Lillet -- another (delicious) surprise from Bordeaux

Bordeaux is not only famous for the fact that it is a World Heritage Site, or that it is at the heart of the best wine-growing area of the world, or where the best wines are produced and the at the core of wine tourism. It is also the home of one of the most delicious aperitifs -- a specialty of this region -- Lillet.

Paul and Raymond Lillet, distillers and merchants of fine wines, introduced their first bottles of Lillet to the public back in 1972.

Lillet is a blend of wines from the most prestigious wine growing areas of the world (85%) and fruit liqueurs (15%) that result in this deliciously sweetish -- but not too sweet, alcoholic but refreshing, lingeringly flavoursome drink. The liqueurs used in the blend are made from sweet oranges from Spain, bitter oranges from Haiti, green oranges from Morocco and Tunisia and cinchona bark (quinine) from Peru.

There are 8 phases in the long and slow making of Lillet -- from the selection of the finest wines, the importation and preparation of the best fruits from around the world, fermentation of the wine in oak barrels, the making of the fruit liqueurs, the blending of the wine and liqueur, maturation and bottling.
All this takes place in the delightful little village of Podensac -- in the heart of the Graves vineyards of the Bordeaux wine-growing area, only 30 kilometers south of Bordeaux.

Lillet is probably as well known for its exceptional taste as for its advertising campaigns over the last 160 years. The posters, and especially the beautifully crafted promotional fans -- which bore the exotic and unique Lillet designs, which were handed out at theatres and in restaurants and wine bars, can now be seen on private collections and museums. Look out for the bright posters -- even the copies have become collectors' pieces!

The production plant is open from 15 June to 15 September from 10h00 to 18h00 -- well worth a visit when you are in the Bordeaux area!

And in the mean time, treat yourself to glass of Lillet -- well chilled, with a small piece of frozen orange and a sprig of mint, poured over a half glass of ice cubes.

Recipes:

Frozen orange, lime and lemon slices:

Wash the unpeeled fruit well.
Cut the lemons and oranges in slices of about 1/2 cm. (leave the skin on)
Place the slices separately on a flat cookie sheet on a shelf in the freezer for about 24 hours.
When the slices are well frozen, place them in a plastic container with a lid and keep in the freezer until needed.
Use the slices or part of the slices in cocktails and iced drinks.

Lillet cocktails:

Lillet Mojito:

Ingredients for one glass:
2 oz White Lillet
4 ice cubes
2 tablespoons crushed ice
3-4 leaves fresh mint
2 lime wedges
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Tonic water or Perrier

In a glass crush the lime and mint with the simple syrup.
Add the crushed ice and Lillet
Top with tonic water or Perrier and ice cubes.

Dessert

Fruit gratin and white Lillet Sabayon

Serves 4
1 1/2 lb assorted seasonal fruit
1/2 cup Lillet white
3/4 lb sugar
Juice of one orange
9 egg yolks
10 fresh mint leaves
Prepare a fruit salad with the fruit.
Macerate the fruit salad for 6 hours with the Lillet, 3 tablespoons sugar and the orange juice.
Mix the egg yolks with the remaining sugar until the micture whitens.
Gently heat while continuing to whisk
Set aside
Drain the fruit salad and transfer to dessert plates that are oven proof
Cover with the sabauon and grill until golden
Garnish with the mint leaves.

The above are recipes with white Lillet -- the orange flavoured Lillet.
There is also a red Lillet -- flavoured with red fruits -- a different, richerr and fuller taste.

Ad when you do visit the Lillet plant at Podensac, why not do so on 25 November 2007 -- in two weeks' time -- for the famous Foire de St Catherine!





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The Orpheus and Bacchus Music and Wine Festival, St Emilion and Bordeaux

Travel Video and TV News report:

Music and Markets Offers Sumptuous Bordeaux Fall Getaway

Fall into the ultimate French getaway – luxuriating in Bordeaux’s renowned wine country and imbibing inimitable wine, food, music and guests on this, their most splendid tour, a sumptuous autumn escape to Bordeaux. This week-long getaway includes a rejuvenating grape-treatment spa, delectable haute cuisine, world-class wines (of course!), and best of all, mingling with internationally recognized musicians throughout the day before hearing them perform in an intimate soirée setting.

Throughout the week, guests will indulge in a lavish menu of cultural and gastronomic pleasures. The first night is spent delightfully decompressing amid the vineyards of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte at the Sources de Caudalie Hotel and spa.

The next day, guests can relax and refresh during a morning of pampering at the renowned Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, before departing for St. Emilion, a medieval village set above the Dordogne River valley and surrounded by chateaux and vineyards. Postcard perfection awaits as guests can stroll the cobblestone streets, enjoy an aromatic pause at a patisserie, tuck into a boutique or two, and select a bottle of wine at a town vintner. Then in the evening, epicurean delights await during dinner at a former Cardinal’s palace, now a gracious hotel and restaurant inside the ramparts of the historic village, a Unesco World Heritage site.

For the next four days, as part of the Orpheus and Bacchus Music and Wine Festival, guests will continue to discover the lush beauty and culinary riches of the region, following the route du vin through the oft-toasted vineyards of Bordeaux at harvest time, and can either test their culinary prowess during a hands-on cooking class with Chef Georges, sniff, swish and swirl at a wine-tasting class with a Master of Wine, or just absorb the distinct pleasures of the treasure-filled villages of the region. Other activities include an insider’s visit to a winery that will allow guests to learn about the intricacies of quality wine making, and purchase, if they’d like, wines direct from the viticulteur.

It is the evening entertainment; however, that sets this Bordeaux getaway apart from all others. In the midst of stellar vineyards is the home of the Orpheus and Bacchus Music and Wine Festival, owned and organized by Ian Christians. Here guests will enjoy his bubbly house party with world-class musicians and fellow music lovers, sharing many a bon soir mingling with other guests, savoring hors d’oeuvres and aperitifs before stepping into the salon, La Musique, where artists introduce the works they’ve prepared for the evening. The grand venue, originally designed in the 1700s as a celebration hall for the vendage, boasts wonderful oak beams, stone-arched windows, and a splendid Steinway, owned previously by renowned pianist Alfred Brendel.

The artistry continues, as Chef Georges Gotrand presents his culinary masterpieces at a candlelit dinner table. Georges introduces each evening’s palate-pleasing menu, and the resident Master of Wine provides expert commentary about the wines and the rationale for the pairings. After the main course, guests return to the salon for a shorter, less formal concert before completing the evening with an abundant array of cheeses, as well as dessert and coffee.

This captivating combination of fine food and wine, marvelous music, and plenty of pampering – all in a lush French countryside setting – begins October 5 and is priced at $4450 per person. Each Music and Markets tour is limited to no more than 10 people, allowing each participant to receive personal service and attention that’s often unavailable on other tour packages.

For more information about the Music and Markets in Bordeaux tour, or any other
Music and Markets offering, contact us here.

Related articles:
Bordeaux
Canadian Resort near St Emilion
Bordeaux
Tourism and Porperty in France
Wine tasting weekends in Bordaux


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The festival of the river in Bordeaux - and activity holidays

In June each year, the whole city of Bordeaux celebrates one of its two fundamental assets - the vine and the river - alternating between them from one year to the next.

This year both were celebrated - during the same week! The Wine Week in Bordeaux is huge -- and accommodation is at a premium, and yu would do weel to book now for next year!. As for the Festival of the River -- this is a colourful and exciting event and not to missed!
This year, the fifth edition of "Bordeaux fête le fleuve" focused on the river and was dedicated to the port city's relations with the world. It began on Saturday the 16th June with the arrival of three exceptional ships: the Belem, the Cuauhtemoc and the Recouvrance.
Make the most of the many activities - 'ports of call' - (see the full schedule. There is something for everyone -- volleyball, football and rugby tournaments in the sand arena on the right bank, the giant picnic at midday on Saturday along the quaysides (left bank), the nautical parade and of course, the swim across Bordeaux -- which took place today.
And then there is, as always, the music programme, with 4 concerts held this year on the right bank.
The Tourist Office offered a Visitors Pass and turnkey breaks.
Book now for next year June -- this is something quite wonderful!

Feel like an Active Weekend in the Périgord Dordogne?

This is an example of what is on offer for visitors to the region : A sporty weekend specially for you in the Périgord with the focus on open air activities. To start with, you can enjoy a morning given over to horse-riding (in the village of Tamnies) or to golf (in Périgueux), and afterwards half a day on a mountain bike, another half a day canoeing, both with state-registered instructors on hand for beginners. The local heritage is part of the fun with the Visit of Périgueux, to the Gallo-Roman or Medieval and Renaissance part. The programme also includes a typical – and therefore revigorating – dinner in a restaurant in town to be chosen from a list provided by the Tourist Office.

For your accommodation, you can choose to suit your pocket, from camping to a 4-star hotel. Price (per person): from 114 € in a campsite to 246 € in a 4* hotel (double room). As well as accommodation, the price includes the visit of the town, a Périgord dinner, a morning's horse-riding or golf, half a day's mountain biking and half a day's canoeing. Tourist or resident, this sounds like the perfect weekend for those who enjoy an activity holiday!

Related Links:
Buying property in France
Bordeaux; Feast for body and soul
Canadians build new resort and estate near Bordeaux
The Bordeaux Renaissance
Tourism and property in France


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Buying property in France

There are as many articles written about buying property in France as there are people buying property in France! It is a phenomenon in its own right. Probably because France is one of the most retirement friendly, investor friendly and DINKY- and DITKY- friendly countries -- where property can still be bought for very reasonable money and growth and increase in value is almost 100% assured. In particular the SouthWest of France, here in the Perigord Dordogne, the non-French - as well as the French themselves, are streaming in to profit from the low prices, the number of available properties with potential for restoration and DYI improvements, good weather, friendly locals, diversity of interests and job opportunities and of course the very good and healthy life style.

I have been writing quite a bit about Bordeaux -- the city that is undergoing a renaissance which is remarkable and wonderful, as well as about the developments that are happening in the area, where off-the-plan homes can be bought in comfortable and attractive estates.

Related Links:
Bordeaux; Feast for body and soul
Canadians build new resort and estate near Bordeaux
The Bordeaux Renaissance
Tourism and property in France


In an article by Lucy Alexander in The Times a few days ago, she writes:

Posh pads that pay their way
Fancy an affordable luxury home in Bordeaux?

Buying property in France may be a costly tangle of red tape, but that doesn’t seem to deter the Britons who own more than 200,000 properties there, according to figures from Rightmove.com. France’s obvious attractions combined with low property prices would seem to be an effective analgesic for the headache induced by VAT, wealth tax, residents’ tax and legal and agency fees.

If your dream is to buy and renovate a rundown farm, an element of expensive hassle is inevitable. But if you’re seeking a holiday home that doubles as an investment, France’s leaseback scheme, which offers tax breaks on the purchase of buy-to-let properties, is an attractive option. The quality of leaseback developments varies, but more luxurious ones are becoming more common as the purchasing power of the pound grows. The Canadian resort operator Intrawest has spotted a market in France, and is now building its first non-ski resort there.

She talks about the difficulty foreign buyers encounter when they come up against the tax laws, inheritance laws and wealth tax, VAT, residents' tax and red tape in general. When I bought property and moved to France, it took me an entire year, expensive legal advice, relocation advice, surveyors' reports, and much more before I finally took possession of the keys and moved in. Then I would have agreed with Ms Alexander - and the general perception of the difficulties one has to deal with in buying property in France.
However -- last month good friends of mine from Australia came to Bordeaux for one week, found an exceptional apartment to buy - with a terrace and view over the river - signed the Compromis de Vente within two hours of seeing the apartment for the first time, and all the red tape, all the papers -- every single requirement, within the next couple of days. The contract is with the notaires and the final deed of sale is expected to be signed and possession taken the first week in September.
Admittedly, they did do their homework beforehand -- but -- all research was done in Australia and all over the internet, they did obtain a local bank approved loan before they came, and I did spend a little time in Bordeaux looking at the best areas and apartments that were for sale, and -- they did buy the apartment through a reputable estate agent. No doubt that helps enormously. The money that you would save on agents' commission is just not worth the energy and headaches -- and other hidden costs you would have otherwise.

If you are interested in investing in property in France, do not be put off by the red tape involved, or by the horror stories you hear from people who have come here before you. Equip yourself well with the plethora of information that is available to you about buying property in France, do your research, do your homework, make sure you have your bank behind you and you will find it is as easy as - enjoying a glass of Bordeaux wine! - Or you can of course attend one of the excellent Relocation and Orientation Courses offered right here in Château Lalinde - be it with the view to come and live in France or simply to spend your holidays in France.

You can still buy a large, lovely honey coloured stone house in the Dordogne, ---or a gorgeous two bedroomed flat with visible 600 year old oak beams and exquisite light, a balcony looking out onto the cobble-stoned streets and in a restored stone building in the heart of the old, historic quarters of Bordeaux - to let out to the thriving and growing tourist market or to use as a pied-a-terre when you visit France - and all for less than €200 000.

So -- what are you waiting for?


Two highly recommended and very good value for money
Chambres d'Hotes - B&B - Bed and Breakfast in Bordeaux:

Une Chambre en Ville
Pedroni Guesthouse





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Pedroni Guesthouse : detail

Bordeaux : A Feast for the body and soul

Bordeaux : Centre of Wine, Food, the Arts and Shopping -- A Culture Vulture's paradise!
As Alain Juppe, the Mayor of Bordeaux says:

The world capital of wine, famous for its excellent lifestyle, Bordeaux also features some of Europe's most charming and impressive examples of 18th century architecture.
Located in the heart of a region offering countless attractions, Bordeaux combines celebration, great wines, and first class cuisine.

The excellent public transport makes getting around so easy -- the tram system introduced a few years ago has revolutionised Bordeaux and probably made it one of the visitor-friendliest cities in the world. The trams are convenient and quick and excellent value. There are many underground parking garages all over the city and finding ones way into the city is made easy with many clear signs indicating where the different areas and the different parking garages are.

The Quartiers of Bordeaux:
The Triangle
The triangle is formed by the Allees de Tourney, Cours Georges Clemenceau and Cours de l'Intendence. This is the city's heart where every kind of shop, every type of restaurant, and every class of hotel can be found to suit every person's taste.

Rue St Catherine
Stretching from the aristocratic Place de la Comedie to the student district at Place de la Victoire, it is the longest pedestrian-only street in Europe. It is lined with many of France's best known retail outlets -- and it is crossed by the other very interesting pedestrian streets such as Rue de la Porte Dijeaux, as well as the bigger arterials such as Rue Alsace Lorraine and Cours Victor Hugo. A giant open air shopper's paradise!


Quartier Saint-Pierre
The Saint-Pierre district is a maze of cobble stoned streets and alleys amongst the beautiful stone buildings of Bordeaux -- many of which are craftsmen’s and artist's studios and galleries. The district also features avant-garde showrooms - and some of the most spectacular examples of the massive restoration project which the entire Bordeaux is undergoing. Saint-Pierre's many little squares tucked away amongst the buildings offer outdoor restaurants and cafes and wherever you decide to sit and enjoy a meal or a glass of wine, you will also have a lovely - and often entertaining view of your surroundings.

Quartier St Michel
This has always been a district where beautiful antiques and unusual second-hand items can be found. There is a flea market as well as a second-hand and bric-a-brac gallery, and a colourful variety of Mediterranean and especially Moroccan grocery shops and bazaars -- with a feast of colour and smell and sound. People who enjoy hunting for good deals will just love this area, which is also much appreciated by students - and tourists in the know.

Les Chartrons
This is a virtually self-sufficient district with a village atmosphere and plenty of quality boutiques. The district includes Rue Notre Dame, a street full of antique dealers, second-hand shops and art galleries, as well as Rue du Faubourg des Arts which has recently become the area for serious artists and designers. Les Chartrons is reputedly the developing 'in' place to be in Bordeaux and there are still some interestingly-priced properties to be had for the prospective buyer, but you will have to be quick, as the prices are going up as we speak.


When you wander through the market, you may see a table with a hot plate and a large pot of soup simmering........ Bring a vegetable, take a seat in the shade under one of the lovely trees, peel your vegetable and then give it to the man with the bright floral apron. While he is cutting up your vegetable into the soup pot, you can enter a small cubicle and listen to someone tell you a fascinating little two minutes story............. And comes lunch time, return to the table under the trees and the man in the apron will give you a delicious cup of the 'composed' soup! ----What a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning!
 


On the river there may be a cruise liner from some exotic shores that is in port for the night, or there may be a opera costume festival where you can try on well know opera figures' costumes, or an interesting exhibition in the Aquitaine Museum, or street musicians performing for passers-by - for the pure pleasure of it, or perhaps a slightly more formal dinner and music recital in Cafe Louis adjacent to the Opera House... always something going on and always something for everyone's taste....

Related Links:
Bordeaux: Renaissance of a City
Morocco comes to Bordeaux
Wine Tasting in Bordeaux

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Japanese Manga comic boosts Dordogne wine sales

"Taste of heaven: Manga spreads 'Drops of God' in Asia" reports Sophie Hardach in Reuters today.

Apparently "Wine reviews with a twist are a speciality of "Kami no Shizuku" ("The Drops of God"), a manga comic series that has taken Japan by storm, is conquering Korea and China and has boosted European wine sales along the way.
Written by a brother-and-sister duo of wine enthusiasts, the manga comic combines a mystery plot with a playful introduction to European wines. Think "The Da Vinci Code" set in a Tokyo bar.

"The minute it was translated into Korean, we had calls from three importers," said Basaline Granger Despagne, whose family has grown wine near France's Dordogne river for 250 years. Their Chateau Mont Perat 2001 Bordeaux appears early on in the manga. With this sudden interest, the producers are getting calls from all over for shipments of wine. Basaline Granger Despagne said her family had been approached by distributors in mainland China but had so far found no one they felt comfortable selling their wine to.

"When it was translated into Chinese, people called us from Taiwan saying, 'I bought some Mont Perat and sold 50 cases in two days because of the manga'," she said in a phone interview. In Korea, businessmen drop names from the serialised book into chats with reporters and shops display "Drops of God" signs.

Wine industry experts believe part of the manga's appeal is that it teaches readers enough about wine to understand the drink and impress their friends, but does so in an entertaining way. The main character of the manga, a young man called Shizuku Kanzaki, discovers the beauty of wine after his father, a famous wine critic, dies and leaves an unusual will: a description of 12 wines he considers to be the best in the world, comparing them to Jesus Christ's disciples. The first person to find these "disciples" will inherit the father's wine collection, a contest that pits Shizuku against his adoptive brother, Issey Tomine, who works as a sommelier."

The authors say the manga is not sponsored by anyone and they choose the wines based on their own independent research, including trips abroad and tastings.

Japan probably has the most developed wine scene in the Asia. At a recent wine tasting in Tokyo's Grand Hyatt hotel, row after row of Japanese wine lovers were expertly slurping, spitting and taking notes as German sommelier Markus Del Monego explained what they were drinking.

Early next year, "The Drops of God" will be published in French, possibly followed by Italian. The original book series is expected to continue for another five years or so, and there is talk of a film.

© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Related post:
Asterix vs Manga : Japanese comics conquer the hearts of France

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Learning French : One phrase a day

Et si on allait a Bordeaux la semaine prochaine?
What do you say we go to Bordeaux next week? How about we go to Bordeaux next week?






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Aquitaine Langues : Language School in the Dordogne

Total Immersion French Courses

Canadians build a new resort in the Dordogne

St. Emilion

If you've always dreamed of owning a traditional property in rural France, but don't want to be isolated or get involved in renovation work, a new development in the Bordeaux region may be just the ticket.

According to an article by Laura Latham in The Independent two days ago, you will now be able to invest in some stylish mock architecture in France. Close to the beautiful St Emilion, there is a pocket of rural charm -- a ruined 19thC manor house with its outbuilding, surrounded by farm land and vineyards, called the Domaine Haut-Gardegan. This will form the backdrop to a new village, which, though being built from scratch, is designed to look as though it has always been there.

As well as a mix of flats and detached houses, the 12-acre estate will have cobbled streets, a village square with restaurant and bar, and shops run by independent local retailers. And the old stable block is being regenerated into a market place where you will be able to buy fresh produce, just as you would in any farmers' market.

Will it be a Disney-esque attempt to capture the magic of Bordeaux?, asks Ms Latham. Well, it makes a refreshing change from the faceless new-builds in more developed locations – but it may come as little surprise that there is transatlantic involvement: the Canadian developer bought the site after the original owner failed in his attempt to turn it into a golf course, and though there will still be an 18-hole course, designed by the champion Tom Lehman, the main focus of the project is the village.
"It will be built in the traditional mellow stone of the area, and according to strict planning laws. The original manor house at the centre of the development dates back to 1890, but burnt down in the 1950s and is now a shell. Nevertheless, the company decided to keep it as a focal point, and the structure help to preserve a sense of the history and character of the original estate. " The chateau will have some renovation, but it will be left as a ruin. Along with the open market and exhibition space, it will be the soul of the site".

Not everything at Haut-Gardegan is as you would find in your average village, though. In addition to the golf course (which will be open to the public) there will be a spa, swimming pools, acres of formal gardens, a conference centre and a cookery school, all aimed at drawing visitors throughout the year. The company hopes to attract a top chef for the school, where residents and visitors can do classes.

Property is priced from £205,000, which gives you a 42sq m, one-bedroom apartment with terrace and views over the countryside or golf course. At the upper end, a 98sq m three-bedroom penthouse apartment, with Jacuzzi on the terrace, starting at about €300,000, and when the villas are released, they'll be more expensive still. So, it's not cheap, but the proximity of sought-after St Emilion raises prices. Plus, residents will have access to on-site facilities, including concierge services.

You may find that you're there more than you think – part of the beauty of owning in this area is that you can hop over with ease. It'sa 90-minute flight from the UK to Bordeaux; three hours from Paris via TGV."




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