.                                       .

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.

From * Reuters, Tuesday May 26 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8526164
(for the whole article!)
By Jeremy Smith
BRUSSELS, May 26 (Reuters) – Rose wine producers from the world’s top three winemaking countries joined forces on Tuesday to fight a plan to let red and white wines be blended in Europe to make rose, saying it would kill their industry. Next month, experts from the European Union’s 27 countries will vote on a proposal tabled by the EU’s executive Commission to scrap a longstanding ban on rose blending. Many of the countries have said they will vote to end the restriction.
That idea has infuriated quality rose producers from France, Italy and Spain — the world’s three leading winemakers — who insist the two types of rose are utterly different and mixing two wine types to make a third is sheer anathema.
“Consumers know that many efforts have been made to improve the quality of rose wine and it’s not by taking a bit of white wine and a bit of red. You will never get the taste and quality of rose wine,” Xavier de Volontat, president of France’s General Association of Wine Production, told a news conference.

On May 25th, Isabelle was interviewed by Vladimir Posner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Posner) and his Russian crew as a segment for one of their 10 one hour programs they are producing on French culture for Russia’s Channel One, which will be shown in primetime in 2010 for part of a French/Russian cultural exchange. For the interview Isabelle created a rosé wine tasting for friends that included every shade of rosé – from the selection of wines to the appetizers and desserts. Everyone enjoyed the smoked salmon, tarama, breadsticks from Italy along with home made jambon & fromage mousse petit fours and bowls of strawberries and strawberry mousse. The dessert cake and all the delectables were served on and in Verrerie de Biot pale pink tiny bubble plates and glasses (www.verreriebiot.com). The Verrerie de Biot, in the petit village of Biot not far from Mougins, is a must-visit if you are in or around the Cannes/Nice area. Not only is it a glass factory, but it has a museum, restaurant and showroom filled with beautiful glassware from Provence. The Russians shot there two days later. Even our comrades now enjoy beautiful table settings and great wine.

Last Sunday at Isabelle’s house, she hosted a typical Mediterranean Provençal lunch. Bagna Cauda – meaning warm bath – is a visually stunning presentation of raw vegetables, from artichokes to cauliflower, fennel, red peppers, potatoes, onions and even hard boiled eggs. The warm bath was a magical mystery brew of fresh garlic, milk, anchovies and oil and butter, kept warm like a fondue. The afternoon was spent dipping it all into the warm bath and drinking wine. The favorite was the dessert wine served with home-made chocolate cakes with orange marmalade on top. It was Cyprès de Climens 2006, Grand Vin du Sauternes, Barsac from Bordeaux – comparable with the far more expensive Chateau d’ YQuem.