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an insert from: “Le Banquet des souverains Tilsit Musee Carnavalet- Histoire de Paris, France” Gravure en couleur d’apres Swebach – Jacques Desfontaines, H.38.5 x L 42.4 cm/Musee Carnavalet/Roger Viollet

The Contents of Empress Josephine’s wine cellar is on exhibition in 2010. She sure knew how to throw a party. From the best crus in Bordeaux and Burgundy to rum and liqueurs from the West Indies, her inventory was striking in its range and variety. The evolution of wine production and marketing during the Empire also reveals the progress in the glassmaking industry. Elegant ice buckets, glass coolers, crystal and metal punch bowls illustrate the refinement and prestige of the tableware at Malmaison and stand alongside the most brilliant pieces of glassware, some bearing the monograms of the sovereigns from Josephine to Louis-Philippe.

The exhibition brings together more than two hundred objets d’art and iconographic documents not only from the Musée de Malmaison but from the collections of the museums of the Château de Fontainebleau, the Château de Compiègne, the Château d’Eu (Musée Louis-Philippe), the Musée Carnavalet, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Musée National de Céramique de Sèvres, the Archives Nationales, the Fondation Napoléon, the musée Napoléon Thurgovie, château et parc d’Arenenberg, (canton of Thurgovia, Switzerland) and the Museo Napoleonico, Rome. Other items are on loan from industrial or commercial firms such as Moët et Chandon, or from private collections. Taking an artistic and historical angle, the exhibition shows that Josephine’s cellar is a precious testimony to the gracious entertaining which long made the charm and reputation of Malmaison.

This exhibition will be shown at the musée Napoléon Thurgovie, château et parc d’Arenenberg, in Salenstein, Switzerland, from 10 April to 10 October 2010, then at the Museo Napoleonico in Rome, from October 2010 to 28 February 2011.

Isabelle is busy entertaining her large and expanding family – but she wants to wish everyone a bonne année!

Being close to your family or loved ones and sharing meaningful time is important for our well being. Cooking, sharing memories and creating warmth and closeness is a natural part of the precious holiday time we have together. Drink sensibly and indulge your senses in the scents and tastes that make this winter one to remember. Cheers!

I was invited to the launch of the very private Wine Business Club Monte Carlo, and I could not say no – I shared this event with Guy Thomas Levy-Soussan president of Club Monaco, and we escaped to the terrace of the legendary Hotel de Paris to enjoy -moi: red wine from Provence Sainte-Victoire du Mas de Cadenet and he: a Champagne Laurent-Perrier rosé. I welcome the arrival of the Wine Business Club in Monte Carlo. This is a wonderful opportunity for business leaders of the wealthy Principality who will share their views on the economy in a more dynamic atmosphere sampling the magic of great wines and food in this enchanted place where each member may invite one or more associates to each theme dinner. Cheers – Isabelle

700 nude people in the vineyards of Burgundy gathered to protest against climate change.
With the initiative of Greenpeace France and the famous American artist Spencer Tunick, 700 extras were placed naked in a vineyard in Burgundy. The impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world including France, the terroir and the vines. This immense living sculpture illustrates the vulnerability of man and culture to climate change. For Spencer Tunick, whose photographs, for the last fifteen years have expressed the relationship between man and his environment, said we must act quickly “Today, at a time when the world turns into a concrete jungle, we sometimes forget this closely linked relationship between our bodies and Earth. Through my art, I hope to draw attention to the vulnerability of our existence and the singular link that connects humans to their food, for pleasure or for their survival.”

Early harvests, hail and heat recovery – some of the effects of climate change, are not a fiction for wine growers. The increase in the alcohol and sugar due to disruption of climate upsets the already complex aromas of wines. If nothing is done today, the vineyards will move 1 000 kilometers beyond their traditional limits by the end of the century.

Le Concours Des Vins (CDV) lance un nouveau concours de vins de cépages qui sera organisé les 28 & 29 novembre prochains baptisé.
L’objectif est de remettre en lumière le cépage Malbec. Ce concours réunira environ 300 échantillons provenant d’une dizaine de pays et rassemblera une trentaine de dégustateurs, parmi les meilleurs spécialistes du Malbec du Monde. La garantie d’un concours de qualité : Ce concours est organisé selon le déroulé OIV (Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin) à l’image des Citadelles du Vin et certifié OIV. Il offre aux producteurs des conditions de dégustation strictes de leurs produits et garantit un professionnalisme de haut niveau de dégustation.
Les inscriptions jusqu’au 10 octobre 2009,
L’envoi des échantillons, jusqu’au 20 octobre 2009.
Remise des prix spéciaux janvier 2010 aux USA

Pour toutes informations : CDV – Concours Des Vins -Chais de Portier – 33710 Bourg – France
Tel : 05 57 68 25 66 – Email : info@malbecompetition.com
Informations et inscriptions : http://www.malbecompetition.com

The Concours Des Vins (CDV) is launching a new contest of varietal wines that will be held on 28 & 29 November.
The aim is to spotlight the Malbec grape. This competition will bring together approximately 300 samples from a dozen countries and will bring together thirty tasters – some of the best specialists in the Malbec world. Ensuring a quality competition: This competition is organized by OIV (Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin) in the image of Citadels and Certified Wine OIV. It provides producers with stringent conditions, which helps to guarantee a high level tasting of their products.

The entries until October 10, 2009,
Sending samples, until October 20, 2009.
Special prize in January 2010 in USA

Some of us are home now from our official summer vacations and others are wondering what our next destination will be. If you are in France and plan on meandering along the wine route from the Cote d’Azur to Bordeaux (which we did in June on our way to Vinexpo in Bordeaux) there is a new Garrigae resort – Les Jardins de Saint-Benoît. (www.garrigaeresorts.com) which officially opened July 1st.

This slice of paradise is located in the village of St. Laurent de la Carbrerisse between the medieval city of Carcassonne and Narbonne. The vineyards of Corbières are within tasting distance.

Designed as a village within a village, “les Jardins” is part organic (bio) spa, and sustainable home-away-from home complete with a nature-club (lots of activities for children). The lively outdoor pool is complemented by the quieter and more meditative indoor pool and adults can luxuriate in the steam bath and then sink into a massage with custom blended essential oils while the children are entertained by nature classes or helping the staff to harvest herbs in the medieval garden. After your massage, your senses will delight and soak it all in while you relax and sip your herbal tea overlooking a cloistered garden with an ancient olive tree.

The dining at “les Jardins” is a testament to Mediterranean culture. The Languedoc-Rousillon region, in the south, has touches of Spanish and Italian influence in their cuisine and contains 740,300 acres of vineyards (3 times the size of Bordeaux!) and is the largest wine producing region in France.

The large weekend brunch is an antipasto table (or tables!) filled with fresh and local goodies; seafood salads, freshly cook shrimp, charcuterie, cheeses and veggies or Chef Sebastien will cook something to order from the menu. An outdoor BBQ fires up for lunch only, but as you are in France, expect a fabulous menu and wine list with many choices.

Our accommodations were on the grand size, a Maison/Villa with living room, kitchen downstairs and 3 bedrooms upstairs, with our own private small pool. It’s amazing how luxurious it gets outside the center of Paris and how far your Euros can go here. You can bring the whole family as there is certainly plenty to keep everyone busy or consider this a romantic getaway in a surprisingly beautiful region waiting to be explored.

Do not miss a visit to the nearby town of Lagrasse. This pretty village in the Corbieres region has a Medieval Abbey founded in 799 and is on the Orbieu river, good for swimming and cooling off in the summer heat. It is officially “one of the most beautiful villages in France.” On Sundays there is a lively market and people are out and about in their Sunday best enjoying the people-watching in cafes.

In 2010 we are planning wine tours of this region mixed in with some Cathar country historical sights.
Let us know if you are interested and want further information. email: janicekaplan@winewomanworld.com

Les Jardins de Saint-Benoît
11220 Saint Laurent de la Cabrerisse
Tel: +33 (0) 4 68 44 18 70
www.garrigaeresorts.com

The largest of the Provencal ‘Crus Classés’ vineyards is reborn.

The Domaine is blessed with a unique ‘’terroir’ on the St. Tropez peninsula, and it lived up to its promise at its re-opening on June 15. Owner Vincent Bolloré has won his bet – it is possible to return to authentic wines using the extensive modern techniques he has invested in his cellars and vineyards.

Michel Rolland, one of France’s most famous winemakers, participated in La Croix’s revival. From the planting of the vines to the blending of the different vintages, his skillful eye closely monitored each step…

The diverse variety of grapes on this sublime terroir, combined with the perfect control of the vinification and aging processes, obtained an aromatic wine filled with impressively rich and silky tannins. This area was directed by the capable the hands of two women, Pascale Andrieux, the director of operations, and Helena Sinaeve, the resident oenologist.

As a member of the jury of this festival (May 8, 9, 10) I discovered an incredible panorama of films on “vine and wine”, and I was surprised by the increasing quality of images and films. “Mondo Vino” opened the way, and currently there are more and more topics and a variety of formats: documentary, fiction, advertising, short, medium and long films. The panorama continues to broaden and become more international with the rising number of TV channels from around the world and the film industry.
“Vine and wine” films are finally going mainstream as high quality drama and theatrical arts are appearing on screens in France and abroad. The universe of these films, bring to life very real issues and conveys the emotion, beauty, humor and even ecological positions in our “vine and wine” world…Isabelle

Winner of the Grand Prize – “La Georgie pour l’amour du vin”

June 5, 2009
Many winemakers AOC “Côtes de Provence” were present at the Aqua Club on the famous Pamplone beach in Saint-Tropez on a beautiful sunny day, for a presentation of their new 2008 vintage of rosé wines. As always, there were very nice surprises with some great wines with very well developed rich flavors, but also some disappointments with wines that lacked aromatic complexity.
On the whole, the wines presented will be perfect for summer 2009.

After a delicious aioli lunch and delectable dessert the winegrowers spoke against the “rose cutting” (blending of white and red wines) that the EEC is trying to impose on Europe.

The news today…is Hooray for rosé!
Mariann Fischer-Boel waived the adoption by the EU with regards to the development of “rosé cutting” Michel Barnier, Minister of Agriculture french, has been engaged for several months in a dialogue with Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture to the EEC, and French wine professionals, to maintain the ban on combining white wine and red wine to make rosé wine without a geographical indication.
While the Committee had proposed lifting the ban, the French wine industry and the political deciders mobilized massively against such a project. With such a mobilization and serious economic arguments, Mariann Fisher Boel announced that it would not adopt “the “rosé cutting” manufacturing process.
Thanks to the rosé wines produced in their special way, France is the world’s largest producer of quality rosé wine…Isabelle

Situated in the north-western corner of the Bouches du Rhône, the Alpilles spread out like a golden triangle, from south of Avignon at its peak to the borders of the Camargue near Arles and the Crau plain, with mythical rivers on either side, the Rhône and the Durance. The area owes its name to the chain of small mountains, called the Alpilles. In May I traveled to the Alpilles where I am a member of the jury of the Prix Noel Michelin, for the competition of the wines of Baux, chaired by Pierre Masson, the famous biodynamic consultant. The contest is held at the Château Romanin biodynamic vineyard where the wine storehouse architecture is an underground cathedral.

In Baux, for several years, the winegrowers have been asking INAO for the official registration of their specifications of organic farming rules (close to 90% of the total area of vineyards are organic). After years of being refused, it seems that it is finally happening.

Jean Andre Charial is the owner of L’Oustau de Baumaniere, www.maisonsdebaumaniere.com, the world-class famous restaurant and mansion and also winemaker and president of the AOC. I enjoyed a delightful stay at the mansion where I was enchanted by the charm, comfort, and delicious food prepared by the luncheon chef…Isabelle.