy palate with present acidity and good persistence. Lovely wine.

Winery:  Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara   

Wine:   Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg 2019 Riserva – L’albereta 

Medium yellow core with paler rims. It expresses nice aromas of lemon and peach mixed with light notes of acacia. It is vibrant and structured to the palate with harmonious and fresh finish. Good aging potential.