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

 

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.

Two dates for your diary: 2015 VitiLoire + 2016 Salon des Vins de Loire

VitiLoire 2015: 30th and 31st May

Details:  

'30/31 mai 2015

C’est reparti pour un "Tours"

Imaginez 800 km de paysages ligériens à déguster, une palette de teintes et d’arômes à admirer, une galerie de saveurs à découvrir dans un "village" de petits kiosques à vins et de mets tourangeaux : voici VitiLoire, un événement convivial ouvert à tous  100% dédié à la richesse culturelle, patrimoniale, gastronomique et à l’art de vivre en Touraine.

Vitiloire, un programme festif pour tous les goûts et tous les âges !

Des Ateliers de dégustation : toutes les heures, dès 11h, 4 ateliers sont proposés gratuitement au grand public afin de mieux connaître, comprendre et apprécier les vins de Loire de 7 à 77 ans. Au programme : servir les vins, comprendre la dégustation, la production ou apprendre le goût aux petits gastronomes.

Des Ateliers des chefs : dans une cuisine en plein air, ils seront une dizaine de grands chefs tourangeaux à se relayer pour mitonner l’art de vivre en bord de Loire avec un binôme vigneron.

Un village gourmand : une vraie promenade dans le jardin de la France avec un marché dédié à la gastronomie tourangelle.

Rencontres garanties avec des artisans du cru pour déguster Sainte-Maure, rillettes de Tours, bières de Touraine, Foie gras du Val de Loire, poissons ligériens ou Fouace de Rabelais…

Des randonnées pédestres : "Vigne, Loire et Littérature" & "Vigne en Ville" sont 2 circuits ludiques à la découverte du patrimoine viticole de Tours. 

Des animations culturelles : expositions, loges de vignes revisitées par de jeunes architectes de la région Centre-Val de Loire… 

Et de nombreux services : grooms, garderie d’enfants…

3 600 m² d’exposition à ciel ouvert en plein centre-vill
• 79 AOC du Val de Loire
• Plus de 150 exposants (vignerons, caves coopératives et négociants du Val de Loire, artisans des métiers de bouche, services)
• 10 chefs cuisiniers Tourangeaux
• Fréquentation 2014 : 35,000 visiteurs
• Entrée libre
• 5 € le verre collector pour déguster les vins
• Horaires : samedi de 10h à 19h, dimanche de 10h à 18h

••• 

2015 Salon des Vins de Loire 

2016 Salon des Vins de Loire
'Nous vous donnons d’ores et déjà rendez-vous pour la prochaine édition du Salon des Vins de Loire qui se déroulera les lundi 1^er, mardi 2 et mercredi 3 février 2016 !' 

Although the catalogue for the 2015 Salon claimed that the 2016 Salon would be held a week later than usual, this appears to have been incorrect and the 2016 edition will be held as usual right at the beginning of February. Jim's Loire expects that there will be at least 30 Salons-offs next year as they breed even more prolifically than les lapins!