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Lanson Champagne

Lisa Bennett from Lanson Champagne gave a comparative tasting to the
students of a Non-Vintage Champagne and a Vintage 1998 Champagne. The Wine
Report 2009, edited by champagne expert, Tom Stevenson, lists Lanson
Champagne at No. 1 in his Top 10 list of fastest improving champagne houses,
and he also rates the Lanson N.V. as the most consistent in style and
quality of the champagne marques for the past two years. So the students had
a real treat and needless to say the comparative tasting was both
informative and enjoyable! Our thanks to Lisa and also to Michael Henchy, of
Tindal Wine Merchants for arranging this visit and tasting.

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Attached photograph shows Lisa Bennett, Lanson Champagne; Michael Henchy,
Tindal Wines, and Colm.

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Pascal Rossignol of Le Caveau

We were delighted to welcome back Pascal Rossignol of Le Caveau, Kilkenny - www.lecaveau.ie

Pascal gave a fascinating talk and tutored wine tasting on wines from Burgundy, and the up-and-coming region of The South-West of France. Pascal is originally from near Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, and his experience takes him from the vineyards of his native Burgundy, to being a Sommelier, to  running one of the best independent wine merchant business in Ireland for the past 10 years.  The students really enjoyed Pascal’s  presentation on Burgundy and the South-West of France.

Le Caveau won the Bridgestone Guide Wine Merchant of the Year 2005, and in 2008, Le Caveau were awarded ‘Fine Wine Merchant of the Year 2008’ by The Sunday Business Post. The Bridgestone Guide writes ‘The selection of wines M. Rossignol imports and his extensive connections with wine growers in France means that the wine company actually has pretty much all the wines your life needs. The shop is the most charming space in which to browse, service is superb and delivery is fleet. It would be hard to better Le Caveau.

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Our  thanks to Pascal.

Update: Pascal has written a note about his visit to us here at the school.  Read it here.

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Meet the winemakers from these Iconic New World wines in person

Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School in association with Moët Hennessy Wines are running a unique wine event  over the weekend of  9th/10th May 2009

Meet the winemakers from these Iconic New World wines in person:

  • Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand  Sioban Harnett
  • Domaine Chandon/Green Point, Yarra Valley, South Australia  Matt Steele
  • Cape Mentelle, Margaret River, Western Australia   Robert Mann
  • Terrazas, Mendoza, Argentina  Gustavo Sanchez
  • Cheval des Andes, Mendoza, Argentina  Nicolas Audebert

(Cheval des Andes is a joint venture with Chateau Cheval Blanc, Bordeaux)

Moët Hennessy 5 Winemakers Gala Dinner – WAITLISTED

The Long Room, Ballymaloe House, Saturday evening, May 9th 8.30pm

Attend this fabulous 6 course Food and Wine dinner hosted by the winemakers from these 5 Iconic New world wineries. Each course will be partnered with a wine that will be presented by one of the winemakers. Each wine and food pairing will be a prefect combination of flavours.

As places are limited for this unique dinner, booking ahead is strongly advised

Food and Wine workshops at the Ballymaloe Cookery School – PLACES STILL AVAILABLE

Saturday afternoon, May 9th, and Sunday morning, May 10th

Attend a series of  seminars covering iconic wine and food pairings.Each session will be presented by Rory O’Connell (see www.rgoconnell.com ) in partnership with the winemaker. Taste the perfect combination of freshly prepared food with these wines. Learn how to prepare these perfect food pairings for yourself. Learn about these modern day Iconic wines, how they were made, followed by tutored tasting by the wine winemaker.

    Saturday May 9th
    2-3 pm    Domaine Chandon/Green Point, Yarra Valley with Matt Steele
    3.15 – 4.15pm  Cape Mentelle, Margaret River with Robert Mann
    4.30 – 5.30 pm   Terrazas, Mendoza with Gustavo Sanchez
    Sunday -May 10th
    11 – 12pm  Cloudy Bay, Marlborough with Sioban Harnett
    12.15 – 1.30 pm  Cheval des Andes, Mendoza with Nicolas Audebert

Booking

Open to all, we look forward to welcoming you at some or all of these unique and once-off food and wine events over the weekend. Dinner, including wines €85. Workshops €25.

For further information and bookings for dinner, workshops or accommodation, please contact:

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork. Tel:  021 4652531 res@ballymaloe.ie

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Domaine Du Vieux Télégraphe

Daniel Brunier from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe with Darina and Colm.
Daniel Brunier from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe with Darina and Colm.

We were delighted to welcome to the school on Thursday 23rd April 2009,Daniel Brunier, owner/winemaker of the famous Domaine Du Vieux Télégraphe,Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone. Daniel gave a fascinating presentation andtasting, included the 2005 Vieux Télégraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape. We wouldlike to thank Conor O’Brien of James Nicholson’s Wine merchants forarranging this visit.Vieux Télégraphe is one of the most renowned estates of the Southern Rhône.

Vieux Télégraphe is a large estate and there are about 45 hectares of redgrapevines planted, with an average age of around 55 years. Blessed with oneof the finest locations in the area, the particularly hot microclimate issuch that the Bruniers, owners of the estate for almost a century, are ableto harvest as much as a week ahead of their neighbours. Vieux Télégraphe’sblend is a typical one, with Grenache accounting for around two thirds, therest being made up of Syrah and Mourvèdre in roughly equal proportions, anda tiny bit of Cinsault.