Blog
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What are Les Saints de Glace?
Dating back to around 500 AC farmers prayed to the ice saints (les Saints de Glace) to protect their crops from damage. As we approach May, growers are holding their breath and hoping that we’ll not have an episode of late frost this year.
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Technical wine and vineyard vocabulary demystified – malo-lactic fermentation
In the production of wine we talk about 2 separate fermentations. The first fermentation (with which I’m sure you are all familiar), is alcoholic fermentation.
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News from the Loire – Jazzy Soucherie Friday 8th June
Live Jazz and restauration sur place at the lovely Chateau de Soucherie. Jazzy Soucherie is a lovely annual event at this organic estate with amazing views over the Layon valley. Perfect for a summer’s evening.
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What are we drinking this week? Chateau Yvonne 2012
We’ve been working with Mathieu Vallée of Chateau Yvonne for the past 8 years and love his wines. A former engineer, Mathieu took over Chateau Yvonne in 2007. He has 28 small parcels dotted around the Saumur Champigny appellation (3ha of Chenin and 8ha of Cabernet Franc).
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What’s in season in the Loire? Asparagus
Possibly my favourite vegetable of all time. Asparagus has a short season and when it comes in it will be on our table frequently. Healthy, easy to cook, versatile and delicious. Here are a few of my favourite ideas for cooking with asparagus.
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Wine education – focus on the St Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation
The St Nicolas appellation spreads over a former river terrace extending down to the Loire and the foot of the hillside to which it is attached. South facing and largely open, it is protected by the large forest to the north.
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Wine Education – glyphosate and copper sulphate
Two products routinely used in vineyards, one in conventional viticulture and the other in organic viticulture (and conventional too).
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Places to visit in the Loire – Amboise
Amboise is about half an hour from Tours (TGV station, airport) and is a lovely small town perched on the river Loire. A good place to base yourself for a short break if you’re looking for a smaller, quaint place.
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News from the Loire – Combier visites gourmandes 26 May 2018
So what is a visite gourmande you might ask? Well, a visit with lovely nibbly bits to accompany the liqueurs and wonderful products that our local Saumur distillery produces.
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What’s on the cheeseboard this month? Camembert de Normandie AOP (PDO)
Marie Harel (born Marie Catherine Fontaine in 1761) is credited with the invention of Camembert in 1791. Legend has is that she created the famous recipe while working as a cheesemaker at the Manor of Beaumoncel with the help of local priest Abbott Charles-Jean Bonvoust.
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Scrumptious desserts and a new bed and breakfast in the Loire
A scrumptious end to a wonderful Sunday lunch in the garden with local friends here in the Loire yesterday. Layers of freshly cut new season’s strawberries, crushed meringue, marscapone, rosewater, pomegranate seeds and a lovely quenelle of fresh strawberry sorbet all dusted with rose petals.
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News from the Loire – portes ouvertes Ampelidae 1st May 2018
Ampelidae, the domaine owned by Frederic Brochet in the Haut Poitou will open its door to the public on May 1st between 10h00 and 18h00 at Chateau de Lavoguyot. There will be a walk in the vineyards at 10h00 followed by a vertical tasting of Sauvignon Blanc with Frederic at 11h00