Photo: JamieOliver.com

Jamie Oliver’s recipe for Smoked salmon, horseradish & cress toasts teams perfectly with a fresh and fruity white Bordeaux wine and together they make the perfect hors d’oeuvres (or appetisers) for a summer party. So, team these delicious toasts with a dry white Bordeaux such as Château Argadens 2011 and you’re all set for the beginnings to a perfect party (inside or outside!).

Recipe:

• ½ teaspoon creamed horseradish
• ½ small tub crème fraîche
• 1 small pinch sea salt
• 1 small pinch freshly ground black pepper
• 1 squeeze lemon juice
• 1 loaf ciabatta
• extra virgin olive oil
• 300 g smoked salmon, from sustainable sources, ask your fishmonger
• ½ punnet cress
• extra virgin olive oil
• 1 squeeze lemon juice

Click here to read the recipe and instructions in full on JamieOliver.com

The Wine: Château Argadens 2011

Situated at St-André-du-Bois in the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation, Argadens has been transformed into a model estate since its purchase by the Sichel family. The 2011 white is 65% Sauvignon, part early, part later picked for complexity, with the balance Semillon. Fresh, fragrant, delicious.

Buy it on The Wine Society’s website...

Choose from other suitable wines at Bordeaux.com/UK

Have you entered our summer Facebook competition yet? You can win a case of Bordeaux Wines AND a 6-month adult membership to the ZSL London Zoo!

ENTER HERE

Throughout the summer, Bordeaux Wines will be taking over London in style and adopting the role of official wine sponsor for some of the capital’s most interesting and exciting events. So, whether you’re a film buff and want to enjoy your favourite bottle of Bordeaux under the stars in Somerset House, or would rather enjoy a glass while dancing the night away at a silent disco in the middle of the ZSL London Zoo, we’ll be with you all the way. Read on to find out exactly where you’ll find us this summer and how you could be there too thanks to our amazing competitions.

#BordeauxGoesWild at ZSL London Zoo #ZooLates

We’re kicking off our summer in wild-style and next week the party begins at ZSL London Zoo as we host The Bordeaux Jardin du Vin as the exclusive wine sponsors of the famed Zoo Lates!

Every Friday night in June and July will see ZSL London Zoo open its doors to grown ups after hours, giving visitors the chance to explore one of the city’s most iconic attractions in a whole new light and discover their favourite Bordeaux Wines at the same time!

Bordeaux Wines will be on hand throughout each and every night, offering wine tastings from the famous Bordeaux Usherettes, Bordeaux masterclasses from our amazing accredited tutors and a beautiful space right in the middle of the event to relax and soak up the buzzing atmosphere of our very own urban jungle: The Bordeaux Jardin du Vin.

Plus if seeing us there wasn’t enough, you can catch the Zoo’s newest residents, Sumatran tigers Jae Jae and Melati in their £3.6m Tiger Territory exhibit!

EXCLUSIVE FOR BORDEAUX FANS…

Launching on the first night of Zoo Lates, Bordeaux Wines will be offering their Facebook fans an incredible opportunity to win amazing prizes. We are keeping hush hush on the exact details for now, just know that come Friday 7^th June, if you are a Bordeaux Wine fan, you will want to head over to our Facebook page and be in with a chance of winning! Make sure that you’re a Bordeaux fan by Friday 7^th June 2013 to get a chance to win!

We will also be running exclusive Twitter competitions to win pairs of tickets to the Zoo Lates themselves on 31st May AND 7th June.

Here’s the first one!!

We have 2 PAIRS of tickets to give away for #ZooLates on 14.6.13 as official wine spons!! FOLLOW and RT by 7pm to win! #bordeauxgoeswild

— Bordeaux Wines UK (@BordeauxWinesUK) May 31, 2013

Our recommendation? 

Follow us HERE
Like us HERE  

… and stay in touch to keep up to date with these amazing opportunities!

FYI: Tickets are on sale now (www.zsl.org/zoolates) and groups of ten or more get a 50% discount on the full ticket price.

Film 4 Summer Screen at Somerset House with American Express

As a Bordeaux Wine lover, you may well remember that we were the official wine sponsors of Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House last year… well, now we are back again and the event is set to be bigger and better than ever!

Film4 Summer Screen is one of the most popular and unique nights out in London over the summer months and from 8^th-21^st August this year it will be no different as a magical roster of films hits the amazing open-air cinema screen. If you want a taster of what to expect, just take a look below!

We will be releasing much more exclusive news and opportunities to win tickets to this amazing event closer to the time so stay tuned!

To see the official list of films this year and for ticket enquiries for 2013, visit: www.somersethouse.org.uk

Their choice has been dubbed the Everyday Bordeaux Selection, a collection of excellent wines from the region priced between  £6 and £20. We put a wide range of wines (over 140!!), readily available in the UK, to the test by six independent judges, all of whom are members of the Association of Wine Educators (AWE) and Bordeaux accredited tutors.

Led by Chairman Richard Bampfield (who is also the Chairman of the AWE), the tutors got stuck in, all blind tasting each bottle of red, white, rosé and sweet Bordeaux Wines to make their independent tasting notes before the final decision.

According to Richard “making the selection this year was probably the easiest it has been in the 5 years since this initiative started”. Why you ask? Richard went on to say that it is due to the constantly improving winemaking and better technology used throughout Bordeaux, which has made the quality of submissions this year very high.

So what should you expect from the 2012 selection? We asked Richard to give us some hints as to what the selection has in store for us all this year.

“Mention the word Bordeaux and most people think of the great Châteaux and glamorous wines that are only affordable to the super rich. But the engine room of Bordeaux, the biggest quality wine-producing region in France, is rather lower down the price scale – and it is this sector of the market that features in the Everyday Bordeaux selection: good, everyday wines – red, white and rosé – that don’t break the bank, that are enjoyable to drink and yet also have that extra dimension provided by what many see as the finest wine area in the world.”

“The reds have a purity of fruit, roundness and approachability that are well suited to modern tastes.  And the whites and rosés have a freshness and zestiness that are all too often missing in whites from hotter parts of the world.”

All in all, 2012 is proving to be a very exciting year and we cannot wait to share the final list with you all when it is released. Keep an eye out for updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.  We’ll let you know as soon as the 2012 list is announced!

Check out the photos from behind the scenes at the official tasting below:

Photo: http://bit.ly/102W9yM

The weather itself is looking promising so we’ve scoured the web for our favourite food and wine pairings that are the perfect addition to a sunny Springtime picnic, no matter what your taste for food or preference in Bordeaux wine!

1. A crisp bottle of white Bordeaux with a fresh Spring salad with watercress dressing.

Photo: BBC Good Food

You can’t beat a fresh spring salad with a well-balanced, chilled bottle of Bordeaux white wine. We love the sound of this salad with beans, peas, asparagus and parmesan; it’s easy to throw together and would pair perfectly with one of the wines from the selection below.
Click here for the recipe.
Click here to choose from any of these Bordeaux Whites for the perfect match.

NB: If you’d rather something more substantial for your picnic, why not try shredding up prawns, crab or lobster, tossing them together with lemon juice, chives, salt and pepper and placing them in avocado halves. This quick recipe would also pair incredibly well with the wine selection above and can be pre-prepared at home.

2. A beautiful bottle of Bordeaux Rosé with some lovely cold, homemade Thai Fishcakes.

Photo: Channel4

We’ve already seen from our Supper Club with the amazing Luiz Hara (LINK) last year that Bordeaux Wine can be excellently paired with Asian food. Hence we love the idea of preparing these delicious fish cakes at home, packing them up and enjoying them cold at our picnic with a beautiful bottle of chilled Bordeaux Rosé! We found a great recipe for them on Channel 4’s website, so make a note and be sure to make time to cook them before you head outside!

Click here for the recipe.
Click here to choose from any of these Bordeaux Rosés for the perfect match.

3. A well-rounded Bordeaux red to compliment the perfect outdoor barbeque.

Photo: http://bit.ly/11SFuC8

If a glass of Bordeaux red is more to your taste, why not pack up a portable barbecue and grill your favourite red meats to perfection for the perfect outdoor burgers, lamb skewers and hot dogs!

We love this easy to drink selection of delicate and fruity Bordeaux reds that should go perfectly with a light barbeque. Click here to see the list…

Photo: http://bit.ly/11SFuC8

So there you have it, the perfect picnic and some great Bordeaux wines to suit every taste to compliment it! We hope you have a brilliant Bank Holiday; we’re all crossing our fingers for sun!!

Three sessions are organised in May: the entry level Technical Course, the intermediate Practical Course and the expert Grand Crus Course. Read on to find out more about the programmes offered and what else you can do in Bordeaux when class is over! Remember to book your spot soon, availability on the course is limited.

Technical level – Tasting Bordeaux wines, from A to Z

For specific details and prices CLICK HERE.

Held over two days, this session aims to give trainees a comprehensive knowledge of soils, grape varieties, and the classification system of the region. After tasting various wines, Bordeaux will have no more secrets for you! You’ll walk away with a great background knowledge of the wines from the region, and even get a chance to make your own blend. A wine estate visit is also in the program, with a wine tasting dinner at a private château. This is your chance to discover Bordeaux and get to know the people behind the wines.

Practical level -  Bordeaux wines explained in the glass!

For specific details and prices CLICK HERE

Practical level courses focus on improving your tasting skills and stimulate your senses (it is highly recommend that you undergo the Technical training prior to participating in the Practical Level – see above). The course is held over two days and is a discovery of Bordeaux wines through in-depth blind tasting to understand the influence of terroir and vintages, and an opportunity to enrich your tasting vocabulary and experience. This session also emphasises successful food and wine pairing.

Grands Crus level – Discovering the “Grands Crus” of Bordeaux

For specific details and prices CLICK HERE

Once you’ve mastered the Technical and Practical sessions (recommended), this is the chance to perfect your knowledge of classified growths. This is life at the fullest, Bordeaux–style: three days travelling the vineyards to discover and taste wines from four prestigious regions: Médoc, Sauternes, Graves and Saint-Emilion.

Now, what do after class?

To make the most of your trip, make sure you stay long enough to explore the city of Bordeaux. With its UNESCO World Heritage status and its “green policies” in place, it is easy to get around town to enjoy the beautiful architecture: the city itself is a like a huge museum!

The tram system and VCub bikes – like London’s hirable Boris bikes – will get you to the newly renovated waterfront in no time (which conveniently has free public WiFi everywhere if you wanted to let us know where you were on Facebook or Twitter). You could also follow the Garonne River and walk down the riverfront, or linger and enjoy a glass of wine at one of the many bars and cafes along the way. For shopping, the pedestrian Rue Sainte Catherine is a must. And if you’re in town on Sunday, the organic market is a must-see, and the perfect opportunity to practice your newly acquired food and wine pairing skills!

For more information on the training classes and how to sign up CLICK HERE…

NB: Discounts apply when book two or more courses together

CLICK HERE for Bordeaux’s visitor information office.

With such a broad array of wines to choose from in Bordeaux, you’ll be hard pushed not to find something she loves; whether that’s a red, white, rose or sweet Bordeaux… however why leave it there? Buy your mum her favourite bottle and be sure to get some something extra special to match her choice.

We’ve compiled a list below that is sure to put you in the good books this Mother’s Day – just choose her favourite coloured Bordeaux wine and be sure to indulge her in a little something extra to compliment it from our neat little gift guide.

Let us know what you go for!

Bordeaux White

If your mum is a fan of a beautifully chilled and crisp glass of white she also might like these.

TRY: Bordeaux Blanc Roc Saint Vincent 2011 with…

Timeless Glamour

The French cast of the much-acclaimed The Artist will bring an interesting twist to your night. It’s all about love and relationships, with the look and feel of the late 20’s and, interesting enough, no words! With such a refreshingly unusual and charming film we would relax with a glass of dry and fresh white Bordeaux.

We recommend: Soft and delicate Graves Château Le Bernet Bellevue (£5-9.99 at Sainsbury’s), fruity Entre-Deux-Mers Château Sainte-Marie (£5-9.99 at Avery’s) or Bordeaux Blanc Château Argadens (£5-9.99 at The Wine Society).

©IMDB

A Sweet Heart

For the sentimental ones out there, you can’t beat Love Actually for a great, feel-good film. It’s heavy on romance but funny and touching at the same time. We’d pair sipping a sweet Bordeaux wine and nibbling on some delicious salted caramel chocolates for the perfect Valentine’s… Just don’t forget the tissues!

We recommend: Rich and mellow Sauternes from Château Liot (£10-14.99 at Waitrose), Ginestet (£10-14.99 at Asda), or Château Suduirant (£15-20 at Waitrose).

Back to the Classics

If classic comedies are more up to you and your partner’s street, why not team up a fresh Bordeaux rosé with the tongue-in-cheek cast of Monty Python. You’ve got so many brilliant films from the archives to choose from we thought we’d make it easier by throwing in a couple of Bordeaux Rosé options.

We recommend: Lively and fresh Château Méaume (£5-9.99 at Majestic Wines), Taste The Difference Bordeaux Rosé (£5-9.99 at Sainsbury’s), or fruity Coeur des Anges (£5-9.99 at Laithwaite’s).

©IMDB

The Hybrid

If your refuse to indulge in a rom-com and need a little more action, why not settle on something like This Means War? You will get bucket loads of action and a cast that’s more than a little easy on the eyes. Keep up with the fast paced vibe of the film with a bright and bold Bordeaux red.

We recommend: Round and full-bodied Côtes de Bourg Vignes de la Citadelle (£5-9.99 at Asda) or Bordeaux Supérieur Château de Bel la Capitane (£10-14.99 at Avery’s), or robust and fresh Médoc Château de Greysac (£10-14.99 at Majestic Wines).

Happy Valentine’s from all at Bordeaux Wines! Enjoy your night in and let us know what you went for!

The 18th – 20th of January saw Earls Court open its doors to everything French for the 6^th annual France Show. From music and property to cheese and (of course!) wine, Francophiles were in their element. Despite the snow, hundreds of people descended upon the venue to experience all of the delights that France has to offer.

Visitors browsed the numerous stands of the arena where French books, magazines and even the most delicious looking pastries and cakes were showcased and available for purchase.

There was something for everyone at the show! The amazing CanCan dancers put the guests in a French state of mind. Michelin-starred chef Pascal Aussignac entertained the crowd with a live cooking demo of recipes from his native Gascony region. And author Kate Mosse talked about her love for the Languedoc region, area where her bestselling Trilogy books’ story unfolds. We even managed to grab some time to watch a Macaroon demonstration, including the chance for a sneaky taste!

France is famous for its gastronomy, so there were plenty of stands giving away samples of food and beverages. That was pure delight! The combination of raclette, crepes and pastries made for some amazing and comforting snacks, just what we felt like with that snowy weather.

Now where wouldn’t be a French Show without a glass of Bordeaux !

The Bordeaux region was delighted once again to be part of the show. Four Bordeaux tastings were scheduled each day, with wine experts Laura Clay and Michelle Cherutti-Kowal handling the mike. Both wonderfully shared their expertise and guided guests through all the colours that our region has to offer.

Each tasting showcased different producers with a common thread: all wines presented retail for £6-£20, a variety of options and colours at approachable prices!

We were really happy to see a mix of Bordeaux curious and Bordeaux aficionados alike, and our experts managed to take some wonderful comments and questions from the room.

Thank you to all of you who braved the snow and came to visit! Take a peek at the France Show video  and some of the pictures we took on the day.

We hope to see you all again next year for another celebration of all things French! The France Show 2014 will be held on 17th – 19th at Earls Court, London. Tickets will go on sale in September.

We believe cooking and winemaking make for a great match. Both are about finding the right combination of flavours to reach the perfect balance. And of course, both are a labour of love!

 Well, the recipes videos are ready and online! If you crave chicken, love lamb or are hungry for haddock, Matt’s collection of easy-to-prepare recipes plays beautifully with the diversity of wine styles in our region. There’s a Bordeaux for every dish and every occasion, casual or fancy!

 When you’re in the mood for a little cooking, take a quick peek at the videos. With help from Wine Expert Ewan Lacey, Matt pounds, slices, chops, stirs and roasts. They combine their skills and passions to find the perfect match: the creaminess of Roquefort in the steak salad with pomegranate seeds, bringing up the fruity notes of Bordeaux Supérieur. The sensational flavours of the pesto-crusted rack of lamb dish rub shoulders with powerful Médoc. The surprising pairing of fruity Saint-Emilion with the delicious Chicken Paillard Gremolata makes for a fantastic combination. And last but not least, the savours of the smoked haddock and two cheese tart are brought forward with the freshness of the white Graves.

These are all simple, no-nonsense recipes that you could easily make at home. As for the wine pairings, the dishes will let you experience all the colours of Bordeaux at a very reasonable price: all bottles retail for under £20. Try them soon, and let us know what you like!

@matt9dawson

@BordeauxWinesUK

@ewanlacey

 

© bordeaux.com

The New Year is upon us once again. We hope you had a wonderful night and popped lots of corks to celebrate!

We had a great year and loved introducing our Art of Living to you. We’re looking forward to the year ahead, and what it holds for Bordeaux and Bordeaux lovers around the world.

Longing for an upcoming Bordeaux moment and excited to know more about your favorite wines, discover new aromas?

You’re in for a treat. Our next event is just around the corner!

We will be hosting tasting seminars at the France Show, January 18-20, at Earls Court. Michelle Cherutti-Kowal and Laura Clay, both Bordeaux Accredited Tutors and members of the Association of Wine Educators, will be hosting.  So if you fancy learning more about Bordeaux from true experts, book your tickets now.

We hope to see some of our lovely readers there! Make sure you come and say hi to the Bordeaux staff, you might get your photo on the blog…

Cheers and A Happy New Year, Bordeaux fans!

Details and tickets for the France Show at http://www.thefranceshow.com/