Category: Articles

Burgundy’s Hospices De Nuits-Saint-Georges Wine Auction Takes Place Sunday March 14th

The 60th anniversary of the Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges Wine Auction takes place this Sunday, March 14th, in Burgundy, France.

The event will take place at 2:30 p.m. within the grand cellar of Château du Clos de Vougeot and will be streamed live.

‘The auction is strictly limited to 150 people this year, previous between 300 and 350 attended,’ explained Aymeric de Clouet, a wine expert who organizes auctions in Burgundy. ‘Entrants must be registered to attend in person. Social distancing will be required, although in Clos de Vougeot, we have plenty of space.’

Last year’s sales totaled approximately $1.9 million (€1,614,500), a 10% increase from the year before, even though the number of barrels had decreased due to Covid-19 complications. Wine is mostly sold per pièce—or per 228-liter barrel. Last year one such pièce (Premier Cru ‘Les-Saint-Georges’—Domaine Georges Faiveley) sold for a record €24,000 (approximately $28,500, at today’s conversion rate).

A total of 114 barrels are up for auction—112 of red wine and two of white, and for the first time, you can purchase bottles.

Auction proceeds are charitable. The auction is linked to the new Saint Laurent Hospital, which was completed in 2018. However, the history of this hospital spans centuries. The hospices will also donate profits from one barrel of wine—Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Saint-Georges—to the Pasteur Institute.

This year that particular wine is made not from the berries of both young and older vines, but exclusively from older vines of some 70 years. The 12-hectare Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges wine estate is part of the hospital, and has its own operating budget. It employs four vineyard workers full time and produces six ‘village’ appellation wines and nine Premier Crus.

‘The …estate and winery are physically linked to our hospital and, every day, they see the twin fruits of their work: the pieces of wine sold at auction and their new Saint Laurent Hospital,’ explained the Hospices director François Poher.

The event has gained popularity – last year the number of buyers had increased 50% since the previous year, and the average price per barrel increased 34% from 2019.

The auction generates local pride in a region salient throughout the world for producing quality vintages.

Overall, the 2020 vintage—which has been named the vintage of confirmation—is what is known as a grand millésime, according to Jean-Marc Moran, Technical Director for the Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges Estate. This means a great vintage—one where wines include complexity, notably rich aromas and well-structured and balanced tannins. According to Moran, the 2020 vintage is more structured than the 2019, and more balanced than the 2015 vintage.

‘The main difference with the 2020 vintage is its balance of acidity with alcohol,’ de Clouet added.

All wines are aged in new oak from three different barrel producers. Altogether, these Pinot Noirs are supple with low-key tannins, an excellent acidity/alcohol balance and tastes of plush, rich fruit underlain at times with subtle minerality. This is a well-structured, velvety vintage that provides a rich, creamy mouth feel.

Live Auction:

Practical information to watch the wine auction live: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85605191718?pwd=dldpWmN4bTlTZjRvdzBZQVlOMjJwdz09

Meeting ID: 856 0519 1718 –
Code : 170437

To purchase bottles:

https://boutique.edouard-delaunay.com/en/165-hospices-de-nuits-2021-en-primeur

Auction House Live:

https://magazine.interencheres.com/art-mobilier/60e-vente-des-vins-des-hospices-de-nuits-saint-georges/

www.interencheres.com

 

#wineauction #finewine #burgundywine #onlineauction
#winelovers #winecollectors #instawine #wine #winetasting #winecollecting #vin #frenchwine #charityauction

 

 

Gordon Ramsay launches his own brand of California Wines

Gordon Ramsay has built his reputation on being exuberantly critical of other people’s cooking—but pleasing the celebrity chef with your wine pairings just became a whole lot easier – he launched his own wine brand.

“Gordon Ramsay Signature Wines” are crafted by their namesake chef in collaboration with winemaker and Master Sommelier Chris Miller at Seabold Cellars in Monterey, California, where the wines are produced. The online shop at GordonRamsay.wine – which is the only way to purchase bottles outside of at Ramsay’s U.S. restaurants – launched March 10 with eight offerings: 2019 Rosé, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Chardonnay, and 2018 Pinot Noir, all from Monterey (priced at $20, $25, $30, and $35 respectively), a 2018 Chardonnay Reserve from Sonoma County ($45), and three 2018 Cabernet Sauvignons from California ($28), from Santa Cruz Mountains ($45), and a Reserve from Napa ($60). Bottles can also be purchased in three seasonal shipments as part of “The Ramsay Wine Club” which features additional discounts and other perks.

Ramsay partnered with Miller in 2018, aiming to make high-quality, old-world-style wines he could serve to complement the food at his restaurants. “It’s a little surreal for our humble little winery to be working with someone as prominent as Gordon,” Miller told Food & Wine. “We’re excited to share these wines with both his fan base and wine enthusiasts alike. We hope the introduction of this project creates an opportunity for more people to experience or be introduced to California wines, and that it will yield a greater appreciation for the quality and diversity of the wines produced here.”

Only a few hundred cases of each bottling are being made, with total production pegged at a mere 2,000 cases. The brand says they “source our grapes from sustainable and organic-practicing vineyards” and use minimal intervention winemaking: “native yeast fermentations, no ‘adjustments,’ restrained use of oak, little-to-no fining or filtration, and responsibly minimal sulfur usage” for final products that are “balanced, complimentary with food, and always 100 percent vegan.”

“Passionate winemakers in California’s cooler climate regions are producing delicious, balanced wines, and my time in California has convinced me that Californian wines stand with the best in the world. Christopher Miller is a master of his craft, so working with him has been amazing,” Ramsay told us via email. “Wine is a complex marriage of art, science, and tradition all captured together in a glass, and I am very excited to join in that tradition with Gordon Ramsay Californian wines. Until now the wine has been served exclusively at my restaurants in Las Vegas and Tahoe, so I’m very excited it’s now available to anyone to enjoy with a delicious meal or on its own with friends and family.”

Beyond additional winemaking details and tasting notes, the Gordon Ramsay Wines website also features at least three complementary recipes for every bottle, from options like truffle

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH FRANCE CANADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP – MARCH 8TH, 2021

I am honoured and delighted to participate in an online panel discussion to mark “International Women’s Day 2021 – France Canada Chamber of Commerce (ON) and the French Embassy in Canada” celebrating – Women in Leadership –

I am excited to come together with other industry leaders and to hear their perspectives.

A special “Thank You” to Ms Riva Walia for suggesting me as a panel speaker.

I invite you to join us to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Registration:

https://www.fccco.org/event-details/women-in-leadership

Happy Women’s Day
Liz Palmer 

#grateful #honoured #internationalwomensday #womensday #womensday2021 #womeninwine #womenintech #womenleaders #womensdayspecial #francecanad #frenchembassy #onlineevent

 

LUCK OF THE IRISH! JAMESONS LAUNCHES A MONTH-LONG ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

Jameson Irish Whiskey is launching St Patrick’s Day celebrations that will run for the full month of March, which includes a series of party-at-home kits, competitions and live-streamed music events.

The celebrations start on March 3rd with a revival of Jameson’s partnership with online music broadcasting platform Boiler Room, with streaming sets each Wednesday in the run up to St Patrick’s Day. The two performances, which can be streamed live via the Jameson Connects platform, feature local bands including Dublin Rap and Indie. This will culminate in an immersive gig on St Patrick’s Day [17 March], with a Grammy nominated Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez performing some of her critically acclaimed tracks including Coffin, Shutter Island and Figures. Other performers include Dublin rappers Denise Chalia and Kojaque, R&B artist Savannah-Re, and Canadian rapper Junia-T.

The aim is to showcase emerging talent and creatives from across the world to celebrate hometowns and communities. The live gig will be accessible only through Jameson’s online partners, or via its Jameson Connects platform, available across four time zones. Fans can sign up for free tickets and check performance times on the Jameson Connects website. https://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-EN/join-in/jameson-connects

Jameson is also teaming up with Brooklyn-based internet football club, Nowhere FC to create a collection of three limited edition football shirts, and accessories. Fans can join the team, when the collection launches March 10th via Jameson.com and NwFC’s website.

The brand is also offering fans the chance to win a “once in a lifetime St Patrick’s Day experience” for 2022.

Brendan Buckley, international marketing Director at Irish Distillers said St Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate all that Ireland represents – culture, music and togetherness. “Jameson is ensuring that this year is no different as the whiskey brings its proud Irish spirit to life through a series of global virtual events and collaborations that encourage everyone to adapt an Irish state of mind and join in to safely celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2021.”

#JamesonIrishWhiskey #IrishWhiskey #IrishWhiskeylover #stpatricksday #irish #ireland #stpattysday #green #luckoftheirish #shamrock #stpaddysday #kissmeimirish #stpatrick #saintpatricksday

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux announces 10 cities to host “en primeur” tastings [April 26-29]

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux has announced that this year’s en primeur tastings will be held in 10 cities worldwide (which includes Bordeaux) from April 26-29.

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux has said that Bordeaux, New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Hong Kong will be the host cities for this year’s campaign.

As noted on their website, tastings will be held from 26-29 April in Bordeaux, with further tastings held around the world on the following timetable:

26 April: Zurich and Shanghai
26-27 April: Brussels
27 April: Frankfurt and Hong Kong
27-28 April: Paris, London, San Francisco and New York

Dedicated venues in each city will be chosen where professionals will be able to taste the 2020 wines from the UGCB’s 131-member estates, in accordance with local health regulations.

The UGCB’s president, Ronan Laborde, said: “We are incredibly committed to maintaining ties with our clients and ambassadors. Despite the restrictions in place, we will do everything in our power to ensure they can enjoy the Bordeaux 2020 vintage.”

The new dates for this year’s campaign were confirmed earlier in the year but the UGCB at the time remained unsure if it would be able to hold the annual tasting solely in Bordeaux. It mentioned that its fall-back option would be to hold the tasting in cities around the world, building and improving upon the system of sending out samples that it rushed into place last spring.

#bordeaux #redwine #winetasting #enprimeur #bordeauxwine #instawine #frenchwine #vin #sommelier #finewine #vinsdebordeaux