International Grenache Symposium – How is the Languedoc-Roussillon involved?

I was going to try to summarize the events of the Symposium, but there are a few problems with that plan.

1. Too mcuh grenache-drinking tasting
2. too little Internet time
3. and Herve Bizeul, super blogger has already done it

Herve, the legendary winemaker at Clos des Fees, has one of the best wine blogs in France, and it’s certainly my favorite French-language winemaker blog.  Of course, his summary’s in French.  Live with it.  When I get home, I’ll try to do my own run-down of each panel as he has.  But for now, I just want to highlight his work because he’s a beast of a blogger.  SIX posts in one day covering every single discussion in every single panel.

In the meantime, I’ve managed to upload the start of the ceremonies presented by Walter MacKinley, Steven Spurrier, and Michel Bettane.  There’s something to be said for old fashioned typed out blogs with words in them instead of hours of unedited video. ;D

On that note, I guess I can pontificate a bit on how the Languedoc-Roussillon fits into this Grenache Symposium.  Obviously, we have some stellar Grenache.  The grape’s origins haven’t been PROVEN, but people pretty much agree that it’s from Catalan country which means that Roussillon and Catalonya are some of the oldest producers of this incredibly versatile grape.

And thankfully, we’re not just resting on our laurels as the first.  Guys like Bizeul and Gauby are still raising the bar for what can be accomplished with this grape in our region.  It’s days like this that I remind everybody that my show should really be called Love that Languedoc-Roussillon (but that’s not quite as catchy a URL).

And how do we fit into the global picture?  Well, this symposium is coming up with some pretty stellar ideas.  Projects range from long-term research and marketing that need major funds to stuff that we’re probably going to do next weekend.  Chain mails to all our restaurant friends threatening to curse their household unless they start serving our favorite varietal at the right temperature.  Organization of International Grenache Day parades where everybody wears shirts as loud as their favorite Grenache.  Crazy stuff. Fun stuff.  And if we want to remain a pertinent region, we have to be there at every step of the process.

When somebody gets a crazy chain letter about the serving temperature of Grenache, I want the word Languedoc-Roussillon to be in it.  And that means playing ball with all these other regions and getting motivated to actually talk about our wines.  We can’t leave it up to me and Herve Bizeul.  We need lots of people out there talking about the stellar wines produced here.

Everybody is already impressed with our showing at the symposium.  Tim Atkins did a shout out to the Roussillon.  Mas Amiel has been flaunting their vin doux.  Lionel Gauby is totally unpretentious as he moves through the crowd at the symposium.  My friends at Oustal Blanc showed what we can do with every color of Grenache at the Sud de France lunch on Friday. Now we just need to tell the whole world about ourselves. That’s all.

The future of Grenache is very bright. And I want the Languedoc-Roussillon to share in that grape varietal’s glorious future.

Related Posts:

• Hervé Bizeul addresse la confiance des producteurs de Grenache
• Grenache Day – Harvesting Grenache in the south of France
• Winemakers address the longevitiy of Grenache at Grenache Symposium – Love That Languedoc Episode 62
• Wine Tourism at the Grenache Symposium – Love that Languedoc
• Languedoc ou Roussillon avec Thunevin-Calvet – Languedoc, je t’aime episode 25

La Sauvageonne with John Sanderson – Love That Languedoc episode 42

I headed to La Sauvageonne in the Terrasses du Larzac and tasted some mighty fresh wines coming from the exceptional schist setting of the high Terrasses.

We talk about diversity of the Languedoc-Roussillon a lot, and this estate visit helps that conversation quite a bit. Even though it is our third visit to the Terrasses du Larzac area, we’ve got a totaly different style of wine. Furthermore, the climb from the village up to the owner’s house at the peak of La Sauvageonne offers a peak at how much terroir can change in just a short climb in altitude. From the rust-colored Ruffes slate to the nearly lunar rock landscapes of the higher vines, La Sauvageonne makes you realize how wonderfully fast the terrain can change in the Languedoc.

Another interesting feature of this episode is that John is a person who came to work at La Sauvageonne because he loved the wines. And after a few short years working there, he’s been put in charge. That kind of passion turned into profession is pretty fun and makes for a good conversation.

The wines:
Les Ruffes 2008, La Sauvageonne, AOC Terrasses du Larzac
Pica Broca 2008, La Sauvageonne, AOC Terrasses du Larzac
Puech de Glen 2005, La Sauvageonne, AOC Terrasses du Larzac

Related Posts:

• Love La Pèira – Love that Languedoc Episode 8
• Les Trois Maries de Domaine Thunevin-Calvet – Love That Languedoc episode 24
• La Pèira, je t’aime! avec Jérémie Depierre
• Costieres de Nimes – A Walk in the Vines
• The Grenache Rainbow: Blanc Gris and Noir – Love That Languedoc episode 34

Jean Baptiste Sénat – Languedoc, je t’aime episode 37

Je suis heureux de vous présenter Jean Baptiste Sénat et son Domaine éponyme avec plusieurs parcelles autour de Trausse Minervois. Un vigneron qui a une philosophie du vin un peu différent du mien, et tant mieux! C’est aussi un vigneron qui fait de très bons vins.

Les vignerons sont souvent séduits par la tentation d’être de grands artistes atypiques et démonstratifs produisant des vins qui s’éloignent de plus en plus du raisin dont ils proviennent. Ce n’est pas le cas des vins de Jean Baptiste Sénat qui crée des vins de caractère en laissant s’exprimer les vignes avec peu d’intervention.

Les vins:
Mais Où et donc Ornicar 2009, Domaine Jean Baptiste Sénat, AOC Minervois
La Nine 2008, Domaine Jean Baptiste Sénat, AOC Minervois

Voir aussi:
Mais où est donc Ornicar – phrase contenant les conjonctions de coordination en français: mais, où, et, donc, or, ni, car
Débat des cépages autochtones – Nous parlons sur le sujet des cépages autochtones et les mérites de l’exploration de nouveaux cépages. Cela rappelle un peu le débat sur l’identité nationale! haha.

Related Posts:

• La Résistance avec Jean Baptiste Sénat – Languedoc, je t’aime Episode 39 deuxieme partie
• Plô Roucarels – Languedoc, je t’aime Episode 5
• Minervois la Liviniere à l’Oustal Blanc – Languedoc, je t’aime episode 33
• Languedoc ou Roussillon avec Thunevin-Calvet – Languedoc, je t’aime episode 25
• Calvet-Thunevin: La Puissance en Maury – Languedoc, je t’aime episode 23

Blind tasting Grenache Blanc Gris and Noir – Nota Bene

Sorry you don’t get a full episode today. The rest of the week might be a little rough and tumble. I got the flu and I’ve got to travel to Paris for a couple Love That Languedoc tastings.

Enjoy this video of me blind tasting grenache wines from episode 34, before la Grippe A took away my sense of smell. As our good friends at Crus: Cave Dégustation say, “Say no to Grippe A. Say yes to Grappa!”

Related Posts:

• The Grenache Rainbow: Blanc Gris and Noir – Love That Languedoc episode 34
• Costieres de Nimes – A Walk in the Vines
• Changer l’Aude en Vin – Avril 26 2010 à Carcassonne
• La Sauvageonne with John Sanderson – Love That Languedoc episode 42
• Carcassonne Hotel de la Cité Wine Tasting – LOVE That Languedoc Ep. 32