Wine Tasting in the Trapp Family Lodge Wine Cellar

Friday, December 4th 4:00 to 6:00

 We will be tasting new releases of Reds from the South of France, for inclusion on our list.  John Fagan of Calmont Beverage, will be on hand to discuss the wines and answer any questions. Wine has been produced in South of France for more than 2000 years. The Greek, Phoenicians, and later the Romans, established colonies to produce wine and oil here. The Roman historian Titus Livius was lauding "wines of light" from Limoux two thousand years ago. The South of France was the first region annexed by the Romans, in about 125 B.C., decades before Julius Caesar brought the rest of Gaul under his control. The area was ancient Rome with a French twist, a synergistic blend of two cultures and lifestyles that left a permanent imprint on both of them. In the Rhone wines from the right bank were the favourite wines of kings and the papal community in Avignon at the time of the schism. In the mid 17th century the right-bank district of Côte du Rhône had issued regulations to govern the quality of its wine and in 1737 the king ordered that casks of wine shipped from the nearby river port of Roquemaure should be branded with the letters CDR to introduce a system of protecting its origin. The rules for its Côte du Rhône thus formed the very early basis of today's nationwide AOC system governed by the INAO. The Cotes du Rhone in Provence is home to some of the most dependable wines at prices that are equally appealing. The reason for the affordability is a combination of the abundance of wine produced and the concentration on making fine wines rather than marketing them. Of the twenty three grape varieties grown in the Cotes du Rhone, Syrah and Grenache are the most commonly used for reds with Mourvedre, Cinsault or Carignan added. The vins de pays are making comparable strides, notably the Vins de Pays d'Oc with its emphasis on varietal wines providing France's riposte to the competition of the New World. The format will be casual, walk around with cheese and bread.  The wines featured will be:

Grenachè-Syrah, “Le Drunk Rooster”, Bourgois Family 2007

Côtes du Rhone, “Sensation”, Domaine de la Berthèté 2007

Ventoux, “Terrasses”, Château Pesquié 2007

Gigondas, Domaine des Florets, 2007

A sign-up sheet will be available at the front desk (253-5742 or 800-826-7000) and there will be a $15.00 fee per person.