Join HAUTEOC Traveler Pierrick Bouquet on a La Vie En Rose Tour (life through a rose-colored glass..) of international influences through Wine Tastings. Pierrick, a native of France who now calls Orange County his home, is a wine connoisseur whose passion for wine can be traced back to childhood.
It all started in Sorny, a tiny village of 300 inhabitants in Picardie, France, at my grand parents house. I remember my family dinners when my grandfather, a wine enthusiast, would go down to his underground cellar and return holding an old bottle of wine which was covered in dust, its label half torn. When we could decode the remnants of the labels, they read Chateau Palmer, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Corton-Charlemagne, vintage 1949, 1961 Despite my mother’s protests, my grandfather always poured a tiny quantity of wine in my glass. Some wines were excellent, others tasted like vinegar! Although I was too young to realize it then, I now know that I was testing some of the best wines in the world. Each wine had a story to tell, and a history to unearth. My imagination was captivated in the same way that a child’s fascination is enkindled upon being read a storybook. These wines afforded me a picture of a time and place, like a sculpture shaped by the hands of an artist.
I’d like to invite you to explore French wines which will please your senses and take you on a magnificent journey. You may think French wines are too complicated and inaccessible but their complexity is part of their appeal. Burgundy is a perfect illustration of what makes French wines so unique. Back in the 10th century, the Christian Church encouraged wine production for more than its traditional purposes. They not only needed a daily supply to celebrate the Catholic Mass, but also for the monk’s personal consumption. The monks discovered that certain parts of the vineyards were better than others. They divided the lands up into parcels according to soil, subsoil, orientation to the sun… In naming them, they planted the seed for the concept of appellation (AOC) so important in French wines today. Unlike American wines, it is very unusual to see the name of the grape variety on a French wine label. Instead, French wines are classified per location or appellation. Each appellation will give you an idea of which grape varieties comprise the wine. For example, Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux is Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, red Burgundies are Pinot Noir, white Burgundies are Chardonnay.
Once you identify the main regions and the grapes planted in those regions, things become easier. You can then go to a store or a restaurant knowing that if you want a Pinot Noir you will find it listed under Burgundy. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all of the various labels and prices of wine. In my upcoming articles I will expose you, my readers, to wine of regions all over the world, guiding you in selecting the ones that suit your personal preference and taste.
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Discover the food and wine of France’s Provence region and the Basque Country of Spain see the HAUTEOC Private Collection
Eno-Versity classes continue for 2010 at ENO, Southern California’s premiere wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room located at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Through informative classes, guests develop an understanding a wine’s history, type of grape, and region of origin. ENO-Versity offers guests the opportunity to become wine connoisseurs in a fun, communal and comfortable environment. … Continue Reading
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