Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday, 12 November 2008

Recommended eating places in Eastern Touraine (part 3)

L’Aubinière

Tulip tree in garden@L'Aubinière

This is a charming restaurant and certainly one of my favourites. It also has six rooms, in the pretty village of Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes, which is about 10 kilometres north east of Amboise. Run by Jacques and Odile Arrayet, the food is excellent and very reasonably priced and the service excellent – attentive but relaxed. Fine wine list including a good selection of Loire wines with at times some old vintages of Huet’s Vouvray. In the summer you can eat outside on the terrace overlooking the pretty and well-tended garden. Menus: Menus: €24 (Tuesday to Friday lunchtime only – €48. Restaurant is closed on Monday.

29 Rue Jules-Gautier, 37530 Saint-Ouen-les-Vignes
Tel: 02.47.30.15.29
Email: restaurant-laubiniere@wanadoo.fr

Web: www.aubiniere.com

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Maison des Vins@Cheverny

Château de Cheverny

The Syndicat des Vignerons of Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny opened their Maison des Vins in mid-September. There are a 100 wines offered for tasting – all kept under nitrogen. It is also possible to buy wine there at the same price as it is sold at the individual domaines. The Maison is just by the entrance to the château.

I haven’t managed a visit yet but am told by a very reliable source that the new Maison is very well done and decidedly worth visiting.

Here is part of a report on the opening from www.winetourismfrance.com

'La Maison des vins de l’AOC Cheverny et Cour-Cheverny, créée par l’ensemble des vignerons de l’appellation vient d'ouvrir ses portes.

Placée stratégiquement à l’entrée du Château de Cheverny, elle met au programme 100 vins à déguster, des conseils sur le choix des vins, des animations “vins du jour” et “vin découverte”, et un type de dégustation unique en France, la dégustation automatisée de l’ensemble des vins.

The new Maison des Vins
Photo:© Thierry Merlet

L’espace dédié à la dégustation a mis en place 2 systèmes de dégustation:

- Les 'vins du jour'

L’idée est de mettre l’accent sur 4 vins: un blanc, un rouge, un rosé en Cheverny et un Cour-Cheverny blanc (cépage Romorantin). Le visiteur peut bénéficier d’une dégustation gratuite et des prix à l’unité identiques à celux de la propriété.

- Les "vins découvertes"

Ce système a pour objectif de présenter, à une clientèle plus professionnelle, un échantillonnage représentatif des deux AOC. 100 vins seront proposés à la dégustation en libre-service - via les becs à vins - dans des conditions optimums.

Cette offre permet aux visiteurs de déguster, chacun à son rythme, et de s’informer via les fiches explicatives.'

Here is the full report.

Maison des Vins Cheverny et Cour-Cheverny
Syndicat de l'AOC Cheverny et Cour-Cheverny
1 Avenue du Château, 41700 Cheverny
Tel: 02.54.79.25.16
Email: chevernymaisondesvins@orange.fr

Opening hours: 11-19


Recommended eating places in Eastern Touraine (part 2)

Mareuil-sur-Cher and Bléré

Ferme Auberge de la Lionnière
This lovely ferme auberge offers a warm welcome, simple good food, great value and is particularly recommended.

Run by Frédéric and Françoise Bouland the cost of the menu varies between €19 and €23 depending upon what main courses are available on the day. This brings you a salad to start, an entrée, main course, cheese and dessert. On public holidays the menu is €24. Since they are producers of goats’ cheese, goat and their cheese features on the menu. Since they are producers of goats’ cheese, goat and their cheese features on the menu. Their repetoire includes chèvres braisées au sauvignon, chevreau ail et moutard, canard aux rutabagas, agneau en côtes ou en gigots, navarin d'agneau aux petits legumes, poulet grand-mère aux champignons de Mareuil and coq au Sauvignon.

Three local wine producers – Clos Roche Blanche, Domaine de la Mechinière and Jean-Christophe Mandard – feature on the short wine list. They have two chambres d’hôtes and you can also buy their delicious goats’ cheese to take away with you. Booking advised as this restaurant is deservedly popular.

La Lionnière is open every day in July and August. During the winter only Saturday and Sunday lunchtime, otherwise during the ‘middle season’ open every day except for Sunday night and Monday. Open for groups every day throughout the year. Access is off the road from Cére-le-Ronde and St Aignan. Be warned that they don’t take credit cards, payment by cheque or cash – the nearest ATM machine is in Saint-Aignan around five miles away.

1 Rue de la Lionnière, 41110 Mareuil-sur-Cher
Tel: 02.54 75.24.99; fax: 02.54.75.44.74
Email: fa-lionniere@wanadoo.fr
Web: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/frederic.bouland

Carnival time in Bléré April 2007: musicians
in front of the Cheval Blanc


Le Cheval Blanc, Bléré
This hotel/restaurant has recently changed hands with the long-serving Blériots retiring. The rooms are reasonably priced and the cooking has always been good (Michelin star) but Mme Blériot’s habitual glacial welcome deterred me from going back. No matter how many times we went it was always as though it was our first visit. I’m not looking for a fawning welcome but some recognition that you have already eaten in the restaurant and welcome when you arrive is surely part of being a restaurateur. Also the service wasn’t up to a Michelin star standard.

Now, under the new owners, (Hélène et Fabrice Tavernier) smiles are back and the service is much more efficient. During the week (Tuesday to Friday) two courses (entrée and main dish) are €22 with a €7 supplement for dessert.

Place de l'Eglise - 37150 Bléré
Tel. 02.47.30.30.14
Email: le.cheval.blanc.blere@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.lechevalblancblere.com