Wine Tasting Course
French Wine Institute Grand Cru Seminar About us
Vintage Wine Tasting
“The connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes its secrets” (Salvador Dali).If you want to learn how to taste wine, how to describe it with the right words, how to recognize the aromas of the French varietals, then the vintage wine appreciation course is for you.
In each lesson, you will taste six French Grands Crus, presented by Joël Corre, Director of the Institute of Œnology of Aix-en-Provence. The course takes place at the Château de Calas, home of Count Arnaud de Villeneuve.
« To choose the Grands Crus is the royal route to communicate directly with the essence of wine, says Raymond Dumay. It is the classic school, in the great tradition. For the good student has to keep his mouth pure. »
Schedule
Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14, 2008
Loire and Rhône Valleys
Saturday, September 13, 10 am to 1 pm
Introduction to oenology, wine tasting technique, the words of wine. Dry and sweet white wines. Alcool, sugar and acidity, the balance and harmony. Tannins and structure in the red wines. Young and old wines, the evolution of colour and flavours.
Tasting :
- LA ROCHE AUX MOINES 2003 Domaine aux Moines
- CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2001 Château Fortia
- HERMITAGE 2002 Domaine Marc Sorrel
- COTE-ROTIE La Landonne 1996 René Rostaing
- CONDRIEU Clos Chanson 2003 Domaine André Perret
- VOUVRAY HAUT-LIEU Sweet 2003 Domaine Huet
Great wines of Bordeaux
Saturday, September 13, 4 to 7 pm
The Bordeaux vineyard, soils and varietals. The 1855 classification, Premiers Crus and Grands Crus Châteaux. The harvest, fermentation and oak barrel aging, new and old barrels. Commercialization of Bordeaux wines, future sales, brokers and shippers.
Tasting :
- CHATEAU DE FRANCE 2001 White Pessac-Léognan
- CHATEAU DE FRANCE 2000 Red Pessac-Léognan
- CHATEAU CHARMAIL 1996 Haut-Médoc
- CHATEAU SOUTARD 1989 Cru Classé Saint-Emilion
- CHATEAU CALON-SEGUR 1990 Cru Classé St-Estèphe
- CHATEAU COUTET 1990 Premier Cru Barsac/Sauternes
Great wines of Burgundy
Sunday, September 14, 10 am to 1 pm
The vineyard of Burgundy, the grape varietals, villages and appellations. Hierarchy of the climats, Premiers Crus and Grands Crus. Winemaking technique for red and white wines. Great domaines and prestigious wines of Burgundy.
Tasting :
- CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY 2000 Domaine G. Roumier
- NUITS ST-GEORGES Les Boudots 1997 Méo-Camuzet
- CLOS DE VOUGEOT 1990 Domaine H. Rebourseau
- MEURSAULT Les Tessons 2001 Michel Bouzereau
- CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET 2000 Vincent Dancer
- CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE 1997 Rapet Père & Fils
Grands Crus from Champagne
Sunday, September 14, 4 to 6 pm
The vineyard of Champagne, the grape varietals, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs. The famous brands of Champagne, négociants and growers. Winemaking in Champagne, the prise de mousse, or second fermentation in bottles.
Tasting :
- CHAMPAGNE LE MESNIL Grand Cru Pierre Moncuit
- CHAMPAGNE AMBONNAY Grand Cru Eric Rodez
- CHAMPAGNE LE MESNIL 1995 Grand Cru Pierre Moncuit
Blind Tasting
Sunday, September 14, 6 to 7 pm
Three classic vintage wines are served blind. Blind tasting is excellent to evaluate a wine without being influenced by the label. It enables the taster to find his own marks and to forge an opinion with his sole palate and taste buds.
Convivial and friendly, the blind tasting is followed by the delivery of a Wine Evaluation Certificate from the Institute of Œnology.
Price
Price of the course : 225.00 € per person.
Reservation at the Institute of Œnology, Aix-en-Provence, France. Classes are restricted to twenty people. To day, four places are still available for the September 2008 seminar.
Next wine tasting course : Spring 2009.
