Brisbane French Festival 2017

DiscoverVin is looking forward to participating in the Brisbane French Festival this week-end. 

Come and say Bonjour at the Wine Pavilion and taste some of favorite French wines from South-West France and the Rhone Valley. We will have some wines available at festival only discounts.

It''s possibly Australia’s biggest French festival – Le Festival – and has released its full programme, promising a weekend in Brisbane of food, wine and French culture like no other.

This year’s festival, from Friday 7 – Sunday 9 July 2017 in South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt, will see the return of festival favourites as well as a host of new French-inspired acts.

The Wine Pavilion returns for the fourth time in 2017, and is be dedicated to French wine, Champagne and spirits.

The Pavilion will welcome visitors in a fashion that has proved very successful during the previous years. Entry to the Pavilion is free for all Festival visitors, allowing everyone to talk to exhibitors and have a look at their products. However, a great way of visiting the pavilion is to buy at the entrance a tasting glass which includes three tasting tickets. The price in only $10 and enables you to sample three of the exhibitors’ wines offered for tasting.

DiscoverVin is able to take orders for delivery after the festival and we are offering great deals during the festival.

This year there is a Wine Bar within the Pavilion. You will be able to buy a glass of DiscoverVin wine. The bar will sell Exhibitors’ wines exclusively. (This is in addition to the French wines including DiscoverVin wines available at the main Festival bar.)

One of the wines we will have to taste, on offer at a special price  and to enjoy by the glass is the new 2015 vintage of Domaine Roche Audran Cotes du Rhone. This is a fabulous grenache/shiraz blend, from an independent producer in a stunning part of the Rhone Valley (below). If you are in Brisbane this week-end, come and have a taste!

Taste the Tour Packs 2017

Get set for the Tour.

It’s that time of year again. It's time to enjoy the legendary Tour de France! Aussie Richie Porte is one of the favourites with team BMC, which will add to the Aussie interest, but who doesn't love the scenery anyway?

You can enjoy the sights of the racing and the stunning scenery whilst enjoying a selection of French wine.

The wines in this 6 pack are sourced from vineyards in Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, Provence (the home of rosé), Madiran in South West France, and Jurançon in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This year these regions are covered during the final 2 weeks of the race. You can drink each wine when the tour reaches that region, or just enjoy whenever you want, before during or after the Tour! Grab some Tour snacks, turn up the heating and enjoy. Follow the virtual peleton on social media. #tdf #tdf17

These wines (2 whites, 3 reds and a rosé) represent very good value for money and are a great introduction to DiscoverVin’s french wines. And all at a fraction of the price of a ticket to France!

6 wines in the Taste the Tour Pack 2017:

Burgundy (stage 7, July 7) 
Domaine Lupé-Cholet Comte de Lupé, Bourgogne (Pinot Noir ) 2014
Bordeaux region (stage 10, July 11) 
Maison Sichel Sirius Bordeaux Blanc 2014
Madiran – South West France (stage 11, July 12) 
Producteurs Plaimont Madiran Collection, 2012
Jurançon – in the foothills of the Pyrenees (stages 12 & 13, July 13 &14)
Château Jolys, Jurançon Sec, 2014
Rhone Valley (stages 16 & 17, July 18 & 19)
Domaine Roche Audran Côtes du Rhone 2015
Provence (stages 19 & 20, July 21 & 22)
Domaine de la Croix Irrésistible Rosé, cru classé Provençal rosé 2014

For more information click here

Undervalued French Appellations

This week we are highlighting wines from a recent article in Forbes magazine about "appellations that are under-valued". Per and Britt Karlsson wrote "France makes some of the world’s most expensive wines. But it also makes some much more modestly priced wines. It is a fantastic source for value for money in wine, provided you know where to look. Here I have selected five wines that in general I would consider to be under-valued and that are definitely worth trying."

The 5 regions/styles were

• Languedoc
• Cahors- frequently referred to as a region "renewed" or "on the rise". See more here.
• Jurançon sec- known for its dessert wines but the dry whites are receiving much attention awards in international shows. We work with 2 of the best producers (Domaine Bellegarde, an organic producer and Chateau Jolys )
• Loire Chenin Blanc
• Bordeaux- Karlrson : "I am of course not thinking of the Big Names, the ones that you may have read about in the “primeurs” reporting. Instead, take a look at the “mid-range”.  I suggest that you avoid most of the big brands (although some of them are quite good) and look for the smaller, private producers"

Yes that's right we have been saying for a while now, there are good value quality producers in Bordeaux!

Robert Parker, on his retirement from rating and reviewing Bordeaux also wrote:

“There is more diversity in wine styles than ever before. The choices are unbelievable. We all benefit from that.”

Parker picked out some key trends that have emerged in the global wine world since he started.

“Spain is the giant that has awakened,” he said. “It has these great old vineyards. In 1978 the only Spanish wines available in the US were a few Riojas. Cava was later.

“Southern France – the entire Rhone valley, Languedoc, Rousillon, Corsica, south west France apart from Bordeaux – has emerged."

At DiscoverVin we firmly believe there is a growing market for good value Bordeaux and wines across southern France especially the south west appellations and Rhone. We work with mostly small independent producers that are working on renewed vineyards. Many are at the forefront of the movement towards organic and biodynamic production. All are  making authentic, terroir driven delicious and good value wines.

For more browse our website.

Roche-Audran best value Rhone wine in the french press

Prestigious French wine magazine Revue du Vin de France ("French Wine Review") recently reviewed wines from the Côtes du Rhone. 

It named DiscoverVin's new red wine from Roche Audran as one of the best value current release rhone wines in the February 2014 edition. 

The blind tasting was conducted in Avignon in September 2013 and wines from more than 210 wineries were tried and 80 reviews published.

The article pointed to the progress made in the quality of wines produced in the region during the last 20 years. Today it offers "a large palette of wines at sound prices." In fact according to the article's author-Roberto Petronio-the wines of Cotes du Rhone offer "the most beautiful" wines in France at good prices.

Here is the review for the Roche Audran Cotes du Rhone , newly arrived at DiscoverVin . This review was written in French and we have done our best to translate!

"Domaine Roche Audran 

13.5/20

A nice generous vegetable nose which is a beautiful invitation to taste. In the mouth it is the smoothness of the texture which seduces with plenty of savoury material- the fruit is omnipresent. Imagine yourself biting on the skin of a ripe grape (but without excess) and taking in the pulp. Here is a generous and complex wine. A wine from the village of Visan to drink everyday without restraint! "

This particular wine is made with a blend of Grenache (70%), Carignan (15%) and Syrah (Shiraz) 15%. Alcohol 15% Vol. 

This is an up and coming producer producing wine by biodynamic practices. To learn more look here .

This wine is available on-line and is also in a number of stockists. Contact us at info@discovervin.com.au for up-to date information on the restaurant or wine shop near you. Trade prices available info@discovervin.com.au

As always drink in moderation!