Wine friends, I’ve been obsessed with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir since my visit to Burgundy to take part in the Les Grand Jours De Bourgogne – a very exciting week in the lives of journalists and trade professionals, and of course the winemakers throughout Burgundy. This was my second visit and the officials who have organized it have done a spectacular job. This year, also, the weather cooperated, as two years ago I arrived in Chablis for the first day’s tasting in a suit without a coat.
 

Maison des Vins de Chablis - in the sun!

Now, if you have been to Chablis, you know that Saks Fifth Avenue is not exactly around the corner. And if you have not seen Chablis, but have been to Disneyland and have seen the castle of Sleeping Beauty, you get a sense of what this charming village is like. Making up for the freezing rain and wind that day two years ago were the delicious 2006 Chablis and the very warm welcome of the producers of Chablis and Auxerrois.
 

chablis room

This year, the welcome was equally warm – and so was the weather. I had dressed for a Siberian blizzard in anticipation of the grey cold, yet the sun was so gorgeous and warm it felt like St. Tropez. Though only two years had passed, this year I knew many of the producers by name, since a key team of producers from Chablis had come to Manhattan.

Also, Laurent Droughin had his own tasting, and I got some voice commentary about grand cru.

I was able to say hello once again to Jean Francois Bordet, last seen in Manhattan where after an impressive seminar and tasting he was off to shop. It was also thrilling to meet the producers whose name I had only seen on the bottles of Chablis, such as young Romain Collet whose family had been making fine wine for hundreds of years.
 

chablis buffet

In addition to knowing so many of the producers from past visits to Burgundy, such as the Hospices de Beanue, I recognized many friends I have made on many other trips to wine regions around the world, partly through WSET and the Masters of Wine program. During the incredible buffet lunch (the French do things so well) showcasing traditional cuisine from Chablis and Auxerrois, guests were able to taste all the different wines, as well as earlier vintages.

The first day of Les Grands Jours sets the tone for the rest of the week, and seeing all my favorite producers, tasting the new vintage and meeting new producer friends, was so fabulous I left just knowing the rest of the week would be fantastic!

(to see Day 2, please click here)
To see Day 3 please click here
To See Day 4/5 please click here

... so after enjoying Grand Cru Chablis after an excellent presentation on the subject, many of Manhattan's top journalists came to celebrate at the SoHo Grand. Earlier that day there had been an excellent presentation on Chablis wines (read about it here)
 

Sushma and Christian

Above you can see one of the wine makers, Christian Moreau of Domaine Christian Moreau, whom I chatted with extensively during lunch. His great grandfather started the winery. Next to him in a stunning blue dress is Sushma Diwivedi, Account Supervisor for Fleishman-Hillard International Communications who orchestrated the event with others and is responsible for promoting Chablis.

World Wine Guys

Sushma introduced me to the World Wine Guys Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen (Mike has the goatee) who have a piece this month in Wine Spectator.

Christian Moreau,  Chablis Connoisseur in red tie, and Arnaud Valour from the BIVB

Many journalists flinted in and out throughout the evening, as well as sommeliers and people in the trade. Below is a picture of Jean-Francois Bordet from Domaine Seguinot-Bordet whose estate had been in the family for hundreds of years.

Jean Francois Bordet