Checking In With Bordeaux's Cité des Civilisations du Vin

by Paige Donner

It's always a thrill to watch the development, the progressive, step-by-step development of an ambitious and culturally iconic project. Such is the case with the Cité des Civilisations du Vin gorgeously taking shape along the banks of the Garonne in Bordeaux. 

FULL Slideshow HERE

All photos by Paige Donner.  ©2015 Paige Donner. 

Anouk Legendre, Architect

According to Sylvie Cazes, the President of the Foundation for the Support of the Cité des Civilisations du Vin, the project, now in its 8th year, took a bit of time to get off the ground because it was a matter of "finding the money."  Among dozens of generous donors and supporters some of those offering the greatest largesse are Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Pétrus, Domaine Clarence Dillon, Vinexpo, Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, Bernard Magrez Grands Vignobles and the American Friends of the Center for wine and civilization. 

Here in these photos, taken in mid-May, you will see demonstrated the rise of what can only be called audacious architecture. 

"The architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières have imagined a structure replete with symbolic echoes: the knotty trunk of a grapevine, the swirl of wine moving in a glass, the ebb and flow of the Garonne...their design captures the spirit of wine and its fluid essence: a seamless curve, weightless and sensual."

After walking around the site with a team of other journalists, led by the architect, Ms. Legendre herself, my overall (early) impression was as though I'd been floating through a decanter. Whatever you make of the building's design, its imminent opening, projected for June 2016, is an exciting prospect for wine lovers, enthusiasts, amateurs and connoisseurs the world over. Stay tuned...

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Paris GOODfood+wine Episode 5

by Paige Donner

Paris GOODfood+wine airing on World Radio Paris

Welcome to another episode of GOODfood+wine. For this edition, airing first on Sunday May 3rd 2015 in Paris, you'll be hearing an interview I did with Paris' famed Palace Hotel, Le Bristol's Head sommelier, French-Canadian Marco Pelletier, who gives us some advice on what wines to pair with the French terroir delicacy, La Bonnotte. It's the world's most expensive potato, often weighing in at €500 per kilo, and it's grown only on the Ile de Noirmoutier in France.

La Bonnotte - Early potatoes from the Ile de Noirmoutier - a feverishly awaited seasonal delicacy in France!

La Bonnotte and Caviar

It is said that the only diet Jaccqueline Kennedy Onassis ever put herself on was a caviar-and-potato- once-a-day diet. I have not yet found a specific reference to the potato she used to frame her caviar, but I imagine it could very well have been La Bonnotte. (Read full article here...)

Next, Richard Nahem, founder of a well-known blog about life in Paris, Eye (spelled E-Y-E) Prefer Paris, shares with us some of his Parisian expat insight and also tells us more about his new evening cooking courses.

Next up, veteran of Paris' food scene, the lovely English Margaret Kemp, speaks to us about some of the city's fascinating food trends, including a food truck started by a 3* Michelin Chef, Marc Veyrat called mesbocaux.fr .

Listen to GOODfood+wine on World Radio Paris

And for all of us excited about the fresh vegetables and bountiful seasonal produce of spring, Emily Dilling brings us with her to one of Paris's best-loved fresh markets, the Marché d'Aligré.

GOODfood+wine is brought to you by the generous support of Paris Food And Wine

Paige Donner hosts and produces Paris GOODfood+wine.

This episode of GOODfood+wine was brought to you in part by the generous support of FUSAC. FUSAC.fr is Paris' expat community resource and information publication since 1988.

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Les TonTons Trinqueurs Edition 2015

by Paige Donner 

What's better than sipping Burgundy on a barge parked along the Seine in Paris? 

Burgundy Wine Tasting at Les TonTons Trinqueurs Paris 2015. Photo by Paige Donner copyright 2015.

The wittily named Les TonTons Trinqueurs (which is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the old cult French comedy film, les TonTons Flingueurs, or Crooks in Clover) took place on what felt like the first spring day of the year in Paris. 

To "trinqueur" in French means to drink to someone's health, and by 10:30 am this vast and roomy barge, accommodating easily 300 people, was already nearly filled to capacity. That's what the call of Burgundy wines does. It gets even Parisians up and out of bed early enough to enjoy a morning of excellent wine tasting.

Burgundy Wine Tasting at Les TonTons Trinqueurs Paris 2015. Photo by Paige Donner copyright 2015.

There were other wines at the tasting as well, notably two champagnes, including the distinguished house of Jacquesson who were just releasing their Cuvée no.738 for public scrutiny. There were also a few wines fom Languedoc (Olivier Pithon), the Loire (Gérard Boulay), Provence (Jempier), and the Rhone (Ogier). But the large majority, present by the dozens, were the many and varied Burgundy vignerons who were pouring fom their 2013 vintage. 

Burgundy Wine Tasting at Les TonTons Trinqueurs Paris 2015. Laura Coffinet of Domaine Coffinet-Duvernay. Photo by Paige Donner copyright 2015.

I asked Laura Coffinet and Philippe Duvernay what they were drinking now at home, and they frankly replied that their Chassagne-Montrachet 2008s are just coming into their own.

Tastings like these teach you how to anticipate and also how to recognize outstanding quality even when it's still young and fresh and lacks nothing but a bit of age. 

More Info at tontons-trinqueurs.com 



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Atelier Dom Pérignon

Set right in the mythical Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon is said to have discovered the méthode Champenoise, is now the Atelier Dom Pérignon. 

l'Atelier Dom Pérignon à l'Abbaye d'Hautvillers

Full Slide Show On Chérie Du Vin 

 

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

photo by Franck Charel/Agence Jade

 

All Photos: Franck Charel/Agence Jade

This atelier is open to the general public as well as connoisseurs of fine champagne. Here you can enjoy a tasting of some of the finest of Dom Pérignon champagnes guided by a professional who reveals the sensorial pleasures of the wine as well as its technical composition. 

The tastings include a selection of vintages as well as a focus on the perfect pairings with Dom Pérignon champagne. 

More Info at domperignon.fr

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Paris GOODfood+wine - Episode 4

GOODfood+wine aka Paris GOODfood+wine © Paige Donner 2014

Paris GOODfood+wine airing on World Radio Paris

Episode 4 

1. Climats de Bourgogne  by Paige Donner - Interview with Guillaume D'Angerville

2. Emily Dilling Interview by Paige Donner - In studio interview with our GOODfood+wine fresh market reporter

3. Chef Singer (formerly) of Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School Paris -  Interview by Gabrielle Mondesire 

4. Restaurant Review L'Amarante - Paige Donner interviews Alec Lobrano, Paris restaurant critic,  in-studio

Episode 4 airs on World Radio Paris on April 5th, Easter Sunday, at 11am. Listen for it at the same time the rest of the month or on-demand, streaming at WorldRadioParis.fr/listen-again

In this episode of Paris GOODfood+wine ….

You'll be hearing from one of Burgundy's most knowledgeable proponents, Guillaume D'Angerville, of their UNESCO World Heritage candidacy which at present is being considered for inclusion as a world cultural site of outstanding universal value,

Next Emily Dilling, our market report regular contributor stops by the World Radio Paris studios to chat with us a bit and tell us about her upcoming book release.

photo courtesy tastings.fr

Then Gabrielle Mondesire shares her interview with the former head chef of Paris' Le Cordon Bleu cooking school where she works as a translator.

And, finally, Alec Lobrano brings us his newest bistro pick, L'Amarante, which happens to also be a hot new Paris address that has several of his French restaurant critic peers abuzz these days, too.

photo courtesy AlexanderLobrano.com

Paige Donner hosts and produces Paris GOODfood+wine.

This episode of GOODfood+wine was brought to you in part by the generous support of FUSAC. FUSAC.fr is Paris' expat community resource and infomration publication since 1988.

And by the generous support of Paris Food And Wine

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Vinexpo To Honor Wines From The Good Ol' USofA

(re-posted from Press Release)

According to the Vinexpo/IWSR study the United States are the world's number one wine market and the study forecasts a growth of 11% between 2014 and 2018. During that period the American wine consumption is expected to rise by 35.5 million 9 liter cases or 426.7 million bottles.

This year, for the first time ever Vinexpo will star a special guest country, and it's the USA that's been chosen. The United States of America are one of the show's historical participants, both as exhibitors and visitors.

On the exhibitor's side Napa Valley Vintners will participate for the first time ever with a dedicated Napa Valley booth, presenting a large selection of Napa wines. On their booth the Vintners will organize a great number of tastings and educational masterclasses to present their wines to international buyers, journalists, and other opinion leaders. More than 25 Napa Valley Vintners will welcome visitors on their booth and make them discover their wine region.

American cuisine will also be a special guest star with two Vinexpo restaurants featuring American specialties, a food truck and a Californian style venue. 

The renowned American wine magazine Wine Spectator has teamed up with Vinexpo and will moderate a conference on the American market, giving a firsthand insight into the functioning of its trade. The conference is scheduled on Tuesday 16th of June from 10 AM to 11.30 AM and will take place at Palais des Congrès. Importers, distributors, restaurateurs, journalists and other important actors of the American wine and spirits business will give the keys to a better understanding of this traditional yet complex market. The conference talks will be followed by a discussion.

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Lanson Black Label - preview

This is one of the best videos I've yet seen released by a champagne house. 

It's by Lanson and it previews their Black Label cuvée. It also introduces their new cellar master. It's brief and to the point. Every bit worth watching.

WATCH IT HERE

Lanson Black Label - The Champagne

     Lanson Champagne - Black Label

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