WINE TASTING TOUR at CHATEAU VENTENAC

with MASTER OF WINE, JULIET BRUCE JONES

October the 2nd - 6th 2008

We also arrange private tours for groups. Please e-mail for details

Wine Tour Details

• Discover the fabulous wines of the Languedoc on this weekend of wine exploration.
• Revel in the diversity of Languedoc wines, from whistle-clean white Picpoul de Pinet to deep, brooding reds and fragrant muscats from St Jean de Minervois
• Visit top producers from 6 appellations and taste their wines
• Learn about the unique terroir of the Languedoc which makes the wines taste as they do
• Stroll through vineyards and marvel at the views
• Enjoy a weekend of fine wine and food in the relaxed surroundings of Chateau Ventenac

Thursday
Afternoon arrival at Chateau Ventenac.
Pre dinner tasting ‘Introducing the Wines of the Languedoc’. Juliet will take you through some classic Languedoc wine styles and give you your first taste of the Languedoc’s excellent wines.

Friday

The different faces of Minervois

9am – leave Ventenac

Weather permitting, short vineyard walk around La Liviniere, where the higher altitude and unique microclimate produces the finest, most long-lived red wines in the Minervois.
Tasting in the vineyard

10.15 Visit Ste Eulalie, La Livinière
The charming Isabelle Coustale makes fruity, delicately balanced Minervois La Livinière (and a delicious rosé) from her vineyards in a pretty valley just above the village of La Livinière.

11.30 Clos Centeilles
Patrcia and Daniel Domergues are passionate about their wines and their eclectic range includes a 100% Pinot Noir and a 100% Cinsault as well as more traditional Minervois reds.

Lunch at Lo Cagarol in Aigne (village escargot)

May be time for a quick visit to Minerve before heading to

3pm Domaine Barrubio, St Jean de Minervois
The unique chalk white soils on the plateau to the east of the Minervois produce one of the Languedoc’s classic wine styles, perfumed, delicately sweet wines made from the Muscat grape. The Miquel family, who own the charming hamlet and domaine of Barrubio, are unquestionably the best in the appellation.

We return to Chateau Ventenac in good time for a ‘mystery wine tasting’ evening and gala dinner complemented by some of the Languedoc’s top wines.

Saturday
This morning we head into the rugged Corbières region which is famous for its rich, spicy red wines. One of the most celebrated produces in Corbières is Chateau la Voulte Gasparets, a charming property with a state-of-the-art cellar whose wines are exported all over the world. The knowledgeable Laurent Reverdy will take us through his wines in his smart tasting room.

We then drive to the Roman city of Narbonne with its bustling covered market and medieval cathedral, where you will be free to explore and have lunch.

Domaine Pech-Redon, is a stunning property perched high on the Clape Massif which separates Narbonne from the Mediterranean and it is where the Romans first planted vines. The charismatic Christophe Bousquet will take us on a tour of his cellar and wines and explain the unique terroir of La Clape and his philosophy of organic viticulture.

For further details and prices please email us

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PLEASE NOTE: The above itinerary may be subject to minor changes.