Special Events Wine Tastings with Alain Bras

A unique and special way to surprise the guest(s) of honour for their Birthday, Anniversary, Pre-Wedding weekend etc. with a wine tasting given by celebrated wine expert Alain Bras. Alain selects the fine wines especially for a given group and each guest receives a wine menu for the tasting. Group interaction is encouraged and canapés are provided on request. The Alain Bras Kenmare School of Wine Certificate is awarded to the guest(s) of honour to mark the special occasion.

France, Chile rewarded in the world's first Concours Mondial du Sauvignon

by Jane Anson in Bordeaux

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles – together with the ODG Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur – launched the first Concours Mondial du Sauvignon during the Bordeaux Fete le Vin wine fair.

Over 40 tasters from ten countries took part, including writer David Cobbold, and winemakers JD Pretorius from Steenberg vineyards in South Africa, and Jean Christophe Bourgeois from Domaine Henri Bourgeois in the Loire.

512 wines were presented for this first edition, from France, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece and Brazil.

France dominated both awards and entries – with over 300 entries and 90 awards. Chile was the next most successful, with 61 entries and 21 medals. Casa Marin Sauvignon Blanc from Cipresse Vineyard took the trophy for unoaked sauvignon over €12 and Michel Laurent 2009 from Sancerre the trophy for under €12.

Around 80,000ha of Sauvignon Blanc are estimated to be planted worldwide, with the largest concentrations in France, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa.

It is a grape that is popular with consumers, but not often with critics, and was compared recently to 'the thinking man's Pinot Grigio' by Lulie Halstead of Wine Intelligence, and 'a dud' by wine critic Mike Steinberger.

'Sauvignon is an extremely demanding grape variety to get right,' JD Pretorius told decanter.com, 'but it is often derided by critics as being too populist, or one-dimensional.

Even consumers in South Africa seem to be slowly moving away from it back towards lightly oaked Chardonnays – but it's a grape variety that deserves better critical recognition when in the hands of the right producers.'

Casa Marin Sauvignon Blanc is available at VG Wines.com

Another satisfied customer for VG Wines.com

Morning Christine
Wow, what a marathon! I was just about to reply to you saying there was no address to which the wine had been delivered on the Track & Trace when I got your last email telling me about the local shop!
I phoned Aileen - once I had her landline number - & she revealed all. Marina was at school with Aileen - a year below her - & of course they knew each other well!
Aileen has her wine - her favourite - I knew that from her brother who is married to my daughter here in Aus! Halleluya!!

So, thank you SO VERY MUCH for all your efforts to get it to her - will have a stern talk to Marian re her non use of her mobile phone!!!

Please also thank the delivery man who must have been out of his mind by the time he decided to give up & risk having Marina choose to indulge in a tipple at midnight!

Yes, Aileen is very happy, so am I - I never doubted you would get it to her eventually but do apologise for the trauma you have all gone through.
When next in Ireland I will make an effort to contact you & the delivery man & we'll have a Whisky or a wine together - sure owe you one!!!

Here's hoping, sincerely, that all your customers aren't like me and you will have a peaceful week next week and a pay rise the next!! Please pass on my compliments to your company & tell them you have very much impressed one customer from Australia & I will recommend you to anyone interested (provided they are sending to someone who answers their mobile phone!!!)

Judy