Wine Tasting: Domaine de la Paleine, Le Puy Notre-Dame, Saumur, France at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton

Next weekend will see the return of Gérald Beaumont from Domaine de la Paleine to The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton.

Hosting a private wine tasting event on Sunday 13 March 2011 amongst the selected wines will be the recently 5 awarded Ligers 2011 wines from the Loire Valley Wine Fair.

Domaine de la Paleine - the vines of the chenin blanc and cabernet franc grape make up the majority of the vineyards 32 hectares.

Leaving grass to grow in between the vines encourages her roots to grow deep into the limestone soil. Exceptionally chalky the soil acts as a sponge retaining surplus water, a natural reservoir during the hot summer months thus allowing the vines to feed their growing fruits.

It is this action that gives the wines of Domaine de la Paleine their unique character: full bodied, yet subtle and fruity.

Booking can be made online; click ‘here’ or by contacting either Sam or Simon at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room on: 01273 567176

The Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club

In September 26 vintage cars and 52 car enthusiasts from The Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club visited Gérald at Domaine for a private wine tour & wine tasting.

Pat Meehan from The Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club writes the following of their experience.

In September our club ran a motoring holiday to the Loire Valley in France a total of twenty six cars and fifty two car enthusiasts. The event was a great success helped in no small way with ten days of glorious weather.

The highlight of the trip was our visit with Gerald Beaumont at Domaine de la Paleine, a vineyard in Le Puy Notre Dame some 20 kms south west of our base in Saumur.

Gerald was most helpful meeting our cars at our hotel where we were staying and leading the party to the Domaine where we all met in a spacious car park prior to our tour of the vineyard.



Geralds expert knowledge of the wine making process was soon evident - from the planting of the vine in the chalky soil of this region to the final bottling, labelling and packaging of the finished product.

He explained the way of allowing grass to grow between the plants to encourage the vine roots to search for water essential for growth of the chenin vines in this vineyard (an area of over 30 hectares).


The wine produced here is of a high quality, described as full bodied and fruity.

The equipment is of the highest modern standard, from the stainless steel vats to the expensive French oak barrels.

We were impressed with the wine cellars running for nearly a mile under the Domaine giving a constant temperature of 12.c.

Modern machines for turning the bottles compared with a hundred year old wine press once operated by a single donkey were well photographed.

The wine tasting was most enjoyable, again Gerald explaining the young to mature varieties produced in this Domaine - red, white, rosé & sparkling.

At the end of a most interesting two hour tour we were pleased to purchase some of this excellent wine.

Our host Gerald Beaumont and the staff were most informative helpful and friendly. A wine tour which we highly recommend.

Pat Meehan, The Irish Veteran & Vintage Car Club

Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2010

Featuring in Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2010 Domaine de la Paleine is quoted amongst the better producers in the AOC Saumur and amongst the 'best producers' of the Saumur Brut.

Wine enthusiasts seeking an Oz Clarke style wine tasting can visit Domaine de la Paleine, a beautiful vineyard set in the picturesque village of Le Puy Notre Dame, south of Saumur.

Hosted by Gérald Beaumont, a bilingual French wine professional experience a privately conducted wine course, wine tour & wine tasting at Domaine de la Paleine, sample the Brut Saumur referrenced by Oz Clarke and the many more exquiste wines produced by this highly reputed Domaine.

If the Loire Valley is a little too far to go, you can meet Gérald at The Wine Shop & Tasting Room, Brighton, UK and enjoy a private wine tasting accompanied by an accords mets et vins, wine & food pairing.

Discover with Gérald the diverse wines from Domaine de la Paleine while learning about wine, the vines, food pairing & wine production.

Bonne dégustation.

For further information about our private wine courses, luxury wine breaks, full day Loire Valley wine tours & privately conducted wine tastings please contact Sarah-Jane at: info@loirevalleyuncorked.net

Grape Harvest - Les Vendanges

Autumn has arrived in the Loire Valley.

Signalled by the start of les vendanges, grape harvest, next week at Domaine de la Paleine.

The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University

Taking a brief moment out of their intensive three month worldwide tour to experience the wines from the Loire Valley.

We welcomed The Whiffenpoofs of Yale University to the Domaine for a private wine tour & wine tasting with Gérald.

About the Whiffenpoofs :
Every year, 14 senior Yale men are selected to be in the Whiffenpoofs, the world's oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group. Founded in 1909, the "Whiffs" began as a senior quartet that met for weekly concerts at Mory's Temple Bar, the famous Yale tavern. Today, the group has become one of Yale's most celebrated and hallowed traditions.

Before their depature to their concert outside of Le Mans we were privilaged to have the Whiffenpoofs sing for us.

Outstanding and moving it was an absolute pleasure to experience Yales oldest tradition. The Whiffenpoofs latest CD has sold out and I'm waiting for their next !


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