Latest news with #winefestival
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
In The Vines With Gérard Bertrand, A Biodynamic Winemaker In France
Gérard Bertrand in the vines. Three summers ago, I experienced a festival like I've never experienced before, and fell in love with what I've deemed the best rosé in the world, Clos du Temple (in fact, it changed my mind about rosé in general). Meet Gerard Bertrand—former rugby star turned wine wizard who owns 16 châteaux and wine-growing estates across the Languedoc-Roussillon in the South of France. Bertrand started making wine at 10, balanced rugby stardom with winemaking, then took over the family business when tragedy struck at 22. Today he produces award-winning biodynamic wines and created the most spectacular wine festival you've never heard of: Jazz à l'Hospitalet Festival. Picture six consecutive evenings of wine magic nestled between ancient limestone cliffs and the Mediterranean, where each night kicks off with a grand gala dinner in the château park with stunning seafood platters with freshly shucked oysters, truffle-studded everything, and delicious slow-cooked fish à la chef Laurent Chabert. Each evening has its own dress code, which is so fun to partake in. This year runs July 15-19, 2025, featuring Texas, Ibrahim Maalouf, Earth Wind & Fire Experience, Michel Polnareff, and Christophe Maé with themes from bohemian to retro-funk to vintage glamorous. Château L'Hospitalet Wine Resort Beach & Spa is a 13th-century hospice turned luxury resort—41 rooms, including 28 suites, scattered between the main château and exclusive Villa Soleilla with private pools and Mediterranean views. The property spans 1,000 hectares with heated pools, tennis courts, a world-class spa, and a beach club serving tapas beside the sea from May through September. Small Luxury Hotels recently added them to their collection, and honestly, once you've experienced this level of French art de vivre, everything else feels like amateur hour. Now, back to the wine. I sat down with Gérard Bertrand for the latest installment of In the Vines With to chat far beyond the basics—upcoming projects and more: Jenn Rice: What inspired you to get into winemaking? Gérard Bertrand: I was born and raised in the heart of the Corbières, and I did my very first harvest with my father, Georges Bertrand, at our family estate, Château de Villemajou, 50 years ago. He passed on to me his passion for the terroirs of the South of France and his expertise in viticulture, winemaking, and blending. But above all, he shared with me his vision for the rise of Languedoc and Roussillon wines. JR: Proudest moment as a winemaker? GB: Every harvest has taught me humility more than pride. Over the years, I have deepened my connection with nature and strengthened my commitment to crafting wines that respect life, reflect the soul of our terroirs, and bring people together around the values of harmony, authenticity, and our Mediterranean art de vivre. JR: What is your first wine memory? GB: It goes back nearly 50 years, when I was just 10 years old, taking part in my first harvest with my father and my sister. From the vineyard to the cellar, I followed him closely, listening attentively to every word he said. JR: What are you currently enjoying from your portfolio? GB: At the moment, I take great pleasure in orange wines. Orange wines are made with white grapes like red wines: through skin contact comes the orange color and the aromatic profile of the wine. A dialogue between tradition and modernity that reflects both our sense of innovation and our Mediterranean identity. And I really enjoy discovering new food and wine pairings with orange wines! French Cancan is a joyful expression of orange sparkling wine! Full of freshness and energy. It embodies the festive, vibrant spirit of the South of France, inviting people to celebrate life with elegance but without formality. I enjoy it as an aperitif. Orange Gold represents a more audacious approach. It reconnects with ancient winemaking traditions, using skin contact to give white grapes both structure and complexity. Its amber colour, aromatic depth, and food-pairing versatility make it a wine of great character, very much in tune with contemporary gastronomy. Both wines are organic. JR: A sommelier who's blown your mind with wine pairings? GB: Paolo Basso, World's Best Sommelier 2013, recently impressed me during a Master Class he gave at our Château l'Hospitalet Wine Resort, Beach & Spa. His approach to wine and food pairing is truly inspiring. We were fortunate to have him share his knowledge and passion with our guests. JR: If you could take one wine to an island? GB: It's always difficult when I'm asked to choose one of my wines, because I love them all. You cannot ask a father to pick a favourite child! But to answer your question: La Forge. This red wine is a tribute to my father and to our family's legacy in Boutenac. I love pairing it with a rack of lamb from the Corbières, simply roasted with wild thyme and rosemary, accompanied by seasonal vegetables. It perfectly embodies the Mediterranean art of living. JR: What is your go-to libation when you need a break from wine? GB: I never need a break from wine. JR: The future of wine is... GB: …the best moment of my life. JR: Clos du Temple is my favorite rosé in the world….why is it standout above the rest? GB: Clos du Temple, our iconic rosé, is truly unique. It is crafted in a place that seems almost predestined to produce the finest rosé. In Cabrières, the combination of limestone and schist soils, the Mediterranean climate, and our biodynamic approach create an extraordinary harmony. We work with a selection of noble grape varieties—Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Viognier—each bringing its own energy and personality. This rosé is made for ageing. I thoroughly enjoy tasting both young and mature vintages—always an emotional experience. This philosophy of balance, energy, and harmony is at the very heart of my book Multidimensional Wine, where I explore how a deeper connection with nature allows us to craft wines that transcend categories and preconceptions—as Clos du Temple does for rosé. JR: What is your favourite thing about the jazz festival? GB: It's one of my favourite moments of the year. We created this festival 22 years ago. It's a fabulous celebration where wine, gastronomy, and music come together in perfect harmony. Jazz and wine share one essential quality for me: they both speak directly to the soul. JR: Any upcoming projects or events you want to share? GB: We always have many projects. Wine has centuries of history, but still offers so many opportunities for creation and innovation. We have just launched our newest white cuvée, La Grande Bleue, an ode to the Mediterranean. Fresh, mineral, and saline.
Telegraph
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Connoisseurs will be spoilt for choice at this Cyprus hotspot
What is it that makes Limassol such a great holiday destination? Is it the soothing southern Cypriot coastline? Is it the trove of excellent shops and restaurants offering designer brands and Michelin-approved menus? Or perhaps it's the city's old harbour which offers a journey into the past, via its medieval castle, which now houses a museum? Then, of course, there's the calendar of festival events; wine lovers, for example, flock here for its annual Limassol Wine Festival. In short, there's a lot to love about this cosmopolitan destination. But the thing that could turn your holiday from great to fantastic is a stay at Mediterranean Beach Hotel, a super four-plus star hotel carefully selected by British Airways Holidays that's perfectly positioned on the Blue Flag Vouppa Beach. The hotel's rooms have been renovated in recent years and it stands out for a host of reasons: its calming, tranquil atmosphere, warm island hospitality and wide-spanning culinary offerings that allow you to quickly slip into luxury holiday mode. Its location, halfway between Paphos and Larnaca airports, allows you to choose from two arrival airports, both of which are served by direct UK flights with British Airways Holidays. As you'd expect from this trusted tour operator, you can enjoy a range of benefits when you book your escape: from access to a dedicated 24/7 support helpline during your trip to a generous checked baggage allowance. There's no obligation to pay your holiday upfront in full either, with options to secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments*. You'll also enjoy Atol protection from the moment you book. The hotel facilities and setting are showstopping. You'll find many of your needs and interests are catered for here. Its 250m-long beach comes with free use of sunbeds and parasols and its spectacular, split-level swimming pool is complemented with a charming bar where you can sip on cocktails from bar stools perched in the water. Topping off this gorgeous oasis are the pretty terraced gardens, dotted with towering palms that frame the Mediterranean Sea views and make enviable holiday snaps guaranteed. There are 291 recently renovated rooms and suites to choose from, each one designed in contemporary earthy tones accented with cornflower blue details, plus parquet flooring, walnut woods and geometric art. The rooms here are also curated with an array of holidaymakers in mind. Junior suites, with their cocooning feature walls, are suited to adults and those over 16, while guests travelling with children are right at home in the Family rooms, which offer extra space, a sofa bed and a handy location, next to the hotel's kids' club, which caters for children aged four to 12. Families with little ones will also rest easy when they hear that baby-care and childcare items are available on request, as are babysitting services (additional charge applies), and specially prepared children's meals are offered across restaurant menus. Booking a couples' getaway or honeymoon? You'll find plenty of ways to enjoy a grown-up getaway here, with an Aquum Spa offering a wide range of experiences and rituals, facials and wellness packages. There's a serene indoor pool (heated from November to March), hi-tech gym, Pilates and aerobics classes, with a floodlit tennis court to boot. Gastronomes will find rich culinary pickings at the Mediterranean Beach Hotel, which treats the tastebuds to two main restaurants and three à la carte restaurants spanning themed buffets as well as authentic Italian, Pan-Asian and traditional Cypriot delicacies. You'll find many lovely outdoor dining areas and romantic nooks, as well as sophisticated venues, such as the Blue Bar, where you can unwind with a drink or two. It'll be hard to peel yourself away from this hotel, but if you do, you have a wealth of must-visit spots on your doorstep, from the photogenic Limassol Marina to the archaeological site of Amathus – whose ruins date back to 1100 BC – less than a mile away. Indulge yourself with a stay at this hotel and you can see for yourself why holidays to Limassol are so popular. British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full Atol protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your holiday to Mediterranean Beach Hotel with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly.* *Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure for short-haul holiday bookings. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
First-ever wine festival with tastings, food pairings and DJs set for south London
A new festival for wine lovers is coming to Battersea Power Station. The Wine Circuit will take place from June 6 to June 8, celebrating both British and international wines. The festival will feature a range of wine-themed activities, including tastings, food pairings, and panel discussions with industry experts. Visitors can also participate in The Wine Cup, a tasting experience where they can vote for the 'Best in Show' and 'Highly Commended' wines from independent wineries and wine shops. Power Station Park transforms into alfresco wine and food market (Image: An artisan market will offer wine-related gifts and gadgets. Battersea Power Station, home to over 150 shops, bars, restaurants, and leisure venues, will provide festival exclusives throughout the weekend. The event will kick off on the evening of June 6 with the Strictly Bangers wine tasting and music event, founded by Mark Gurney, co-owner and director at Bar Levan. Attendees will participate in blind tastings and a quiz, with prizes up for grabs. From the Ashes BBQ and Fallow among pop-ups serving exclusive pairings (Image: Dan Burns) There will also be live DJ sets with Mark Gurney and special guests. The wine list for the event has been curated by Bar Levan and will be supported by Paola Tich, The Beach Sommelier, and Natalia Ribbe, Ladies of Restaurants and Sete in Margate. A series of ticketed wine tasting sessions and panel discussions will be held by wine industry experts on June 7 and June 8. These will cover topics such as natural wine, British wine, sparkling wine trends, alcohol-free wine, and choosing the perfect pale rosé. Power Station Park will be transformed into an alfresco market with pop-ups from Vagabond Wines, Beare Green Winery, Oxney Organic Estate, Sandbridge Barton, Domaine des Jeanne, ETO, La Mad, Battersea Brewery, and Tillingham. Festival-goers can purchase a ticket to participate in The Wine Cup, where they can taste wines from around the world and vote for their favourites. Tickets cost £30 and include a branded tote bag and cup, as well as a tasting card. Exclusive wine and food pairings will be available from pop-ups such as From the Ashes BBQ, Masa Tacos, Made of Dough, and Tasca. The team behind Fallow will also be serving their famous fried chicken paired with frozen margaritas, wine, and beer towers. An artisan market will offer bottle stoppers, corkscrews, decanters, wine glasses, and other wine-related gifts. Many of the bars and restaurants at Battersea Power Station will join The Wine Circuit with their own wine-themed activities. Vagabond Wines will host a duo of wine and cheese tasting events on June 8, while Searcys Champagne Bar will have their Champagne Rolls Royce bar in Power Station Park. Kate Boothman-Meier, head of communications and marketing at Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: "Battersea Power Station has become one of London's most beloved food and drink destinations and we pride ourselves on our wide selection of bars, cafes and restaurants available across the riverside neighbourhood. "We're always keen to offer new and unique experiences to our visitors and we are excited to host our first-ever wine festival next month. "We look forward to welcoming visitors for a weekend full of fun, wine-themed activities suitable for wine aficionados and novices alike." Travelling to Battersea Power Station for The Wine Circuit is easy, with the Zone 1 Battersea Power Station Underground station bringing the riverside neighbourhood within 15 minutes of the West End and the City. Battersea Power Station also has its own Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier and is a 15-minute journey from Embankment, 20 minutes from Blackfriars, 30 minutes from Putney, and 40 minutes from Canary Wharf. The riverside neighbourhood is easily accessible by bus, bike, car, and train too.
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
The world's biggest natural wine festival returns to Tokyo
Returning for its second edition, Raw Wine Tokyo will be held at Ota City's Tokyo Ryutsu Center from May 10 to 11. The annual natural wine festival will feature more than 80 natural wine producers from around the world, including 11 Japanese wineries. The response to last year's edition, which was held at Shinagawa's B&C Hall, was very positive, with a turnout of 2,400 guests, according to Tomomi Manton, Raw Wine Tokyo's public relations representative. 'Visitors came mostly from Japan, but we also had some international wine trade professionals from neighboring countries such as South Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines, as well as the U.S. and Canada,' says Manton. 'The winemakers also love traveling to Japan to experience the vibrant natural wine scene here and the exceptional food offerings,' she continues, adding that this year's venue has doubled in size, from 1,100 square meters last year to 2,000 square meters. Since its first edition in London in 2012, Raw Wine has grown internationally, taking its event to major cities with a vibrant natural wine scene. | RAW WINE TOKYO Since its first edition in London in 2012, Raw Wine has expanded its brand internationally, running the event in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Paris. The festival is the brainchild of Isabelle Legeron, a Master of Wine who is determined to spread the word of natural winemaking. Natural winemaking, in which wines are made with as little intervention as possible, oftentimes without any filtration and sometimes without any preservatives like sulfites, has always polarized drinkers. Proponents say that it is the purest, most untainted form of winemaking, while opponents argue that the hands-off approach can sometimes result in wines that taste spoiled or 'funky.' This debate hasn't stopped the trend from growing, as natural wine bars and festivals continue to pop up in dining capitals around the world. Raw Wine, however, remains the biggest natural wine festival to date. To participate in Raw Wine, winemakers have to satisfy a set of criteria established by Legeron: The grapes must be cultivated using organic farming methods, and vinification should be done with minimal intervention. Wine producers also have to complete a questionnaire about their winemaking methods and submit their wine analysis data as well as wine samples for tasting. Some of the natural wine producers participating in this year's Raw Wine Tokyo include Le Clos des Quarterons (Loire Valley, France), a farm known for its fresh, minerally cabernet franc; Poggio Cagnano (Tuscany, Italy), an up-and-coming winery making wines from sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot; and Roberto Henriquez (Bio Bio Valley, Chile), a winemaker who makes wines from vines over a 100 years old. The event will also showcase 11 Japanese natural wineries — part of a small but growing number of wine producers who are defying the odds to make natural wine in Japan. | RAW WINE TOKYO Many of the 11 Japanese wineries are new to this year's event. They include Shindo Wines from Fukuoka Prefecture, Sawauchi from Aomori Prefecture, and Natan Winery from Tokushima Prefecture — young wineries that have boldly taken on the challenge of making natural wine in a country known for its difficult grape-growing conditions. The event will also feature six sake breweries who are making sake from organic rice, such as Fukumitsuya from Ishikawa Prefecture, Niida Honke from Fukushima Prefecture, and Terada Honke from Chiba Prefecture. According to Manton, their inclusion in the event is important because of their similar modus operandi. '(The sake brewers and natural wineries) rely on clean agriculture and natural fermentation to produce a drink that is alive and representative of their terroir,' she says. For the wine geeks, there will also be wine seminars to attend — one of them, 'Why Old Vines Matter,' will be conducted in English by Smallfry Wines (Barossa Valley, Australia), Chateau La Baronne (Languedoc, France), Agricola Yumbel Estacion (Bío Bío Valley, Chile) and moderated by Legeron. Raw Wine Tokyo; Tokyo Ryutsu Center, Hall F, 6-1-1 Heiwajima, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-0006; 10 p.m - 6 p.m; ¥9,000 for public, ¥7,000 for trade/industry members. For more information, visit
