Jim's Loire: Angers

Showing posts with label Angers. Show all posts

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

The First Chenin Blanc Congress in Angers: 1st - 3rd July 2019

Le mot de la Présidente
LE CHENIN DANS UN ENVIRONNEMENT EN MUTATION
EDITION 2019

Nous avons le plaisir de vous annoncer que le Val de Loire accueille le 1st Chenin blanc International Congress à Angers, les 1,2 et 3 juillet 2019.

Cette première édition est co-organisée par l’Académie du Chenin et Destination Angers en partenariat avec Interloire, la Fédération Viticole d’Anjou Saumur, la Fédération des Associations Viticoles d’Indre et Loire et de la Sarthe, l’Université de Stellenbosh et la South African Chenin Blanc Association.

Ce congrès destiné aux professionnels du monde viticole, s’inscrit dans la continuité des colloques de 1996 sur les Terroirs viticoles ( INRA Angers), de 2003 sur les Paysages de vignes et de vins ( Union des Œnologues de France/INRA Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud), des trois éditions de 2002, 2003, 2004 des Rendez-vous du chenin ( Union des œnologues de France) et de la journée d’étude : Chenin de 2015 ( Musée de la Vigne et du vin, St Lambert du Lattay).

De dimension internationale, il est un lieu de rencontres et de débats sur l’avenir du Chenin blanc face aux défis de la viticulture mondiale, défis environnementaux, climatiques, économiques, sociétaux et culturels du XXI° siècle.

Le comité scientifique prépare un programme exceptionnel, conforme à notre engagement d’excellence face à l’innovation, l’expertise et la créativité du monde viticole.
Ce congrès international met en avant le cépage Chenin blanc, sa versatilité, sa singularité et ses terroirs.

Evelyne de Pontbriand
Présidente du Chenin Blanc International Congress
Présidente de l’Académie du Chenin

••

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the Loire Valley will host the 1st International Chenin Blanc Congress in Angers, on July 1, 2 and 3, 2019.

This first edition is co-organised by the Académie du Chenin and Destination Angers in partnership with Interloire, the Fédération Viticole d’Anjou Saumur, the Fédération des Associations Viticoles d’Indre et Loire et de la Sarthe, the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and the South African Chenin Blanc Association.

This congress aimed for the Wine industry is in keeping with the different symposiums on Chenin blanc, Terroirs and Landscapes organized from 1996 to 2004 (Royal Abbey of Fontevraud) as well as the 2015 Chenin Study Day (Museum of Vine and Wine, St Lambert du Lattay).

With an international scope, this congress is a place to meet and debate about the future of Chenin Blanc faced with the challenges of global viticulture, i.e. the environmental, climatic, economic, societal and cultural challenges of the 21st Century.

The Scientific Committee is preparing an exceptional program, in keeping with our commitment to excellence with respect to innovation, expertise and creativity of the wine trade.

This international congress showcases the Chenin Blanc grape varietal, its versatility, its uniqueness and its terroirs.

Evelyne de Pontbriand

Chenin Blanc International Congress President

Académie du Chenin Presiden

Monday, 5 February 2018

A dispatch from the lunatic asylum.....I'd rather be @Le Salon des Vin de Loire

But for a slip on black ice on 2nd January I would be at the Salon des Vins de Loire in Angers. Unfortunately when I fell my left leg went underneath me and ruptured my quads from my knee cap. This necessitated having on operation on 4th January to reattach the tendons. (See ambulance and knee photos below).

Fortunately my recovery seems to be going well. I can now go out for long walks relying on just one crutch rather than the two I started out with after the operation. Despite this progress it is still impossible for me to travel, so very sadly no Millésime Bio and no Salon des Vins de Loire this year.

However, I gather from Chris Kissack, the estimable Wine Doctor, that the catering in Press Office has gone down very sharply in my absence. In the past the Press were offered a very considerable spread for lunch. Clearly austerity has arrived in Angers! Chris reports that the Salon, which for the first time runs for only two days, was busy on Monday and that La Levée de la Loire has expanded considerably. Doubtless this is a reflection of the continued growth of organic viticulture in the Loire.

But to return to the lunatic asylum – the lamentable state to which the madness of Brexit has reduced in the UK. The latest piece of lunacy is Teresa May ruling out staying in the Customs Union after we leave (if we leave) the EU at the end of March 2019. How May and her government are going to square this with the agreement at the end of Phase One that there would be no hard borders between Northern and Southern Ireland?

May parrots the aim of achieving 'frictionless' trade ignoring the fact that the Customs Union provides frictionless trade. So why attempt to create a new system, which the EU may well not accept anyway? It is amazing that 18 months after the referendum vote on 23rd June 2016 the UK government has still not agreed on what they are seeking as a trading arrangement following Brexit.

At least being in Scotland I'm in the antechamber of the lunatic asylum and there have been some compensations being in Scotland. As already posted we ordered a selection of wines from The Wine Society – a selection of whites from South West France, a selection of reds from Spain and some Sherries.

In addition Château de Tracy and Couly-Dutheil have kindly sent me a selection of samples, so that I can continue to work during my convalescence.

5.2.18: the scar healing up

Friday, 5 January 2018

Black ice 6 Millésime Bio and Le Salon des Vins de Loire 0

Following my operation on my knee yesterday I will have to have a rigid splint on my left leg for the next 12 weeks. For the first six weeks my leg has to be kept straight. This means that I cannot travel so no visit to Montpellier for Millésime Bio and very sadly no Salon des Vins de Loire this year. I had hoped it might be possible to go to Angers for the Salon but there is no way it can be done.

I am so grateful for the outstanding care I received from Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and the ambulance crew from Kingussie who took me from Newtonmore to Inverness.

So it goes......!!

Monday, 4 July 2016

2016 Tour de France: Peter Sagan in Yellow – uphill sprint today in Angers

Yesterday's results

Although I picked Alejandro Valverde to win yesterday's tricky finish in Cherbourg, my option on Peter Sagan paid dividends as the world champion both won the stage and took over the Yellow Jersey from Mark Cavendish. Like Mark, this is the first time Sagan has worn the jersey. Given that the next two stages to come are flat, Sagan may well remain in Yellow at least until the end of Stage 5 at Le Lioran. The young French rider Julian Alaphilippe came close to winning the stage but Sagan proved to be too strong.

Good to see two of the great stars of today – Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan – getting the Yellow Jersey for the first time. Sagan's 5th stage victory and remarkably his first since 5th July 2013 in Albi brings him up level on #TDF stage wins with Chris Froome, Sean Kelly, Hennie Kuiper, Tony Martin, Vincenzo Nibali, Herman van Springel and Jean Stablinski among others.

Among the favourites both Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana are on the same time – 14" seconds down on Peter Sagan. However, two of their rivals – Alberto Contador and Richie Porte – have lost time. Contador, who crashed on both Saturday and Sunday, is 1.02 down on Sagan. He was dropped on the 3rd category climb in the final kilometres. Richie Porte was unlucky to have a puncture around 5 kilometres before the finish and is now 1.59 down. The biggest question mark is over Contador – how will he cope with Stage 5 that visits the mountains of Cantal? Will he have recovered sufficiently in time?

Stage 3: Granville to Angers

At 223.5 kilometres this is the second longest stage of this year's Tour – tomorrow is the longest – 237.5. Apart from a fourth category climb close to the start this stage is pretty flat especially in the latter stages – initially it is quite undulating. Jasper Stuyven, with 4 points, will keep his Polka Dot jersey as best climber.

The finish in Angers is on the Boulevard Foch by the town hall and a bunch sprint is very likely after the break of the day is caught. Unlike Saturday's finish, the final 600/700 metres of the stage is steadily uphill, although not steep but rises up some 80 feet.

The riders come over the Maine. The road is briefly flat as they go under the One K to go banner. Then the Boulevard Carnot starts to rise up. At the Hotel Mercure the riders turn right into the Boulevard Foch for some 250 metres before crossing the finish line with the road continuing to rise.

This uphill finish may well suit both André Griepel and Marcel Kittel plus Yellow Jersey wearer Peter Sagan. The trick may be to delay one's sprint until close to the line as if you start too early there is a good chance you will run out of gas. Mark Cavendish should also have a good chance if he can follow wheels until just before the line.

Friday, 5 February 2016

2016 Salon des Vins de Loire: some photos from Tuesday 2nd February

Annie Sauvat and Michel Blot, Boudes

Côtes d'Auvergne + IPG

It was very good to see Annie Sauvat and Michel Blot again. I visited them in Boudes away back in August 2009. They continue to make good wine and I was pleased to see that Michel is still as Feisty as ever!

Annie Sauvat

Michel Blot

Romain Redde, Domaine Michel Redde

with their new cuvée: 2014 Barre à Mine: from their vineyard

in an old quarry

New président of the Savennières Syndicat

Lydia Musset, Domaine Musset-Rouiller

Anjou Coteaux de la Loire

Angelique Gabrielle, Châteaumeillant

Juli Roumet: iPhotographer

Fabrice Deterne, Domaine Nairaud, Châteaumeillant

Thursday, 4 February 2016

2016 Salon des Vins de Loire – some echoes

The First Salon des Vins de Loire was in 1987 and to date it hasn't missed a year since not even following the terrible frost of April 1991. Despite some voices saying that it should be called off the 1992 edition went ahead. My first Salon was in January 1990 and I have been to every edition since.

The biggest threat the Salon now faces is Prowein, which has grown enormously over the last decade and a number of significant producers have decided to opt for the Dusseldorf and miss the Loire Salon. Late in the day the organisers of the Salon found a place and a formula for organic La Levée de la Loire last year. This year they have added a Demeter (biodynamic) fair as well. They have also included a section that highlights 'Young Producers', which is good news.

Monday attracted a good crowd and my impression was that this first is that this edition is busier than last year. Predictably Tuesday was quieter and Wednesday very calm but good news for those of us who want to taste at the most popular stands but don't want to fight through the crowds.

Some echoes
Châteaumeillant: up to 25 growersChâteaumeillant, Georges Sand country, has a strong claim to be the most isolated of Loire appellations. Quincy and Reuilly are the two Loire appellations closest to Châteaumeillant – just under 70 kilometres away for Reuilly and just over 70 kms for Quincy. In both cases it's an hour's drive away or more.

Despite being isolated the appellation, which was promoted from VDQS to AOC in June 2010, has undergone a revolution in the past five years. In 2010 there were just four or five producers with the Cave Coop counting for an important part of the small production of Châteaumeillant. Since then, due to the closure of the Co-op some two years and a number of producers selling up or retiring, the number of producers has jumped to 25, although the area under vine hasn't increased significantly.

A number of the new producers have come from Quincy, an all white appellation, attracted by the possibility of making red and rosé to augment their portfolios. Quincy producers, who have moved into Châteaumeillant, include Lecomte, Roux, Jacques Rouzé and Domaines Siret. Joseph Mellot also has a small parcel in the AC.

Ludo and Sophie Ragot have sold their fine Café de la Promenade in Bourgueil with the new owners taking over in March.

Having handed over the Château de Tracy (Pouilly-Fumé) vineyards to his sisters, Comte Henry d'Assay has set up a négociant business – SAS Comte Henry d'Assay.

After some 20 years this is expected to be the last Salon des Vins de Loire that Gérard Pelletier will be welcoming vignerons, importers and press to his excellent restaurant – Le Relais. At the age of 62 Gérard has decided to embark on a second life. Thank you Gérard and we wish you a long and enjoyable retirement.