Languedoc Vineyard Visit
The highlight of August was the corporate hospitality visit we arranged to Domaine Gayda for the clients of XSEM. The entertainment division of XSEM provides first class hospitality for their clients across the UK and Europe and we are thrilled they have chosen The Wine Wise Company to provide wine related corporate hospitality.
Domaine Gayda is situated south east of Carcassonne in the Languedoc region of South West France. Known traditionally for its large area of vineyards producing volume table wines, things have changed rapidly over the last 5 to 10 years. The revolution of change is in full swing and Domaine Gayda is in the centre of the revolution. The Wine Wise Company exclusively arrange private group visits to Domaine Gayda and other selected vineyards in this region.
This event began one Saturday morning in August under the blue skies of the Mediterranean. The guests flew into Carcassonne airport from England where our coach met them and whisked them off to La Lavinière in the Minervois region of the Languedoc. The Minervois stretches from Carcassonne to Narbonne and northwards from the Canal du Midi. It is a place of fantastic beauty with an incredible history. La Lavinière is an area within the Minervois. There is archaeological evidence that the Romans produced wine here and it is said to take its name from cella vinaria, Latin for ‘wine cellar’.
Tim Ford, MD of Domaine Gayda guided our guests through his vineyards. As we approached a cluster of trees and a small honey coloured stone building amongst the vines we were greeted by his wife and daughter and the wonderful picnic they had made for us. The long trestle table was set with gaily coloured plates and bottles of rosé and white wine were chilling in ice buckets. In the small building Barbara had set out a buffet picnic and guests helped themselves to cold meats, pate, cheeses, salads and of course crusty French bread. We sat in the vineyard eating and sipping wine and breathing in the atmosphere of this amazing place.
No one wanted to leave but we had to make our way to Carcassonne and to the hotel inside these medieval city walls. Carcassonne has to be seen to be believed. It is the perfect place to spend a few days wandering around the tiny streets, walking the ramparts, lingering at the church and visiting the castle. The hotel XSEM had chosen was perfect. Hôtel de la Cité is set in its own glorious gardens. With its solid stone walls, wood panelling and stained-glass windows, the Hotel offers luxurious hospitality.
Our guests had a time to refresh and rest for a short while before being collected by our coach and taken to Domaine Gayda’s winery which is Based in Brugairolles, about half an hour from Carcassonne. Here I greeted the guests and entertained them with a tutored wine tasting which gave them the skills needed to understand and enjoy the wines of Domaine Gayda. Then Tim gave a tour of his state of the art winery explaining how the wines are made and matured. The visit was rounded off with a tasting of some Domaine Gayda wines including ‘Chemin de Moscou’ the top cuvee of the Domaine which is an intense, structured, smooth and elegant red wine named after the address of the winery –Moscow Road in our language.
It was nearly 8pm and everyone was looking forward to dinner and of course we had chosen to dine at the restaurant at Domaine Gayda. The restaurant is yet another reason why The Wine Wise Company chose Domaine Gayda as a destination for vineyard visits. The aim of this superb place is to tempt the ‘Gourmet’ in you to indulge in their cuisine and delight in the fruits of the region and the passion and creativity of their chef Pascal. Other wines were available but all our guests chose Domaine Gayda wines to accompany their meal. As a wine tutor I am always trying to tempt people to try different wines and in particular sweet wines. One of my favourites is Maury, which is a deeply coloured red fortified wine from the Roussillon region of South West France and not far from Domaine Gayda. In order to appreciate sweet wines I believe it is important to concentrate on the acidity level and as I had given our guests a tutored tasting I was convinced they would be able to enjoy a glass of this. Most of them were dubious but that made me even more determined so I ordered a glass for each of them and they started cautiously tasting. Surprise was written all over their faces as they smiled their enjoyment of the taste of this port like chocolaty wine.
At the end of the evening the coach was waiting to take our guests back to Carcassonne and their hotel. The following morning was free for guests to relax, enjoy the hotel swimming pool or wander around Carcassonne before lunch at the hotel bistro. And then it was time to say goodbye. Taxis were waiting to whisk them back to the airport. It had been a short visit but one I am sure they will remember for some time to come.
