Wine News

Decanter World Wine Awards 2008

Each year Decanter Magazine’s World Wine Awards gather greater momentum. 9219 wines were entered worldwide and out of the 286 wines from the Burgundy region, 229 were awarded medals: 2 Regional Trophies, 3 Gold, 48 Silver, 116 Bronze and 60 Commendations. Flying the Burgundy flag on the judging panel was Michael Schuster, wine writer and lecturer.

The competition has been running for five years now. As the regional chair, Michael Schuster, says:  ‘'The Decanter World Wine Awards gives  the opportunity to help highlight quality and value for money in a region whose wines can give enormous pleasure, but where reliable buys, especially in red wines, are neither easy nor regularly perceived as good value for money.'

From an experienced panel of judges made up of wine professionals, we bring you the Decanter World Wine Awards 2008 for Burgundy, compiled for burgundytoday.com.

Macon to Host St. Vincent Festival 2009

It’s a first in the history of the famous festival celebrating the patron saint of winemakers – on the request of the Brotherhood of Knights of Tastevin, Mâcon will host the Saint-Vincent Tournante festival from 24 to 25 January 2009! Each year, a different wine village hosts this event, which celebrates the wine-making tradition in the locality and, historically, was a rite held to ask the Gods for a good harvest.  Three locations have been chosen for the festivities: the ceremonies (mass and procession) will take place in Mâcon itself, while wine-tasting sessions and other activities and will be held at Chardonnay and Pierreclos. The first village was chosen because the name of the emblematic white wine grape of the Mâcon and Burgundy regions is instantly recognisable, while the second village was chosen for its beauty and for its castle. Pierreclos is situated in a locality where red wines are equally produced.

What a Way to Relax

Live music and a glass of good wine, what more could you ask for? Here’s a summary of some of the top events of summer in Burgundy

wines of chablis

The first book Rosemary George (Master of Wine) wrote about Chablis came out back in 1984. Since then, the Chablis vineyards have changed significantly, making a new book more than necessary. This book has outstanding illustrations by Jon Wyand, and provides an overview of the history, wine-making methods, marketing and wine producers of this world-famous appellation. Part of the book is entirely devoted to wines from the Grand Auxerrois.
The Wines of Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois - Rosemary George – Ed. Segrave Foulkes

Exhibition at Vougeot

The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin are organising an informative exhibition of images that will be running until 30 November 2008, at the Château du Clos de Vougeot. It goes back over 7 centuries of the Cistercians’ past, illustrating the history of wine in Burgundy from its origins to the vines of today. A series of lectures on the same theme will be programmed to complement the exhibition.

bubbly from bourgogne

Home sales of Crémant de Bourgogne, Burgundy's sparkling wine, are on the increase, recording a 16.5% rise in 2007 and nearly reaching the 5 million bottle mark.

Each year, the town of Chatillon-sur-Seine celebrates with a festival of Crémant and new for 2008, there is a Route de Crémant, one of the Burgundy Wine Routes, indicating to visitors with signage the best of the bubbly region.

interviews with the masters

Vintners' Tales was one of those classic UK BBC2 TV productions which won prestigious prizes for presenter and writer Jancis Robinson. It was made in two series back in 1992 and 1998. Jancis has now brought out a DVD of 10 of the best 10 minute film portraits of some of the famous names in the world of wine such as John Avery, Michael Broadbent and Nigel Watson.

The DVD is not today's high definition footage, and as Jancis says, 'just look at my wardrobe,' but for anyone interested in wine, it is a classic to be enjoyed.

Laroche's Hotel du vieux moulin

Burgundy wine producers have realised the potential of offering boutique hotel accommodatation surrounded by their famous vineyards. Michel Picard and Olivier Leflaive welcome guests in the Côte d'Or and now Laroche have opened the Hotel du Vieux Moulin in the pretty town of Chablis. There are five rooms and two suites in this sensitively converted water mill, offering all creature comforts. Prices range from 130 to 255€ per night, there is a wine bar and restaurant looking onto the River Serein. Laroche are also offering half day and whole day courses on wine appreciation. Spend the day with the experts sampling the aromas and flavours of the wine with lunch included at the Laroche Wine Bar Restaurant when food matching will be discussed. The price is 120€ per person. vieuxmoulin@larochewines.com.

world wine atlas 2007

Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson have just brought out another mega work, this time the updated World Wine Atlas. Reflecting the ever expanding wine growing areas in the New World, South America has been completely revamped, with many other changes in South Africa and Australia.

An essential reference for all wine lovers. Available from www.amazon.co.uk.

Courses

Where better to learn about wine than in Beaune itself, the centre of one of the most famous wine regions in the world? L’Ecole des Vins is run by the B.I.V.B and offers short courses run by professionals of half a day, a full day, or a weekend in English. Here you will learn the basics about grape varieties, the appellations, vinification, tasting techniques, aromas and flavours of the wines from the region. In addition, the weekend course includes visits to vineyards, cuveries and cellars and accommodation. The organisers describe the weekend as ‘more convivial than studious‘…

For the date of the next course in English contact: ecoledesvins@ecoledesvins-bourgogne.com. Private programmes can also be arranged.

Tastings and Tours

Tasting Table - Michel Picard's Winery at Château Chassagne-Montrachet offer a tasting lunch in their stylish dining room from March through to November, Monday to Saturday. Six or twelve of their wines can be tried, together with a tour of the cellars for 40 - 50€ per person. Reservation required in advance. Contact Marie-Florence: contact@michelpicard.com

Visit the Cellars - If you are touring Burgundy and would like to visit various vineyards and cellars, or ‘caves’ en route, there is a good free map with addresses 'Carte Route des Vins de Bourgogne’ available from bivb@bivb.com. (Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins de Bourgogne, Beaune.)

The Marché aux Vins in the centre of Beaune, next to the Hotel-Dieu, is an excellent introduction to the best wines of the region. There you can taste the famous names from Meursault to Puligny-Montrachet at your leisure. The Marché aux Vins is open every day and the visit and tasting costs 10 € per person.

The Hôtel du Conseiller du Roy, is the impressive HQ of Bouchard Aîné& Fils on the ring road around Beaune. You can visit the age-old cellars and take a tasting tour for 9 € per person, lasting one hour. In one of the cellars there are pots of different scents from cinnamon to Lapsang Souchong tea to help you identify the personality of the wines you are sampling. Open daily from 9.30 - 12.30 and 14.00 to 19.00.

Wine Tours - Wherever you are in the world, so much more can come out of a trip when you have an experienced guide showing you the way. David and Lynne Hammond, an English couple living in Burgundy, share their knowledge with you on their wine tours, visiting small independent vineyards and meeting the vignerons. About 20 wines are tasted throughout the day, and a three-course lunch is included in the price. Chablish has recently been added to the regions. There are one, two and three day tours to choose from with transport in their air-conditioned Land Rover Discovery. Prices for a day’s tour range from 150€ per person, and weekend trips can be planned to include accommodation. There is also a chance to buy the Hammonds’ recommended wine selection. Their deep passion and boundless enthusiasm for Burgundy is infectious. lynne@burgundydiscovery.com

One of the tours offered by Burgundy on a Plate is the Classic Cellar Tour, visiting exclusive wine growers in the Cote de Beaune, Cote de Nuits, Cote Chalonnaise and Chablis. You spend five nights in a 4 star hotel in Beaune and one night in Chablis with regional lunches and gastronomic dinners. During the day you will visit some of the most famous wine villages and be taken to cellars that rarely open their doors to the public. The wine expert on the tour has spent eleven years in the Vosne Romanee vineyard and will provide an insider's perspective. A prestige tour. May 19 – 25, 2008 and Sept 1 – 7, 2008. sue@burgundyonaplate.com

Also see: Gourmet Tours

TV

Available to satellite viewers, Wine TV includes a lot of programmes about Burgundy, giving an insight into vineyards, production methods, and producers.

Towns such as Dijon and Beaune are featured and interesting nuggets about food and recipes are included.

Websites

The BIVB has just launched its new website, www.burgundy-wines.fr. It is packed full of information about Burgundy wine, with a younger more lively approach.

Wine appreciation sites are gaining in strength and none moreso than Bill Nanson's Burgundy Report. He profiles the wine growers of the region, has an extensive database of tasting notes and highlights the wine villages. Being completely independent, it provides a good overview.

www.burgundy-report.com

Jancis Robinson is prolific in her wine writing and Burgundy features strongly. With tantilizing sections such as 'don't quote me', you may want to subscribe annually for full insider information, but there is plenty on the site to read in 'free for all '. www.jancisrobinson.com

wine books

For more information on Burgundy Wine, see Wine Guidebooks