We’re hosting Carine and Stéphane Sérol from Domaine Robert Sérol on Saturday, 16 February, for our very first tasting event in our brand new shop. Come join us to learn about their thoughts and insights on the use of stems when making wine from Gamay grown in the Loire Valley as well as the impact of different vessels on fermentation and ageing of wine. If you want to be in the know about producers on the rise and regions to watch, this tasting is for you.

Linden and I went to visit Carine and Stéphane at their domaine this summer. After visiting Edouard Parinet at Château du Moulin-à-Vent in Beaujolais, we got back in the car and drove a couple of hours west to Côte Roannaise in the Loire Valley (in Hong Kong-speak that's the region surrounding the 3 Michelin-starred paradise Trois Gros! Indeed, Domaine Sérol makes a wine in partnership with that restaurant). We will taste a wine made from the vineyard that Pierre Troisgros and Robert Sérol decided to plant together in 1992.

In addition to discussing the use of stems, we will taste through a range of their top 2017 reds that use a variety of different vessels for fermentation and ageing as well as a sparkling that they make from Gamay as well. When I asked Carine about the use of stems in their wines, she explained that she isn’t against whole bunch. However, she tastes the berries and stems first before making the decision to use whole bunch. She doesn’t want any green notes in the wines. And then if she and Stéphane make the decision to use some whole bunch, they do it in a sandwich type method with a layer of whole bunch then a layer of grapes that have been destemmed and then a layer of whole bunch.

For fermentation and ageing, this husband and wife winemaking team use cement tanks, conical wooden tanks, and even amphora for some of their wines. We hope to welcome you in our brand new shop on Saturday, 16 February, for what will surely be a lively discussion with Carine and Stéphane about winemaking techniques as well as vineyard practices with a range of well made and reasonably priced wines.

WINES TO BE SERVED:
2017 Domaine Robert Sérol - Côte Roannaise Chez Blondin (Amphora Vinif)
2017 Domaine Robert Sérol - Côte Roannaise Chez Coste (Amphora Vinif)
2017 Domaine Robert Sérol - Côte Roannaise Chez Muron (Amphora Vinif)
2017 Domaine Robert Sérol - Côte Roannaise Perdrizière
2017 Domaine Robert Sérol - Côte Roannaise Les Millerands
Domaine Robert Sérol - Turbullent Sparkling Rosé NV