Oz and James on Bauduc TV
February 13th 2009, by Gavin
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Oz and James visit Château Bauduc
February 10th 2009, by Gavin
As Oz Clarke and James May prepare to wrap up their third series on BBC2 (Tuesdays, 8pm), here is their very first Big Wine Adventure pitstop back in August 2006.
‘How was your trip?’ I asked. ‘You’re the first living people we’ve seen’ was James’s first dejected remark to us, after their long drive south to Bordeaux. Their Wine Adventure had begun.
In hindsight, it would have been better not to mention the price of a bottle as it dates very quickly. £6.50? These were the heady days when the exchange rate was 1.47 euros to the pound, and UK duty on a bottle was a lot less.
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Cedars Lost in the Storm
January 28th 2009, by Gavin
We lost several trees in the storm last friday night, including the ancient and beautiful cedar at the farmhouse. It’s a great shame, and the view from the house won’t be the same without it. It’s going to be a hell of a job to clear it all up, and we’re already a bit behind with the winter pruning. The tree has fallen across the vines, which have just been pruned.
What’s strange is that I’d planted a little corner of different varieties for test purposes right here - chardonnay, riesling, viognier, chenin blanc, pinot noir, syrah and so on. All completely illegal of course under French appellation law* but the vines are clearly identified, ahem, as being part of the garden, not the vineyard. The huge branch has fallen right across the chardonnay. So there is a God, or at least one who’s on the side of the people who make the rules.
Storms batter Bauduc
January 24th 2009, by Gavin
Last night, we had strong winds of over 150kms per hour gusting across Bordeaux and South West France. No real harm done here, but we lost several big trees along the drive and are completely blocked in. Our biggest worry with a storm and high winds like this is the huge cedar tree next to the château. We always bring the children down from the top floor for the duration, just in case it the worst happens and it topples over. The storm raged for what seemed all night.
Now where’s the chainsaw? And the tractor…
Last Orders for Christmas
December 18th 2008, by Gavin
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Strictly No Vat
December 13th 2008, by Gavin
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Rick Stein, Oz Clarke and Stephen Brook
December 7th 2008, by Gavin
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Rick Stein Private Book Signing
November 28th 2008, by Gavin
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Rick Stein book signing
BOGOF: Buy One Get Oz Clarke Free
October 21st 2008, by Gavin
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All Hands on Deck
October 15th 2008, by Gavin
We’re bringing in all the merlot this week, so everyone’s helping out on the sorting table. Most of the time we’re removing any unwanted leaves or green bits, as we just want the fresh, ripe grapes going into the fermentation tanks.
So the children can cope just as well, as can Ronan, the former head sommelier from Gordon Ramsay’s, below.