The Lambregts family adventures: Wine

The infamous wine tasting, wine drinking and wine discussion society “Het Derde Glas” organised their annual trip again, and based on the experience of last year (see post of March 28th, 2011), Piet was keen to sign on. The wine cellar was getting suspiciously empty, proving that the prediction from these experts was true: if there is champagne in the house there is always an occasion to open a bottle!

On Wednesday morning they left in 2 cars from Utrecht, and drove quickly towards Reims and Epernay, in the centre of the Champagne area. A quick stop was made at a cooperation in Hautvillers, to get the tasting (and buying) routine going again, to be ready for the Cote des Blancs. In this area only Chardonnay grapes are grown, and the bubbly wines have a distinct taste. In the village of Cramant two champagne houses were visited. At Gaspard-Crepaux the group was received by the young lady of the house in an extensive library, which made a real impression on the boys. It soon transpired that most books were unread, and that the husband / winemaker was behind it all. Despite this disappointment a satisfying purchase was made and a large amount of bottles were loaded in the cars afterwards. In the next village, Grauves, the cooperation Royal Coteau had chosen to be closed on Wednesdays, and therefore missed out on their preferred way of selling champagne: a lengthy interrogation session (like they did last year). As the suspension of the cars already showed some strain, it was decided to call it quits, drive to the hotel for dinner, and have a close inspection of their wine list.

The next morning they drove to Chablis, the northernmost region of the Bourgogne wine region, and famous for its white wine. A small winery was visited (Pommier in the village of Poinchy), and the morning was wrapped up at Brocard, a very large wine merchant, with many different wines. After a lot of tasting a mega-purchase was made, and the quest continued eastwards to the southern Champagne area, around the two cities of Bar (“sur Aube” and “sur Seine”). In the village of Buxeuil the rivalling brothers Leblond-Lenoir were paid a visit, a contest that was won hands-down by Noël. His daughter hosted the tasting, and they insisted on a tour of their winery, where they were preparing the bottles for the final stage of “being Champagne”. Impressive was their cellar with 320.000 bottles waiting to be ready for sale. Next was Moutard, a snobby place with disinterested salesladies and very steep prices, despite the 28% discount card and a 100 EUR bottle they made available for tasting. To finish off the day old favourite Gruet was called on, and one of the expedition members was recognised immediately by his extravagant hairdo. When the mother of the house appeared as well the mood got even better, and it was time to escape before things got out of hand. The day was wrapped up with dinner and more wines, to celebrate (some undefined) professional successes.

The following day the party split and one car drove back to Utrecht with the loot, while the other car (including Piet) continued with a long drive east, crossing the Vosges, into the Alsace wine region. Here some of the myths around Riesling grapes were busted, and a number of very sweet wines were tasted (but in general not bought!). Thanks to the ever-present crachoir (spittoon in French) sanity was kept. Then a rush was made to the border near Wissembourg, for the first ever entry of “Het Derde Glas” into Germany. Weingut Dr. Becker in Reichenbach came somewhat recommended, and a furious drive was done to reach them before 6 pm. On arrival they were closed, and concluding from the opening times (11-4) business is just too good for him. In any case, a total of 7 minutes was spent in Die Heimat, and returning to France felt like some sort of homecoming. Dinner, and more wine, was enjoyed in the little medieval town of Wissembourg.
On the last day the border was crossed again and 3 addresses were visited in the Pfalz, which had a strong commercial overprint: many visitors and lacking a personal touch, probably German efficiency. The exception was Dr.Wehrheim in Birkweiler, who first sent his wife away when she started talking about football, and then had a lengthy conversation about many aspects of the business. And his wines were pretty good as well. With a car filled to the roof with bottles the long drive home was made, under the enjoyment of The Police and Supertramp. This part of the treasure was dumped in another place in Utrecht, and to speak with Harry Potter’s professor Dumbledore: “let the sorting begin”: more than 500 bottles have to be divided among 6 expedition members!