6ème Salon Mets et Vins de Mazé

Post harvest, winter arriving, one would be right in thinking this is a quieter time for many of the Domaines, au contraire! The wine festival season, winter porte ouvertes are in full swing...

Today Gérald is representing Domaine de la Paleine at the 6ème Salon 'Mets et Vins' de Mazé.

Bonne dégustation !

Weekend de l'Amateur du Vin d'Evreux

Representing Domaine de la Paleine Gérald returned to Evreux for the Weekend de l'Amateur de Vin d'Evreux wine fair and caught up with Thiebault Huber-Verdereau, Domaine Huber-Verdereau and Géraud Fromont, Domaine des Marnes Blanches both of who we work with at Bistrot Les Tontons and at Ten Green Bottles Wine Shop & Tasting Room in Brighton.

The weekend provided a great opportunity for new vintages to be sampled and future business ventures involving Domaine Huber-Verdereau, Domaine des Marnes Blanches, Bistrot Les Tontons and Ten Green Bottles to be discussed.  One of which will include wine tastings hosted by Thiebault and Géraud in Brighton and Saumur.

Thiebault Huber-Verdereau - Domaine Huber-Verdereau

Géraud Fromont - Domaine des Marnes Blanches

Wine tastings at Bistrot Les Tontons with Thiebault and Géraud will be arranged soon...

Loire Valley Wine Fair, Angers (49)

On Tuesday Gérald and I visited the Loire Valley Wine Fair in Angers (49).  Now in its 26th year the Salon des Vins de Loire is the largest single gathering of Loire Valley wine producers (550 vignerons) and certainly a date in the diary for wine importers, retail and commerce.

Set in two great halls the wine fair is an impressive sight, and it was our objective to source new wines for Bistrot Les Tontons, our wine bar in Saumur and for Ten Green Bottles, with whom we are in partnership with, and have a wine bar, The Wine Shop & Tasting Room in Brighton, UK.

On a social level the wine fair is a great opportunity for us to catch up with the wine producers we work closely with.

One Domaine in particular is Domaine de la Paleine located in Le Puy Notre-Dame (49), AOC Saumur & AOC Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame, and whose award winning wines are served, and can be purchased, at Bistrot Les Tontons.

Congratulations!! For 2012 Domaine de la Paleine was awarded the : Ligers d'Argent & Ligers de Bronze for the quality of its wines.

Owned by Marc & Laurent Vincent, Domaine de la Paleine continues to be represented at salon des vins, wine fairs, by Gérald.

And today whilst talking with Marc we sampled new vintages of favoured wines which we have followed for over 10 years.

Next we headed to see Le Petit Saint Vincent, Varrains (49), AOC Saumur-Champigny, whose wines are served at Bistrot Les Tontons.

Albeit not photographed Le Petit Saint Vincent produces a divine sparkling rosé, which was in great demand throughout last summer.

A Domaine whose wines have been produced by the same family for four generations and whose vines age between 30 and 80 years old.

The wines were a pleasure for me to sample, in particular the 2010 chenin!

Festi Vini 2011 - Le Marché des Vins de Saumur

Festi Vini 2011 : 03-11 September was eight days of festivities, culture, fun runs, concerts with the principal event Le Marché des Vins being held on Sunday 04 September in Place de la République in Saumur.



Le Marché des Vins is one of my favourite events of the seasonal calander. A fabulous day out which caters for every family member.

Gérald, representing Domaine de la Paleine for his 6th year was one of the 60 Pays de Loire vineyards to be invited.

Glorious sunshine and high temperatures aided the days festivities, enjoyment of artisans goodies and vignerons wines.

















Having timed their return stays perfectly were our wonderful & fun loving clients, Lisa & John, Susan & Paul, both of whom we had had the great pleasure of welcoming to 'La Bellevue' last year.

















United in one great shared passion, the wines from Domaine de la Paleine ! Armed with their dégustation glasses un grand tour of le marché was in order before concluding at Géralds stand to sample the Domaines latest vintages.

Festi Vini 2012 :
dates to be confirmed

Bistrot Les Tontons

With much of Saumur cordoned off to traffic for this weekends festivities Fridays deadline deliveries were unable to reach us and albeit this wasn't quite to plan there was much to do in preparation for the now opening of Bistrot Les Tontons on Tuesday 05 July 2011.

BEFORE

Gérald and I viewed the then called Cafe La Grange back in March when it resembled the Pompidou Centre, Paris.

Since signing on 21st June the future Bistrot Les Tontons has undergone a vast transformation.


WORK IN PROGRESS

For those of you who know Gérald from Domaine de la Paleine you will be delighted to learn Gérald will continue to represent the Domaine.

Further more the wines from Domaine de la Paleine will be available to enjoy during lunch and dinner and can be purchased directly from la cave at Bistort Les Tontons.

In addition, Loire Valley Uncorked will continue to provided privately conducted wine tasting tours at the Domaine de la Paleine and NEW for 2012 - wine tastings & river boat trips on the Loire river held on Domaine de la Paleines own private la toue, river boat.

Wine Tasting: Domaine de la Paleine, Le Puy Notre-Dame, Saumur, France at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton

This weekend will see the return of Gérald Beaumont from Domaine de la Paleine to The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton.

Hosting a private wine tasting event on Sunday 13 March 2011 amongst the selected wines will be the recently awarded Ligers 2011 wines from the Loire Valley Wine Fair.

Domaine de la Paleine - the vines of the chenin blanc and cabernet franc grape make up the majority of the vineyards 32 hectares.

Leaving grass to grow in between the vines encourages her roots to grow deep into the limestone soil.

Exceptionally chalky the soil acts as a sponge retaining surplus water, a natural reservoir during the hot summer months thus allowing the vines to feed their growing fruits. It is this action that gives the wines of Domaine de la Paleine their unique character: full bodied, yet subtle and fruity.

Booking can be made online; click ‘here’ or by contacting either Sam or Simon at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room on: 01273 567176

Wine Tasting with Gérald at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton

On Sunday 10 October Gérald hosted a private wine tasting at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room in Brighton, UK.

The attending 30 guests enjoyed a selection of chenin & cabernet franc wines from Domaine de la Paleine, accompanied by an accords mets et vins, food dishes chosen to compliment each wine sampled.



















(Ten Green Bottles : Sam Devaney, Simon Broad & Gérald Beaumont)

Gérald will be returning to The Wine Shop & Tasting Room on Sunday 21 November 2010 - please contact The Wine Shop & Tasting Room for further information.

The Wine Shop & Tasting Room
9 Jubliee Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 1GE

t : +44 (0) 1273 567176
e : shop@tengreenbottles.com

Oz Clarke's Pocke Wine Guide 2010

Featuring in Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2010 Domaine de la Paleine is quoted amongst the better producers in the AOC Saumur and amongst the 'best producers' of the Saumur Brut.

Wine enthusiasts seeking an Oz Clarke style wine tasting can visit Domaine de la Paleine, a beautiful vineyard set in the picturesque village of Le Puy Notre Dame, south of Saumur.

Hosted by Gérald Beaumont, a bilingual French wine professional experience a privately conducted wine course, wine tour & wine tasting at Domaine de la Paleine, sample the Brut Saumur referrenced by Oz Clarke and the many more exquiste wines produced by this highly reputed Domaine.

If the Loire Valley is a little too far to go, you can meet Gérald at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton, UK and enjoy a private wine tasting accompanied by an accords mets et vins, wine & food pairing.

Discover with Gérald the diverse wines from Domaine de la Paleine while learning about wine, the vines, food pairing & wine production.

Bonne dégustation.

For further information about our private wine courses, luxury wine breaks, full day Loire Valley wine tours & privately conducted wine tastings please contact Sarah-Jane at: info@loirevalleyuncorked.net

Grape Harvest - Les Vendanges

Autumn has arrived in the Loire Valley.

Signalled by the start of les vendanges, grape harvest, next week at Domaine de la Paleine.

Wine Tasting Soirée - le 3ème retour

This week we were delighted to welcome Mark & Jeremy back to 'La Bellevue' - leurs 3ème retour - for an extensive wine tasting hosted by Gérald. Dinner followed, as did some typically French cuisine !!

Sat outside in the afternoons sun the setting couldn't have been more idyllic for une dégustation of the new vintages from Domaine de la Paleine.

In addition was the introduction of other AOC appellations which provided an interesting contrast to the AOC Saumur.

As well as the unique experience of sampling a 1986 Quart de Chaume which instantly made us reflect on what we were all doing in '86...gosh, it feels so long ago !!

A word from Mark & Jeremy:

Thank you so much Sarah-Jane & Gérald! Another fabulous stay, our third year running, can you keep us away? I doubt it! Many thanks.

Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair 2010

As previously blogged about - this week saw Gérald at the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair, (Salon des Vins de Loire), in Angers representing the highly reputed Domaine de la Paleine.

This salon is the largest wine fair held in the Loire Valley housing the majority of the Domaines from this vast wine producing region at any one given time. Most definitely a calendar marking event for any 'wine lover' and open to the general public on the 3rd day.












Whilst taking time to discover and sample the many different AOC appellations there are many opportunities to rest the olde feet and make & take notes of your favourite wines.

AOC Saumur Le Puy Notre Dame

After much talk the arrival of the 69th AOC appellation in France is here - AOC Saumur Le Puy Notre Dame.

....and now this niche appellation can be sampled.

Join Gérald for une dégustation at Domaine de la Paleine, Le Puy Notre Dame.

And for those UK based, contact Simon at Ten Green Bottles.