Wine Tasting Riviera . Wine Events Riviera . Fine Wine Works » Forthcoming Wine Events

Love the Loire

Helen Brotherton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:38:44 +0000

In between teaching on our WSET® Wine Courses this month, I’ve been busy dreaming up themes and ideas for our forthcoming programme of Gourmet Dinners and Food & Wine Matching events. I suppose being forced to open several bottles from each region with one’s students (we do spit, actually!!) constantly refreshes the memory as to what wonders there are out there to be sipped and studied. The region closest to home that has really made me sit up and be impressed, has been the amazingly diverse Loire valley here in France.

It perfectly wends its way westwards from the very
heartland of central France, giving us elegant Sancerre’s through a dazzling array of fizz’s, white’s, red’s
and pink wines, from searingly bone dry to lusciously and intensely sweet and honeyed. I know my students were all taken aback and seriously stupefied to discover the versatility and variety of Loire wines.

So I’ve opted to take this as my theme for our 1st dinner on the 12th March. Numbers are limited as we will be having a cosy indoor evening with a log fire blazing rather than our more extensive Summer events out on the Terrace overlooking the Med! We shall no doubt kick off with one of the many top notch sparkling wines from the region – made in the same way as Champagne (i.e. Traditional Method) a delicately creamy Saumur will be offered to whet the appetite whilst I entertain with some facts and figures about our chosen region. I’m hoping to track down some Smoked Eel for a pre-dinner nibble I
have in mind….. We shall then glide through a starter of Oysters with Spinach & Beurre Blanc alongside a perky, yeasty and intensely savoury Muscadet Sevre et Maine sur lie. You cannot think of the Loire without marvelling at the array of amazing goat’s cheeses so I shall conjure up a voluptuous Twice-baked Goat’s Cheese Soufflé with a Carrot and Sweet Vouvray wine sauce. The archetypal partner with high acid goat’s cheese is a wine similarly high in acidity (the mouth watering tingly sensation you
experience with some particularly crisp wines gives an indication that there is plenty of refreshing acidity). So we shall travel along to the far East of this great wine country and tackle a really excellent Sauvignon Blanc – a Pouilly Fumé from the producer Laporte – we tried the Les Duchesses PF on the Advanced course last week and it knocked many a pricier wine into a cocked hat, as they say!

The centre piece of the evening is probably going to be my take on Coq au Vin with a Loire twist – think tasty Guinea Fowl with a deep Red Wine Sauce – I’ll be introducing the much under valued but immensely subtle red wines of the region here: I’ve long been a fan of the silky, raspberry fruited Chinon’s and St Nicholas de Bourgeuil wines made from Cabernet Franc. But I’m still toying between that and another Fish course to illustrate how certain lightish red wines can work with fish….hmmm, Loire Perch in a Chinon Sauce, perhaps? The finale will be a delicious Pear Tarte Tatin, which if I can lay my paws on the pear species, Belles Angevines (from Anjou) will be absolutely authentic of the Loire – apparently the buttery squidgy caramelised pastry pud, the Tatin is believed to originate from the
area. Also, orchard fruits are text book collaborators in the food & wine matching world for the honeyed apple character of the great sweet wines for the Loire. Here Chenin Blanc comes into its own and I shall be unearthing either a Coteaux du Layon, a Montlouis or a Bonnezaux to meet the challenge.

And so with drooling lips I ask you to check out our Forthcoming Events page for more details and how to book for this fine Dinner experience –at 60€ per person all inclusive, this is a real must!
Look forward to seeing you in March!

Helen Brotherton
08.02.10

“Valking in a Vilmart Vonderland”

Helen Brotherton — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:35:31 +0000

Oh, gosh is that a hideously, schmaltzy, yuck way of introducing what we are up to over the festive period with Christmas? Sorry, folks, that’s me!! Bit on a wave of excitement here at FineWineWorks with our recent activities with our very own Vilmart champagne. Firstly, we’ve brought in a supremely experienced “Marketing Marvel” in the form of John Burke – a trusted friend, a graduate of all 3 levels of our WSET® Wine Courses with FWW (so he’s really seen us in action with a corkscrew), and coincidentally an amazingly experienced Marketing Consultant with a background history of working with some of the real big guns in the industry.

His past experience was with some of the biggest drinks companies (for example Diageo) where their marketing budgets were absolutely stratospheric! (he conducted the UK research that led to their sponsorship of the McLaren Formula One team with Johnny Walker Black Label). And its come to this….a non-paying position as Chief Marketeer and person “who knows what they are doing” with Fine Wine Works to truly launch, promote, encourage and assist us to endorse the extraordinarily different, “breathtaking” and exciting champagne house of Vilmart & Cie.
We’ve instigated campaigns with all the local media (check out the Riviera Times website and monthly publications, look out for our revealing interview in the Riviera Times and hear me whiffle on about the fab Vilmart champagnes on Monaco’s Riviera Radio). We’ve thrown caution to the wind and are madly offering a “first bottle free” when you order 12 of our gorgeous 92 Parker Points breathtaking “Vilmart Grand Cellier Brut NV” (normal RSP 35€). We have given an in depth interview which appears in this Dec / Jan “Riviera Reporter”. We’ve hooked up (‘scuse the pun) with Dan & Lucy Luger at Nice Rugby Club – watch this space for some rather exciting “co-promotions”, including a very romantic plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day in February (are you seeing hearts, roses and pink Champagne….????)
We are, as ever, proud sponsors of the International Club of the Riviera and wearing my professional ex-actress “hat”, I was deeply content and happy to be asked to join the panel of judges for the International Schools of the Riviera Speech Contest on 13th November. I assumed my stage name of Helen Patrick for the evening, and was, (quelle surprise?), vociferous in my thoughts, feelings and beliefs about the contestants that night. Public speaking, holding an audience and enchanting, informing and illuminating them is no easy feat and I think the final winner and (very) close runner up performed a brilliant feat – well done!
A few people have been asking if I have a secret Mulled Wine Recipe as a Wine Expert and Gerant of FWW – yes, I do! Some of you came to find out for yourselves at the International Club’s “Fusion Christmas Gala” last Saturday on La Croisette, Cannes (see www.internationalclub.fr) for piccies. If you didn’t join us for a glass – my secret is to stud a whole orange with cloves, then roast it in the oven for 40 mins. Add to a large heavy casserole with a couple of sticks of cinnamon, 2 or 3 star anise, a couple of bottles of red wine, 1/2 litre of orange juice. A triple shot of port, a double of brandy and a single of Cointreau or triple sec and a scoop of sugar to taste (try fair-trade brown sugar for a richer, more caramelised character).
Our Vilmart champagne will also be offered at the ICR’s New Years Eve Event – c’est moi doing the catering so please allow a brief plug!
No surprise, then, as to what we shall be brandishing when invited for a social event over the festive period, and I’m afraid our long suffering friends and family will all (secret present alert*%$//???””£*) be getting a bottle of Vilmart champagne in their Christmas stocking this year 2009. It’s the wine of choice when celebrating anything – and here’s to all of us who have “survived” and indeed enjoyed 2009!

Helen Brotherton
07.12.09

3 Day Grape Escape Wine Tour to the Southern Rhone

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:25:31 +0000

Dates 5th to 8th JUNE (3 nights)

795€ per person (mid Season)

Places are limited to EIGHT (plus your Guides and Hosts, Helen & Nigel)

What’s included?

Travel in an air-conditioned Mini Bus (pick up and drop off)
Accommodation in a luxury “The Winemaker’s House” Gîte with Pool on a Wine Estate.
Accommodation includes all linen, towels, heating, Wi-Fi, TV etc. 5 x Bedrooms – 3 x Large Double and 2 x Twin. 3 x Bathrooms (one with bath, two with shower)
FWW will provide all Tea, Coffee, Water & Soft Drinks during the stay at the Gîte
http://www.domainedemourchon.com (for pictures and more info on the estate)
All meals (including Continental Breakfast each day) and wines (except where specified)
In order to fit all 8 guests comfortably, we will be taking a car as well as the Mini Bus – this should leave space for some wine purchases along the way!
A full itinerary of tastings, winery visits, vineyard explorations and guided tours, a wine themed dinner and much more……

DAY 1 – Saturday 5th June

Depart Vence, Antibes or Nice (depends on consensus of guests) 09h00
Noon – Picnic Lunch with Wine provided by FWW
(e.g. a Selection of Cold Cuts, Charcuterie, Cheeses & Patés with Bread and Salads & Patisserie & Fresh Fruit for Dessert)
Approx. 14h00 arrive at the Winemaker’s House – settle in and make yourselves comfy.
15h00 – Domaine de Mourchon Winery & Estate Visit plus tasting of their full range of award winning wines
19h30 – Dinner at a local Restaurant in Séguret – 3 Course Menu plus ½ bottle of wine per person included in price

DAY 2 – Sunday 6th June

09h00 – A full day of Winery Visits and Tastings that should leave your palate and mind wanting for nothing in wine terms!! An unrivalled opportunity to visit the stunning and diverse vineyard landscapes of Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Rasteau and Vacqueyras and visit at least 2 different Domaines in the region to taste through the differing and exquisite wines of the region. Your FWW wine expert, Helen, plus a local guide, Olivier, will be there to guide you through the mysteries of terroir, the regions grape varieties and give you an opportunity to taste some of the very finest wines of Provence.
13h00 – Restaurant lunch (probably Vacqueyras but TBC) – Menu and ½ bottle of wine per person included
14h30 – Tour continues
18h30 – return to the Winemaker’s House for a bit of a relax!
19h30 – Aperitifs on the Terrace overlooking the Vineyards then FWW will provide a full BBQ – juicy rare steaks, sausages and brochettes to accompany the gutsy, tannic and utterly delicious Côte du Rhône Villages reds of Domaine de Mourchon. As fully fledged Rhône wine experts after your day of tastings and visits, FWW propose a gentle Wine Quiz to test your vinous knowledge and to continue sipping and enjoying the ambience as the evening draws to a close.

Day 3 – Monday 7th June

10h30 – After a bit of a “lie-in”, Nigel of FWW will be on hand to drive you round the region to pick up a bit of culture! The itinerary for this more mellow day may include the Roman ruins of Vaison la Romaine, the stunning Mont Ventoux, and the pretty village of Séguret itself. Lunch is not included on this day, so you are free to wander, sight see and pick up a light lunch at your leisure….but be warned! Back at the ranch, Helen will have been preparing for the Grand Finalé:
19h30 – FWW will host a Six Course Gourmet Degustation Food & Wine Matching Dinner, showcasing wines from both the Northern & Southern Rhône – a full Wine Tasting Dinner to satisfy the most demanding of Gourmands and with the added appeal of enjoying it in situ – in the beautiful arena of vines that is Domaine de Mourchon.

Day 4 – Tuesday 8th June

Return to the Riviera – we haven’t planned a departure time, so we can leave after Breakfast and when it suits the party.

Price: 795€ per person (TTC)

To book, we will need a deposit of 395€ per person (cheques made payable to NHB Riviera SARL) by 12th APRIL.