-
What’s going on in the vineyards in September 2018?
Harvest is in full swing here in the Loire and for the first time in three years we are seeing broad smiles on the faces of our partner growers as they bring in decent volumes of lovely looking grapes.
-
Wine education – picking grapes for Crémant
The Loire is the second biggest producer of sparkling wine in France after Champagne but here we call it Crémant de Loire.
-
Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – Greek style chicken with orzo
This recipe for Greek style chicken with orzo was brought to my attention by my brother recently who spotted it in the Daily Telegraph. He made one or two small adjustments and passed it on to me.
-
Loire valley vineyard update – Domaine de la Cotelleraie St Nicolas de Bourgueil
Grapes are looking superbly healthy and there are plenty of them at Domaine de la Cotelleraie in the St Nicolas de Bourgueil appellation here in the Loire valley.
-
Wine education – picking grapes by hand
Why would you bother picking grapes by hand when you can use a machine? Small growers often choose to pick by hand. Why do they do that?
-
The Loire harvest 2018
The Loire harvest 2018 has begun and vintage is now in full swing. First to be given the go ahead were the Chardonnays destined for sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
-
Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – squidgy chocolate raspberry dessert
I’m calling this a squidgy chocolate raspberry dessert rather than a cake because there is no flour and it’s something you would serve as dessert rather than with a coffee in the morning or cup of tea in the afternoon (not that you couldn’t of course because it’s delicious!).
-
Wine education – what is green harvesting?
A single vine is capable of producing many bunches of grapes. The only way to make good wine is to have great raw ingredients and that means fully ripe grapes.
-
Loire valley vineyard update – 14 July 2018
Planting at this time, with no rain and high temperatures has its problems but the team at Chateau de Fesles was unable to get onto the ground earlier.
-
Wine education – mildew in grape vines, what’s all the fuss this year?
Downy mildew is indigenous to north-eastern North America where it spread from wild vines into cultivated vineyards. It probably came over to Europe during the phylloxera crises when native American rootstock were being tested for their resistance to the disease that wiped out around two thirds of Europe’s vineyards.
-
Recipes from Le Tasting Room’s kitchen – spicy cumin and turmeric roasted new potatoes
New potatoes roasted in the oven with cumin and turmeric. Delicious with a steak or any kind of bbq they are very moreish!
-
Loire valley vineyard update June 27th 2018
The sun has finally made an entrance after 6 weeks of stormy wet weather and huge amounts of rain.
