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November: FACCI’s unofficial Month of Wine
November was a particularly wine-filled month at the French Chamber (yes, even by our standards!), with two major wine events taking place: the annual Concours des Vins du Victoria and a special Burgundy Trade Tasting held in both Sydney and Melbourne.
2008 Renault Concours des Vins du Victoria
Thursday 20 November 2008
Despite the ongoing drought, the 18th edition of the Concours des Vins du Victoria was a resounding success, with 109 vineyards entering a total of 355 wines in nine different classes.
For the second year in a row, the judging panel included finalists from France’s annual Young Sommelier Competition, sponsored by Michel Chapoutier, Rhone Valley winemaker and President of the 2008 Concours des Vins Jury. Gilles Lapalus from Sutton Grange Winery, Dominique Portet of Portet Wines, Sommelier Christian Maier and Pierre Petit from Vicard Cooperage were appointed Senior Judges and were delighted to be once again invited to the tasting panel of this exclusive wine show.
Whilst it was yet another tough line-up for the judges to go through, the Purple Hen 2007 Estate Pinot Noir (Purple Hen Wines, produced in Gippsland) was a clear favourite, winning the Jean Hameury Trophy for Best Pinot Noir, the Renault Trophy for Best Red Wine, as well as the FACCI Trophy for Best Wine in the Show. The Alstom Trophy for the Best White Wine went to the Allinda 2007 Chardonnay Barrel Select (Allinda Winery), which also won the Bucher Vaslin Trophy for Best Chardonnay. Other top drops included Grampians Estate Black Sunday Friends 2006 Sparkling Shiraz which won the Air Liquide Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine, Stumpy Gully 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon which won the Clasquin Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon and Blackjack 2006 Block 6 Shiraz which won the M. Chapoutier Trophy for Best Shiraz.
Over 500 FACCI members, winemakers and their guests attended the Awards Presentation and Tasting evening, held at the Sofitel Melbourne. Guests were able to sample all the entries in the show, as well as a delicious selection of French cheeses from the Calendar Cheese Company and charcuterie by La Parisienne Pâtés, served with bread from Noisette Boulangerie. This event is an ideal opportunity for all wine enthusiasts to taste wines from iconic and boutique labels that are often hard to find, enjoy their favourite drops or discover some new ones to add to their wine cellar list.
FACCI would like to warmly thank the event’s naming rights sponsor Renault, major sponsor Air Liquide and supporting sponsors Deloitte, Alstom, Clasquin, Bucher Vaslin, M. Chapoutier, Grand Mercure Swanston, Arkema, Calendar Cheese Company and Chef&Sommelier. We would also like to express our thanks to Invest Victoria and the team at the Investment Centre, who hosted us during the two days of judging.
Burgundy Trade Tasting
Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 November 2008
FACCI’s final trade mission for the year could have been labelled ‘A Taste of Burgundy’. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney and Zinc at Federation Square in Melbourne, the Vins de Bourgogne Trade Tasting brought together 17 wineries and négociants from Burgundy, France, most of which were presenting their wines in Australia for the first time. This trade only event was organised with the support of the Conseil Régional de Bourgogne and the Chambre de Commerce & d’Industrie de Bourgogne.
The wine makers and merchants were greeted with great enthusiasm by the 300 people who attended over the two days. Indeed, it offered a rare opportunity to taste the diversity of the world’s benchmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. A broad cross-section of the wine industry was present, including importers and distributors as well as wine writers and sommeliers from leading hotel chains and restaurants.
For a first ‘offensive des vins de Bourgogne’ down under, the event was hailed a success by trade people and exhibitors alike. It is the Burgundy region’s strength in export markets which brought the delegation of smaller but passionate producers to take part in this first Australian tour. We hope that the impressive showcase of more than 150 wines will encourage importers to add a few more wines to their portfolios and help drive further interest in Burgundy wines from the Australian consumer.
The exhibitors were Blasons de Bourgogne, Collin-Bourisset, Domaine Alain Geoffroy, Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion, Domaine Christian Clerget, Domaine Michel Gros, Maison Louis Picamelot, Domaine de Vauroux, Domaine des Monts Luisants, Domaines Daniel-Etienne Defaix, Domaine Frédéric Trouillet, Domaine Louis Moreau, Domaine Dubois, Domaines Roux Père & Fils, Domaine Saint-Jacques, Domaine des Nugues, Domaine des Nembrets, Domaine Raoul Gautherin, Domaine Taupenot-Merme, Dufouleur Frères, La Chablisienne, Louis Michel & Fils, Maison Jean-Claude Fromont, Maison Louis Tramier & Fils, Maison Tricon and Vignerons de Buxy.
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Finding France in Australia book launch
Tuesday 11 November 2008
The launch of Finding France in Australia took place, quite befittingly, in the beautiful surrounds of the Alliance Française de Melbourne, the cultural centre for France in Melbourne. The book by Alison Patience and Sally Matheson is, as its title suggests, an essential guide to finding all things French here in Australia, from restaurants and cafes, to wine, food stores, home wares, fashion, books and language classes.
The event brought together Melbourne’s French and Francophile community, including many FACCI members and their guests, for an indulgent evening of Champagne, French wines, cheese from Calendar Cheese and chocolates from Cacao.
FACCI would like to thank the Alliance Française de Melbourne for their support in hosting the event.
The book, now available in all good bookstores, can also be ordered through the FACCI office for $24.95 (including postage and handling) by e-mailing to info@facci.com.au. For more information about the book, go to www.findingfrance.com. |
