FrenchDuck’s databank

Gers (32 Midi-Pyrenees) is a land rich in history (Three Musketeers), rolling countryside and home to Armagnac, Madiran, Côtes de St Mont and Côtes de Gascogne wines. It is predominantly quiet and rural with few major towns or through routes. Hence its weekly markets tend to be really good with lots of top quality local produce on sale - and a real atmosphere of deepest France. I can particularly recommend Nogara - where the Saturday market tends to take over the town, and Auch where the range of produce is impressive.

The information here is provided in good faith, but do bear in mind that some markets may not take place every week, and sometimes not at all outside the summer season. Its always best to check with the local tourist office - or with locals.

Read more on this + more info + photos/maps …….

As its name suggest Private Cellar tends to major on en-Primeur and vintage Bordeaux and fine Burgundy, Champagne and Cigars. It is therefore quite something that the only French wines they stock outside the traditional “fine” wine regions are those from Guy Cuisset’s Chateau Grinou in Bergerac, South West France. Well-crafted wines with great intensity of fruit flavour, they were a consistent feature of the Allez Vins! wine list, and one of my regrets at no longer importing wine is that I no longer have easy access to these great value wines, nor the opportunity to talk with Guy about his latest innovations.

Their selection of wines from other parts of the world looks to be equally well selected.

Private Cellar was launched in April 2005 by a team of wine trade professionals determined to provide a unique wine buying experience for wine lovers

Private Cellar
51 High Street, Wicken, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5XR
T: 01353 721 999 F: 01353 724 074 e: orders@privatecellar.co.uk
Website: www.privatecellar.co.uk

The Domaine la Fourmone and its sister vineyard l’Oustau Fauquet produce top quality Vacquyras AC, Gigondas AC and Côtes du Rhône wines -
More info about the domaine
see map Read more on this + more info + photos/maps …….

Since the 1970s the Bergerac Appellation has been revitalised and has now established an identity, character and style of its own. As elsewhere this has been led by the emergence of a younger generation of winemakers such as Guy, and to some extent also by the arrival of foreigners (Hugh Ryman from the UK and various flying winemakers from the southern hemisphere). There are a number of British-owned and run vineyards in the area.
If you go to Monestier, you will look in vain for a Chateau - there are the remains of a wall of a house which once stood on the site. The winery is in a modern barn - insulated from the sun and heat, and easy to keep clean. There is no fancy tasting room (or caveau) - although your welcome in the cellars will be warm and informative. (always check first to ensure that Guy is not out in the vines. some of which are a few kilometres away.
Guy’s vineyards are on the slopes and hills above the river valley - allowing for good drainage and exposure to the sun - so important in producing ripe grapes for wine. When we first met, we found he was one of the first to pick his grapes for white wine at night, so that they avoided the heat and could be transported to the cellars to arrive as fresh and fruity as possible. Now he not only does that but he also immediately blankets the fresh grape juice in inert gas to stop oxidation and retain fruit character and freshness as much as possible.
He believes that the trend is towards concentrating the flavours of wine to produce more sensation on the palate, whilst still retaining the essential character of the grape.
His red wines are certainly more concentrated than many Bergerac reds, with his Réserve red being 100% merlot aged in new oak, and his GRAND VIN (also Merlot) being specifically vinified for ageing.
He produces red and white wines (Tradition and Cuvée Réserve wines which are vinified and/or aged in oak), as well as the sweeter Côtes de Bergerac and sweet Saussignac AC wines.
I look forward to visiting Chateau Grinou every year - I know I will learn something new and be delighted with the development of Guy’s wines.

South of the Dordogne river. south-west of the town of Bergerac and just to the east of the border with Aquitaine, Chateau Grinou is situated in the hamlet of MONESTIER. When his father gave up the vineyard Guy and his brother both inherited half of the land, caves and equipment. Unlike his father before and his brother then, Guy decided not to continue to sell wines in bulk to one of the local cooperatives but instead to develop his own domaine and make a name for himself and his wines. Previously he was an international wine lawyer, but now relished the prospect of getting to grips with a vineyard in an area which at that time was dominated by the co-operatives and lived under the shadow of neighbouring Bordeaux.

See map location of Chateau Grinou
CONTACT -
Guy et Catherine CUISSET, Chateau Grinou, 24240 Monestier
Tel: (F)05 53 58 46 63; Fax: 05 53 61 05 66
Email: chateaugrinou@aol.com

CLICK HERE for Location Maps

In the UK a selection of Chateau Grinou wines are available from:-
Private Cellars (www.privatecellar.co.uk)
Corney and Barrow (www.corney-barrow.co.uk)

In deepest Gascony, an English couple Karen and Nick Kitchener bought a vineyard producing Cotes de Gascogne wines and Armagnac at Domaine de Lauroux at Manciet (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees).

The domaine offers both gite and Bed and Breakfast accommodation surrounded by the vines.

For more info see http://www.lauroux.com

see map

Cabardès AC is a small, lesser-known Languedoc Appellation, north west of Carcassonne (11 Aude, Languedoc). Only upgraded to AOC in 1999, it is the only appellation which marries the Atlantic/Bordeaux grape varietals with those from the Languedoc/Mediterranean.
Hence at least 40% of the blend must be of Merlot or Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon, and a minimum of a further 40% from Syrah or Grenache - with the balance up to 20% being from the Cot (Auxerrois or Malbec) or Fer Servadou (also known as Braucol in Gaillac and Pinenc in Madiran!). This does at least provide some meaningful distinction in style from the rest of the Languedoc Appellations - I admit to struggling to differentiate between many Minervois, Corbières or Coteaux du Languedoc wines, as good as they can be.
UK merchant Wine Discoveries stocks the wines of Chateau de Pennautier including the 2004 Cabardes " a plummy, elegant wine with surprising depth of flavour and a good length".
Chateau de Pennautier (Pennautier, 11 Aude, Languedoc) itself looks to be well worth a visit - not only tastings but also a wine bar and restaurant. It all looks very polished - and although I can sneer at the marketing emphasis of new world wineries, it is good to see that some French vineyards are trying hard to make your visit a more memorable and enjoyable experience than standingaround in a draughty cellar adorned with rusty old tools and ancient barrels (or being shown still more stainless steel vats). To do this without turning it into some sort of vinous theme park with kitsch souvenirs or heavy sales patter needs some style, which is what the French can do when they want.
Importantly though, the wine has to be good! For a location map see map
Check out a good selection of Languedoc, Rhone, Loire and other wines at Wine Discoveries

It is easy to get caught out by French public holidays, which do not necessarily follow the pattern of UK holidays which are largely confined to Mondays (except Christmas, New Year and Good Friday. This can lead to some confusion, as there is often a local tradition of linking midweek days to make for a long weekend. The official dates for 2007 are as follows:-

Monday 1 January - New Year’s Day (Jour de l’an)

Monday 10 April - Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques)

Tuesday 1 May - Labour Day (Fête du Travail)

Tueday 8 May - VE Day - WWII Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945)

Friday 17 May - Ascension Day (Ascension catholique)

Saturday 14 July - Bastille Day (Fête nationale)

Wednesday 15 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption)

Thursday 1 November - AllSaints’ Day (Toussaint)

Sunday 11 November - Armistice Day (Armistice 1918)

Tuesday 25 December - Christmas Day (Noël)

(Wednesday 26 December - Deuxième jour de Noël (Alsace)

The Yorkshire Dales is one of the most beautiful regions of the UK (I used to live there) - such a large rural area is not over-populated with too many good specialist wine merchants. TheAngel Inn at Hetton is a favourite Bar, Brasserie and Restaurant with rooms in the heart of the Dales, and its offshoot The Wine Cave is an online Burgundy specialist.

“At the Wine Cave we have a simple philosophy that is to make Burgundy accessible to as many people as possible. By virtue of buying good quality wines from small, lesser known producers, we are able to pass on to our customers a level of quality and value for money that is otherwise unheard of in the UK. This is highlighted by our offering no less than six Grand Cru Burgundies for under £36.00!”

The Wine Cave
c/o The Angel Inn, Hetton, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6LT

Tel: 01756 730415 | Fax: 01756 730363 | email: info@winecave.co.uk

The number of budget airline routes to France from the UK is continuing to grow, as is the number of French destinations - no longer restricted to the major cities. This really does open up some of the less well-known parts of France.
The list below shows the extent of the coverage - and this excludes flights to Paris which are available from most local airports. Some flights are seasonal, so please check with the airline for timetables and availability.

For a rather different and eco-friendly B&B experience you could try this modern, well-equipped treehouse in southern Normandy
situated in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, in southern Normandy, Perché dans le Perche is a two-bedroomed treehouse with a shower, panoramic views of the countryside and even internet access!!!
The Parc Naturel Régional du Perche is situated in the Orne departement, the nearest big town being Le Mans (72 Sarthe, Pays de la Loire). It covers an area of southern Normandy and is a great area for rambling, horse riding and exploring the gentle unspoilt countryside.
For more info on the treehouse see www.perchedansleperche.com