10 essentials for planning a wine trip like a connoisseur
1. Know which region you want to visit
e.g. Bordeaux for Red Wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; Burgundy for Pinot Noir or Loire Valley for Sauvignon Blanc.
2. Know the classifications
If you’re visiting Bordeaux, then study the 1855 Bordeaux Classification by Napoleon III or the wine classification of the region you intend to visit. Basis Napoleon III’s request, Bordeaux introduced the concept of classification in 1855 to list the masterpieces of French wine - the best in class, basis their heritage, quality, wine growing and making and the price it commands. This classification comprising of 61 wine estates (or classified growths) or crus (cru means a village or wines belonging to a specific terroir) classified into a hierarchy of five starting with the Premier Cru going upto the Fifth Growth Crus and it now serves as an expression of quality and prestige worldwide. The Medoc (left bank) and Saint Emilion (right bank) are the most popular regions for wine tourism in Bordeaux.
About Medoc:
The Medoc region is home to 16,500 hectares of vines, producing some of the best wines in the world. The relatively warm and humid climate of the Medoc, with its regular sunshine, benefits from a microclimate, essential for crafting of great wine vintages. Medoc soil is usually gravel, clay and limestone and most suited to bring out the best in Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. The wines of Medoc are blends ofCabernet Sauvignon (being the predominant grape variety), Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Therefore, the wines from this region are rich in tannins and spiciness combined with the remarkable finesse and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon, which also offers incomparable cellaring and ageing potential.
St. Emilion Classification
Saint Emilion is the only vineyard dominated village to be recognised as a UNESCO heritage site. St. Emilion started its own classification in 1954 and the list is reviewed every ten years and comprises of Premier Grand Cru Classe A, Premier Grand Cru Classe B and Grand Cru Classe estates.
3. Time to visit – July
July is a good tourist season as wine houses are willing to open their doors to tourists before closing down in Aug and then are busy in September with the harvest.
4. Getting around
Hiring a car is a must for easy movement around the Chateaux and for enjoying the scenic drive along the vineyards on the Medoc Wine Route. It takes 45 mins from Bordeaux city centre to the Medoc region, the left bank of the river and it is the most stunning drive with miles and miles of vineyards and centuries old Chateaux lined along the vineyards! The route is called the ‘wine route’ and is a ‘MUST-DO’ drive in Bordeaux.
5. Scheduling
Don’t plan more than 2-3 chateaux appointments a day. Each appointment takes 1 – 1.5 hours and you need to keep time for lunch and for the travel between the chateaux.
6. Cover up
It’s warm and sunny in the vineyards and can get very hot so carry a hat or an umbrella, besides sunglasses.
7. Stay
Must stay atleast 1-2 nights at a chateau hotel as it is truly a unique and exclusive experience. Many chateaux are available for booking rooms online. I stayed at Chateau Hotel Grand Barrail in Saint Emilion. And it’s truly enchanting and fairy-tale like to live in a centuries old chateau surrounded by vineyards.
8. Dine
Great wine deserves great food! Especially when you are in France. Must plan a meal at a Michelin star restaurant just to experience how visually dramatic can food be! Must book your table in advance there and it would be well worth a special occasion or that ‘one special evening’ on your holiday. Le Pressoir D’Argent, a two star Michelin restaurant by Gordon Ramsay at the Bordeaux city centre is very nice. So is the Millenaire, a one star Michelin restaurant in Reims.
9. Blend your own wine
Chateau Pape Clement offers a session for blending your own wine, corking your bottle the traditional way and even designing your own bottle label! Your own bottle of wine will be the best souvenir you will bring back from your trip!
10. Finally Drink
Try as much variety of wine as you can when you are in France. And bring back a bottle of wine from the Chateau as you won’t find most of the top wines of France in India wine shops and definitely not at the Chateau price! TIP: A bottle of wine in India is approximately 4X the price of a local wine shop/ chateaux in France! So, discover wine as much as you can while you are there!
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Photo credits: Afsha Khalfay
