Friday, February 23, 2018

Château du Rivau, Loire Valley France Day Trip

by Paige Donner

Planning a day trip from Paris is always a fun undertaking. Even if the designated day or weekend is still weeks away, just thinking about getting out of the city and into some good countryside fresh air feels exhilarating.

(All photos courtesy Château du Rivau © 2017)

23072016-IMG_9129

Cueillette Rivau (17346)©R.Pallone- ChateauduRivauCueilletteRivau (17348)©R.PalloneCHateauduRivaules toquès de demain au Rivau avec Ya nnick Alléno_0444.2 ©Pascal AvenetLes toquésde demainauRivau (17425)©ChateauduRivau

Château du Rivau in the Loire Valley offers just such a day trip. This château has been renovated and refurbished with painstaking TLC by its family owners. Today, one of the daughters also runs the newly opened restaurant which serves up the fresh vegetables she cultivates on the property in the way of fresh soups and salads. Served with warm, crusty just-baked bread and some of their very own AOC Chinon (Cab Franc), this makes for a delicious, hearty, healthy meal any time of year but especially in late winter or early spring when there is still a nip to the air.

Château du Rivau es des Ecuries Royales (royal stables) et ses jardins de conte de fées (fairytale gardens) stand ready and waiting to welcome you. What's more, these gardens are deserving of their 'fairytale' designation since they have preserved some of the oldest strains of seed and vegetables found in the Région Centre-Val-de-Loire and are labeled CCVS (Conservatoire des Collections végétales Spécialisées).

_Salle du FestinARR6849-Panorama©ChateauduRivauD.Darrault_Salle Jeanne d'ArcARR6891©ChateauduRivau. D.Darrault

The nearest main train station is in Tours and then you can arrange with the château in advance for their driver to come and collect you for the picturesque 45 minute ride to the property. In all, it's about 2 hours journey from Paris.

09062017-IMG_653509062017-IMG_654016052017-0296_750D__MG_2918

 

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

 

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

All photos (where noted) copyright 2018  Paige Donner  FoodWine.photography

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine / 

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact http://PaigeDonner.info



Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Episode 34: Marché des Enfants Rouges & Savennières AOC Loire Valley

by Paige Donner

For our 34th Episode of Paris GOODfood+wine, we focus on the Marché des Enfants Rouges located in Paris' Upper Marais as Julie Collas, star of the one-woman show, OMG, She's Parisienne!, takes us on a walk through this fabled Paris covered market. 

logo PGF+W with blk title title and Paige Donner 1500x1500

 

We then turn to Evelyn de Pontbriand, the president of Savennières AOC in the Loire Valley and owner of the prestigious domain, Château Closel, to tell us all about this distinct white wine made from Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley of France. 

IMG_5379

Julie Collas, star of the one-woman show, OMG, She's Parisienne! pictured here at the Marché des Enfants-Rouges in the Upper Marais, Paris 

loire-map-qs-2012-sav2

The Savennières AOC region of France's Loire Valley

Show Script:

Marche' des Enfants Rouges

The Marché des Enfants Rouges  - the name in English translates to "Market of the Red Children" - is Paris' oldest covered market

It was established in 1628  and refers to the children clothed in red (the color of charity) who were cared for in a nearby orphanage.

The market offers fresh fruitsvegetablesflowers ,bread, cheese, wine, but is most well known for its market stand restaurants where shoppers can buy prepared meals and dine on site in a lively atmosphere.

My interview with Julie Collas, the mastermind behind OMG She's Parisienne, a stand-up show that plays every weekend here in Paris, took place here at the Marché des Enfants Rouges. One recent Friday evening. we shared a glass of wine at the charming wine bar, BiboVino on the rue Charlot side of the Marché.

Le Marché des Enfants Rouges is located at 39 Rue de Bretagne in the Marais, the (3rd) arrondissement.

logofinal@2

We then turn to a very distinct Loire Valley appellation called Savennieres. It's known for its Chenin Blanc grown in schist – or shale – soils and is typically more full-bodied than dry Vouvray,

Savennieres is situated on the north bank of the Loire River, in the Anjou-Saumur subregion near Angers.

It is generally a dry white wine as we'll see in my interview with Evelyn de Pontbriand who is the president of the Savennieres AOC and the owner of Domaine Closel, Though, as Madame de Pontbriand explains, it can also be sweet as well as sparkling.

There are three Appellation d'origine contrôlées (AOCs) for Savennières wine: 

Savennières, covering most of the vineyards, and then the enclaves Savennières-Roche-aux-Moines and Savennières-Coulée-de-Serrant.

The area allowed for Savennières AOC spreads over 3 hills on the northwest bank of the Loire and totals about 300 hectares ( or 740 acres), situated in three villages: Savennières, Bouchemaine and La Poissonnière.

Of these, about 146 hectares are actually planted with vineyards.Savennières-Roche-aux-Moines covers 33 hectares (82 acres) and Savennières-Coulée-de-Serrant covers 7 hectares (17 acres).

Savennières was originally defined as an AOC in 1952, which was then revised in 1996 to introduce designations for sweet wines.

To have more information on the Academie du Chenin, international Chenin Blanc lovers network, Chenin Blanc think tank visit our website: www.academieduchenin.org  Use with no moderation #cheninblanc #chenincheninchenin #drinkchenin #cheninday

All music free of rights courtesy FreeSoundtrackMusic.com 'Crystalline City by Steve Lowther and Groovy Paris Jazz by BensoundMusic.com for show Intro and Outro.
To contact Paige Donner for speaking/hosting/producing paigedonner.info
For more info about Paris GOODfood+wine and a complete show lineup go to localfoodandwine.wordpress.com
And our website parisfoodandwine.net
Instagram @paigefoodwine Twitter @parisfoodwine

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

 

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

All photos (where noted) copyright 2018  Paige Donner  FoodWine.photography

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine / 

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact http://PaigeDonner.info


Sunday, January 14, 2018

Episode 33: L’Académie du Vin & Willi’s Wine Bar on Paris GOODfood+wine

by Paige Donner

For our January Paris GOODfood+wine show we're talking all about wine. This show's inspiration came from the announcement that Steven Spurrier was resuscitating L'Académie du Vin. So, of course, I reached out to his longtime friend here in Paris, Mark Williamson, owner of the legendary Willi's Wine Bar, to get the scoop. He suggested I talk directly with Mr. Spurrier when he was next in town and Voilà, the interview.

IMG_4754

Mark Williamson, owner of Maceo restaurant and Willi's Wine Bar, both on rue des Petits Champs, Paris 1ère arr. - photo by Paige Donner copyright 2018  

IMG_4759

Steven Spurrier, Decanter's Man Of The Year 2017, pictured at Maceo restaurant on rue des Petits Champs, Paris 1ère arr. - photo by Paige Donner copyright 2018  

IMG_4757

Maceo restaurant on rue des Petits Champs, Paris 1ère arr. - photo by Paige Donner copyright 2018    FOR PHOTO QUERIES:  FoodWine.photography

First, though, I sat down with Mark Williamson at his elegant Maceo restaurant which is just a few doors down from Willi's Wine Bar there on rue des Petits Champs just behind the Palais Royal. He filled me in on all sorts of fun tidbits including his Willi's Art Club poster initiative and what it means to be a Rhône Ranger.

2017_Penelope_2 willi's wine bar_

Le Vin. Shared pleasure & amitié. Simplement. - image courtesy ©Willi's Wine Bar - To purchase posters click HERE

Mr Spurrier then joined us at the bar and gave me some backstory about L'Académie du Vin and why now is the perfect time to lift it back up and out onto a global stage. He also tells a little bit about his own sparkling wine from Southern England, a venture he and his wife began a few decades ago, now.

So, sit back and relax and enjoy another episode of Paris GOOD food+wine, and if you're truly lucky, you'll be sipping on a glass filled with one of your favorites.

Screenshot soundcloud title page paige donner

Oh and by the way, cheers to 2018 New Year's resolutions – mine is to drink more fine wines. What's yours?

All music free of rights courtesy FreeSoundtrackMusic.com 'Breaking Squares' by Mike Vekris and Groovy Paris Jazz by BensoundMusic.com for show Intro and Outro.
To contact Paige Donner for speaking/hosting/producing paigedonner.info
For more info about Paris GOODfood+wine and a complete show lineup go to localfoodandwine.wordpress.com
And our website parisfoodandwine.net
Instagram @paigefoodwine Twitter @parisfoodwine

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

All photos (where noted) copyright 2018  Paige Donner  FoodWine.photography

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine / 

Media Engagements, speaking and collaborations: contact http://PaigeDonner.info

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Holiday Sparkling Cocktail - Crémant de Bordeaux with Tea Infusion

by Paige Donner (sponsored post)

Looking to liven up your holiday season party-hosting scene? Try this newest sparkling tea wine cocktail recipe suggested by a savvy mixologist here in Paris...

20151114-sparkling-cocktail-recipe-roundup-07

Start with a Crémant de Bordeaux (you can also use your sparkling wine of choice).  Leave at room temperature while you infuse the glass of sparkling with a tea bag such as ginger-lemon for a demi-sec or red fruit infusion for a sparkling rosé.  Let the tea bag infuse the cocktail for several minutes. 

tea bag 2-250x250

Ingredients

  • Bottle of sparkling wine - Roche Mazet
  • Tea bags (red fruits for Rosé, ginger-lemon for Demi-sec)
  • Ice Cubes
  • Optional - tea infusded simple syrup
  • Garnish-Cranberries (rosé); Candied ginger (demi-sec )

Take out and swirl the glass of sparkling with several ice cubes to chill the liquid. Remove the ice cubes (or leave them in if you choose). Garnish with a sprig of cranberries or candied ginger. 

As a slight variation to this recipe, prepare a tea-infused simple syrup beforehand. When you mix the cocktail, add a dash of the syrup just as you are chilling the liquid. The syrup can be lightly sweetened or more exuberantly sweetened, depending on personal taste. 

The best sparklings to try this cocktail recipe with this season are Roche Mazet sparkling wines, Crémant de Bordeaux. Their newest is the Crémant de Bordeaux Malésan which is a blend of Sémillon and Cabernet Franc. 

cremant de bordeaux malesan unnamed

Some stats here in French: 

Avec un marché des vins effervescents en pleine ébullition et à l'approche des fêtes de fin d'année, CASTEL a développé un réel savoir-faire par des nouveautés qui répondent aux attentes des consommateurs. Tour d'horizon sur les marques et leurs marchés avec Roche Mazet, Villa Veroni, Maison Castel et sa dernière nouveauté Crémant de Bordeaux Malesan. 

--- Crémant de Bordeaux : la nouvelle AOP effervescente qui monte ---
CASTEL accompagne le développement du terroir bordelais en matière de Crémant de Bordeaux avec le lancement du Crémant de Bordeaux Malesan, une marque reconnue par les consommateurs.
Un crémant brut qui allie gourmandise et fraîcheur avec un assemblage de Sémillon majoritaire et Cabernet franc. Disponible en GMS au tarif indicatif de 7 €.

--- Les autres effervescents de terroir ---
Le terroir est un critère de sélection de plus en plus important pour le consommateurs qui se tourne vers des origines reconnues. C'est le cas pour les 4 AOP de Crémant mais aussi pour les effervescents du Languedoc et d'Italie avec le Prosecco.

Roche Mazet propose 3 cuvées aux caractères singuliers : Chardonnay Brut, Syrah Brut rosé, Muscat Demi-sec.

Villa Veroni, le spécialiste de l'effervescence italienne, innove avec le lancement de sa gamme de cépage 100% itailen : Pinot Grigio en Brut et Rosato.

To contact Paige Donner for speaking/hosting/producing paigedonner.info
For more info about Paris GOODfood+wine and a complete show lineup go to localfoodandwine.wordpress.com
And our website parisfoodandwine.net
Instagram @paigefoodwine Twitter @parisfoodwine

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

All photos (where noted) copyright 2017 Paige Donner 

Photo Bookings FoodWine.Photography

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine / 

Prints available by contacting http://PaigeDonner.info   

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Episode 32: Caféotheque, Caféologie, Terres de Café by Paris GOOD food+wine

by Paige Donner

Episode 32 of Paris GOODfood+wine is all about coffee. But not just any coffee - these are two of Paris' premier specialty coffee roasters and their passion for coffee transcends the everyday ordinary cup o' joe...

Click HERE to WATCH VIDEO 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhXBk5ifRgU

 

Cafe. Coffee. Cafeotheque. Cafeologie. Terres de Cafe. Terroir du cafe...

These are terms, some of which you've frequently probably already have heard, and a few which might sound new.

NO matter. This episode of Paris GOODfood+wine is all about the coffee renaissance that has taken place here in Paris these past oh, decade or so.

We'll be speaking with the matriarch of this Parisian specialty coffee cult who is, in fact, the former Guatemalan Ambassador to France. She and her daughter run the much loved Caféotheque right on the quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, just across the bridge from Île St. Louis in the center of Paris.





photos by Paige Donner / FoodWine.Photography © 2017

 

Gloria Montenegro and her lovely daughter, Christina, have just released a book they co-authored together about coffee. It's called Caféologie and they wrote it not just in French but also on a strict deadline that has the book out just in time for holiday gift giving. By the time you're done listening to my conversation with them, all of those coffee terms will sound like old hat.  You can find more information about La Caféotheque by going to their website or facebook page at La Caféotheque. 

We'll also hear from Lionel Pinot who is one of the principal team members of Terres de Cafe. That's a café that has quickly earned its cult status reputation here in Paris for its premium sourced specialty coffees.

 

Lionel has a background in wine, which serves him perfectly well when it comes to tasting coffee. He'll explain more about that during our interview.

So, as we coast into yet another Parisian winter and Christmas holiday season, snuggle up by the fire( or at least the heater) with your hands cupped around a nice steaming mug o' joe, and listen in on how Paris became the capital of supremely sourced, specialty coffees and micro-roasters.

 

This episode of Paris GOODfood+wine has been brought to you by Paris Food And Wine. You can find out more about our events and food+wine pairing seminars like Perfect Pairings food+wine by visiting the website, parisfoodandwine.net.

If you have an event, a restaurant opening, a story to tell in pictures, contact us at FoodWine.Photography We're happy to provide you with a quote for photography services. 

I'm Paige Donner, the host and producer of Paris GOODfood+wine.

Here's wishing all our listeners a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannukah and Kwanzaa and anything else you and your loved ones celebrate at the end of the year.

See you next in 2018!

 

Enjoy yet another delicious episode here of Paris GOODfood+wine.

All music free of rights courtesy FreeSoundtrackMusic.com "Mocha Guitar" by Rick Dickert and Groovy Paris Jazz by BensoundMusic.com for show Intro and Outro.
To contact Paige Donner for speaking/hosting/producing paigedonner.info
For more info about Paris GOODfood+wine and a complete show lineup go to localfoodandwine.wordpress.com
And our website parisfoodandwine.net
Instagram @paigefoodwine Twitter @parisfoodwine

Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

All photos (where noted) copyright 2017 Paige Donner  Photo Bookings  FoodWine.Photography

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /  

Prints available by contacting http://PaigeDonner.info   

 


Friday, December 8, 2017

French Wines With Soul Château Coutet AOC Barsac and Deux Sauternes

by Paige Donner

Christmastime is the perfect time to enjoy a bottle of AOC Barsac, a French appellation devoted to the production of sweet wine, with a distinguishing accent of freshness. Château Coutet is one of the region's outstanding wine producers and what's more, this French wine has soul. 

Mind you, many French wines do. Have soul that is. But this one is especially solid, and especially for the holidays.  And, by the way, it is a 1ère Grand Cru Classé 1855, too.  AND it (the 2014 vintage) was N° 3 in Wine Spec's Top 10 of 2017. 

close_up_of_coutet_1997_1_20130530_1061558432

chateau coutet with tasting notes 11772562898974

The appellation "Barsac", located on the left bank of the Ciron, is also part of the Sauternes appellation. This means that all Barsacs are Sauternes, but not all Sauternes are entitled to the appellation Barsac. An original soil characteristic justifies the existence of this appellation and the fact that it is being differentiated from other Sauternes... (Microclimate): At the end of summer, the combination of the rivers' cold water and winds creates a thick fog in the morning, covering the vineyards and being retained by the Landes forest, farther south. Thanks to the humidity it brings, this fog promotes the development of the famous fungus, Botrytis cinerea, in the vines and on ripe berries. At midday, the fog evaporates by the action of sunlight and wind, and thus allows for the berries to dry and for their sugar to concentrate. This so-called "Noble Rot" is the result of this peculiar phenomenon occurring in the Sauternes appellation. 

LEARN MORE

 

What To Pair?

People often think of sweet wines as the go-to pairing with desserts. But, frankly, that is often a bit too much sweet-on-sweet. Best to pair these stellar wines with the aperitif, while cracking walnuts, Brazil nuts and almonds-in-the-shell while you sit by the fire with friends and family. 

To really dazzle, you can serve with a dish of perfectly succulent St. Jacques (scallops) or lobster, basted richly in their juices - at least that is what Philippe Baly, owner and GM of this esteemed estate, assures. I will have to try that pairing one day soon for myself... Or pair with some nice cheese, like a Roquefort or an aged Comté. If you must try pairing with a dessert, go for a less sweet nut tart or lightly sweetened fruit such as a stewed pear in honey for example. For me, this wine is the dessert. So either I enjoy it as an aperitif, while the smells of the roasting, honey basted ham is still wafting from the warm kitchen (every lady know that dessert can and often does come before the meal) , or I sip it instead of dessert, as a sweet finish to my meal. If you do this, try tantalizing the tastebuds even further with a square of dark, minimum 70% cacao, dark chocolate.

Château Coutet


 

Sauternes

White grape varieties

Sémillon: native to Sauternes, apricot & smoky aromas
Sauvignon blanc: citrus notes
Muscadelle: spiciness for complexity

Château de Fargues harvests their nobly rotted bounty grape by grape. And you can tell instantly in the glass.  Honeyed elixir, candied apricots... this is a classic, beautiful Sauternes.  Château Doisy-Védrines is another example of gold in a glass and also is a Grand Cru Classé en 1855.

For the most part, Sauternes wines have a more intense liquor, a deeper opulence, a richer sweetness (than their Barsac neighbors)  - all largely due to the way their gravel soils catch the heat of the sun and reflect it back up to the grapes.

In France, the classic holiday pairing is Sauternes with foie gras. And when you serve that foie gras on little wedges of spice cake, a breadier form of our gingerbread, well, then you know you are respecting tradition, and all for good reason. Add just a tiny dab of fig confiture and Voilà... you will feel to the manor borne...

These two Sauternes are excellent choices and perfect accompaniment for  holiday meals. And the ever so nice thing about these French wines with soul is that they are even more enjoyable when shared with loved ones (or at least good friends). 




Château de Fargues was first constructed in the 14th c. by Cardinal Raymond-Guilhem de Fargues in the village of Fargues, Sauternes, Bordeaux.

 




Château Doisy-Védrines  Grand Cru Classé en 1855


For Photography Assignments, contact:  FoodWine.photography


 

To contact Paige for hosting and speaking engagements and for sponsorship for the podcast as well as media collaborations:
Paigedonner.info © All rights Reserved 2017 Paige Donner

Paris Food And Wine logo 1024 x 500

More Info @ParisFoodWine
Instagram @PaigeFoodWine
Listen to Paris GOOD food + wine on :

stitcher-300x110

tunein-radio-pro-e28093-live-radio-16-3-apk

itunes-logo5

soundcloud

iTunes – Paris GOODfood+wine /