Wine by the Glass #LanguedocVan

From October 10^th until November 14^th experiences the wines of the Languedoc at four Vancouver wine bars.  The Wine Bar, Brix, Siena, and Seasons in the Park are all pouring between two and four feature wines from this region of foothills and sea in the South of France.  By eating and sipping at each location you can enter to win gift certificates and a fantastic prize of a limousine for two visiting all four wine bars for wine and appetizers.  Take a selfie with a glass of Languedoc wine at each location for even more chances of winning and post it to Twitter and Facebook using the hash tag #LangeudocVan @Languedocwines.

Take a Selfie & Tweet @LanguedocWines
to win prizes including a limo wine bar crawl
Stephen Bonner & Joy Metcalfe

What to know about the Languedoc? It’s a wine region made up of four departments, the Eastern Pyrennes, the Aude, the Herault, and the Gard covering  40,000 ha over a large range of climate and soil types.  The Langeudoc produces a full roster of wine types from still whites, sparkling, rose, reds, and dessert wines.  Winemaking focuses on Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan for red and rose production; along with Grenache blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Viognier, Picpoul, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino and Ugni Blanc for whites. 

Languedoc is rich in food and wine;  bridging the French, Spanish, and North African cultures. Spice markets, cafés, canals, rolling foothills, as well as castles and abbeys dot the landscape. This is home to the Mediterranean lifestyle and diet and an array of wine styles ideally suited to the cuisine.

Vancouver is the perfect North American city to promote and taste this region’s wine. With our Pacific rim, farm to fork, and market-oriented restaurants the wines of Langeudoc are natural partners. Try a Limoux with oysters or sushi, a Minervois red with a herby goat cheese or a burger, a GSM with bbq’d meats or a curry, and a Muscat with chocolate or nut based dessert.

Look for bottles and end caps with the Occitan Cross “The Langeudoc Cross” representing the twelve signs of the zodiac and the months of the year is found on all bottles of wine from this region. An ancient symbol re-interpreted for a classic wine region and wine.

Wines tasted on my recent wine bar crawl

Sieur d’Arques Premiere Bulle Limoux

Pale yellow colour with decent mousse. Aromas of brioche and  flower petals, Light to medium-bodied with crisp apple and white peach notes. Refreshing and round mouth feel.  ***

Chateau Pech-Celeyran Cinquieme Generation La Clape 2011

Yellow straw colour with aromas of flowers and mild tropical fruits. Medium-bodied, nice unctuous texture on the mid palate and flavours of peach, honeysuckle, and guava. Good length and acidity. ***

Domaine Delso Picpoul de Pinet 2012

Pale straw green with aromas of  lime and subtle rose notes. Light-bodied, refreshing acidity, and flavours of  pear, citrus, and flower petals. ***

Gerard Betrand Terrior Minervois 2010

Dark garnet colour with a bouquet of smoke, blackcurrant, and briar. Medium-bodied with garrigue notes, cherry, and plum. Good length with soft tannins.  ***

Domaines Paul Mas GSM Coteaux du Languedoc 2011

Ruby purple colour. Aromas of blackberry, voilets, and mineral. Medium to full-bodied with plum, blackberry, licorice, tobacco, with a finish of spice and savoury herbs. Good value. ****

Saint-Saturnin Le Clocher Languedoc 2010

Garnet red with black plum aromas. Medium-bodied with soft tannins, and flavours of earth, strawberry, and plum. ***

Domaine de Babio Minervois 2009

Ruby red with complex aromas of spice, liquorice, and red fruits. Medium to full-bodied, with youthful tannins, mineral, fruit compote, and meaty undertones. Good complexity and length. ****

Antech Cuvee Expression Cremant de Limoux 2009

Pale straw yellow with good mousse. Aromas of biscuit, nut, brioche, and granny smith apple. Medium-bodied, creamy textured palate, and flavours of honeyed apple, lime,  nuts, brioche, and a hint of sweet pear. ****

Restaurants participating in the Languedoc Wine Bar Crawl

Provence/The Wine Bar              1167  Marineside Crescent           @TWB_TheWineBar

Brix                                             138 Homer Street                         @brixvan

Seasons in the Park                     QE Park                                       @SeasonsinQEPark

Siena                                           1485 West 12^th                             @SienaVancouver

Wines of France Luncheon

I was at a recent luncheon and tasting of wines from the Alsace, Loire, and Languedoc organised by Sommelier Mireille Sauve and Sopexa Canada. The seminar focused on the misconceptions that many Vancouverites have on French wines i.e. expensive, confusing, and not understanding label and region as well as its food friendly nature. According to the BCLDB the French wine market amounts to  8.1% of the BC market share with the all inclusive  catchall “Midi/Provence” region(s) making up a majority of wine sales.

The seminar looked at the reduction of the four tiered classification system to the new three tier with AoP “Appellation d'Origine Protégée” at the top of the pyramid followed by the IGP “Indication Geographique Protegée” and Vin de France.

Not a surprise to the trade attendees was the great value and food friendly nature of French wines  from these regions. The wines were paired well and creatively with food from Siena restaurant.

Huet Vouvray Petillant Brut $34.90

Straw green with subtle toast, spice, pear, and mineral aromas. Medium-bodied, crisp acidity, rich mouthfeel with apple, pear, and undertones of minerals and toast.

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose $29.99

Eye of partridge colour. Cherry, strawberry and herb aromas, Light-bodied, good acidity, red cherry, herb, and meaty  flavours.

Bruschetta Trio

Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet $13.99

Straw green/yellow. Aromas of grapefruit pitch and mineral. Medium-bodied with good balance of acidity and texture. Notes of glace fruits, pink grapefruit, apple, and orange, and mineral.

Chateau de la Roulerie Anjou 2010 $21.99

Yellow gold with honeyed nut and gunflint aromas. Medium to full-bodied with a unctuous texture, and flavours of citrus, apricot, and a hint of earth and wild flowers.

These wines were paired with a trio of bruschetta (cod brandade, white bean and sage, and mushroom truffle). The Anjou was the best match overal with its richness and slightly sweet flavour profile complementing the dishes. 

Seafood risotto 

Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris 2011 $18.99

Straw green /yellow colour with mineral notes. Medium-bodied, light honeyed and nut overtones with a hint of residual sugar giving it some mouthfeel and balanced by refreshing lemony acidity.

Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Cotes des Monts Damnes 2010 $36.95

Straw green with a pungent aroma of gooseberry and guava. Medium-bodied, crisp, and refreshing with gooseberry, guava, blackcurrant leaf and hints of minerality. New world leaning with its intensity.

These wines were paired with the seafood risotto. The Sancerre surprisingly enhanced the fishiness of trout in the dish where as the rs in the Pinot Gris enhanced the fish flavours and body complemented the richness of the rice. 

Duck pasta

Weinbach Pinot Gris “Reserve Particuliere” 2010 $51.99

Yellow with light gold hints. Complex aromas of almond and mineral. Full-bodied, concentrated, and layered with nut, honey, mineral, red currant, and subtle petrol notes.

Gerard Bertrand Cotes de Roussillon Tautavel Hommage aux Vignerons 2007 $41.99

Opaque ruby purple. Complex aromas of hay, dark chocolate, and cedar resin. Full-bodied with chewy tannins, dark chocolate, pepper, plum, cedar, vanilla,  and spice.

These wines were paired with a duck confit ravioli and duck sausage with shaved pecorino and brown butter. The winner by a long shot was the Pinot Gris. The red was too intense for the complex layered flavours of the dish. A caramelised mandarin and hint of nutmeg in the pasta was a superb match and bridge with the white wine. 

Chocolate torte

M. Chapoutier Banyuls $32.65 500ml

Ruby red mahogany with molasses and stewed fruit compote aromas. Full-bodied with floral, citrusy alcohol hints, subtle cocoa,  violets and orange. 

Dessert was paired with a Banyuls and a couple of whites. I like "Like with Like" and the Banyuls was spot on with chocolate torte.






Overal a wonderful luncheon  with great food and wine  pairings and proof positive that the balance of fruit, texture, and structure of French wines make them ideal food candidates. 

Siena restaurant is located at 1485 West 12th Avenue. Telephone: 605 588 1485