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

In Global Celebration of Chardonnay

Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning could have been writing about Chardonnay when she penned her famous Sonnet 43: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.”

On 26 May the whole world will be celebrating that “depth and breadth and height” - because it will be International Chardonnay Day.

And what’s not to celebrate! Chardonnay is the second most planted white wine grape in the world and the fifth most planted grape overall. It is a chameleon among wines. It comes in many flavours and styles and matches so many types of food. 

Party on!

Chardonnay’s endless potential and depth of character has seen it described as “a red wine masquerading as a white.” From the classic, full bodied, oak-aged Chardonnays to the lean, minerality of young, un-oaked styles, to the light and zesty blanc de blancs Champagnes, Chardonnay earns it name as the “king of grapes”.

 

And if that isn’t enough to inspire the gathering of friends to celebrate the joys of Chardonnay on 26 May then consider this. On the flavour and aroma wheel of wine descriptors, its characteristics virtually populate the whole compass. Chardonnay can exhibit fruit flavours such as lemon, apple, pear, pineapple, passionfruit, peach, citrus/lemon zest and fig.  Or floral attributes like honeysuckle, lemon balm, jasmine or apple blossom. It can even be tinged with almond, butterscotch, creamy, oily and waxy notes. And oak-aged Chardonnays can delivery further nuances of vanilla, butter, coconut, baked pie crust, caramelised sugar, crème brûlée and praline

As a French wine importer, DiscoverVin has recently added wines from Burgundy and Champagne to its list of exceptional, independent producers from Bordeaux and South West France.

On International Chardonnay Day it will be party time from the birthplace of Chardonnay in Burgundy, France - to the new world Chardonnays of Australia, New Zealand and the Americas – and everyone is invited.

To celebrate, DiscoverVin is singling out its new Chardonnays from Lupé-Cholet in Burgundy – and the mouth filling Jeeper Grande Reserve blanc de blancs Champagne to be the life of the party.

Domaine Lupé-Cholet Château de Viviers Chablis 2015

 

Domaine Lupé-Cholet Château de Viviers Premier Cru Vaillons Chablis 2014

 

Domaine Lupé-Cholet Comtesse de Lupé BourgogneChardonnay 2014

 

Domaine Lupé-Cholet Mersault 2014

 

Domaine Lupé-Cholet Puligny-Montrachet 2014

Champagne Jeeper Grande Reserve NV

Opening night French FIlm Festival Albury-Wodonga May 5

The Alliance Française of Albury Wodonga is holding its annual French film festival at the Regent Cinemas in Albury on May 5-7, 2017.

The Friday night opening session includes some snacks and a glass of DiscoverVin wine in the ticket price! The movie, a comedy titled Saint Amour, stars Gerard Depardieu. It is apparently, a hilarious road trip around the wine regions of France! 

Be quick to buy tickets as this session usually sells out.

This is one of our favourite events for the year. Hope to see some of our local friends there. 

Champagne Jeeper Dinner and launch event in Adelaide

Announcing a four course dinner with matched Champagnes in Adelaide.

This will be the first time that Champagne Jeeper struts it stuff in SA.

Champagne Jeeper has a great history, follows strict environmental winemaking practices and has unique packaging. But most of all it has an amazing taste! (4 stars in Winestate Magazine)

This will be a memorable night of Champagne and fine food.

Come and try your new favourite Champagne. See eventbrite for tickets.

Burgundy Dinner C'est Bon Brisbane May 12

This will be a special dinner at C'est Bon French restaurant in Brisbane. It features some fine wines from Burgundy from Domaine Lupé-Cholet made by one of Burgundy's best wine makers Albert Bichot. These wines are new to Australia. As well as some premier cru Burgundies, there will be a glass of Champagne on arrival and a rare dessert wine to end. 

Burgundy native and restauranteur Celine Damour and her team have devised a menu of classic regional dishes.

If you love good food and wine then this is a night not to be missed!

Booking details here or phone 07 3891 2008

Sexy Red Comes of Age

Style magazine has written about our NEW Beaujolais-Villages...

Read more at discovervin.com.au

This World Malbec Day – Think French!

In the world of wine, the French will invariably tell you that they did it first. But when it comes to Malbec wine, there’s no argument - they did!

So when World Malbec Day rolls around on 17 April, give credit where credit is due. Rather than breaking out the empanadas and gaucho boots - and going all Argentinean, lift a glass to those who did Malbec first, the French - and who are in a class of their own.

Malbec’s traditional heartland is in the south west of France in Cahors where it is known as the Black Wine of Cahors. The city of Cahors (above) sits on a bend of the Lot river which snakes through this stunning region.

Although historically one of the six grapes allowed for blending red Bordeaux, further south west in Cahors, Malbec reigns supreme. It is the dominant red varietal where the region’s appellation controlee calls for a minimum of 70% Malbec in its reds.  Says The Guardian (UK): "Cahors is that rarest of all wines: both a rising star and a timeless classic."

It was French agronomist Miguel Pouquet who bought French grape vine cuttings to Argentina in the mid 19^th century. But it was his godfather, Seur Malbek in France for whom the grape was named in the late 17^th century, who was the champion of this ‘timeless classic’.

Cahors Malbec draws on the legendary Dordogne soils to display complexity and structure with a full bodied, tannin backbone that unashamedly points to longevity. In its modern form its gorgeous, brooding colour belies its sensual elegance.

In recent years, as the world-wide interest in Malbec wines has increased, the Cahors producers have prominently displayed Malbec on the front labels. They have become one of the first French wine regions to label by variety not just by region.

We have found a steadily growing following for our Cahors Malbec. The Argentinean Malbecs made in their sunny Australian style have helped open people’s eyes to the variety.  But, on this World Malbec Day, for those looking for something more complex and definitive, discover the ‘black wine of Cahors’ and in particular, our Chȃteau Haut Monplaisir Prestige. Once you go black – there’s no going back.” 

Château Haut Monplaisir Prestige 2006

AOC Cahors-Rouge

100% Malbec

Certified Organic  

Our Tasting notes:  Deep garnet red colour. The nose is intense, with notes of red fruit, spices and blackberry jam.  Crisp and even, this wine presents aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry on the palate, along with a mineral note.  The finish is lengthy and complex, with notes of chocolate and spices, and with just a hint of woody aromas. Fabulous malbec, aged and drinking to perfection.

RRP through www.discovervin.com.au $35.00