Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Two months ahead of Loire 2024 by ombiasy, organized and led by Annette Schiller, Annette and I attended a fantastic winemaker dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria. We will spend the last 2 nights of the tour in Sancerre and hopefully also visit Clément & Florian Berthier.

This outstanding wine dinner was organized by Marc Lotterie of Elite Wines.

Clément & Florian Berthier/ Elite Wines

This vineyard stretches from one end of the Loire’s riverbanks to the other, from Sancerre to the Coteaux du Giennois. Clément and Florian Berthier combine traditional and modern-day practices to carry out the mission conferred upon them by their father, to preserve the family heritage with the same diligence. The three grape varieties cultivated here are the Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine and Pinot Noir & Gamay for the reds and rosés.

• Appellation: Coteaux du Giennois, Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé and Menetou Salon
• Owner: Clement & Florian Berthier
• Winemaker: Clement & Florian Berthier - 5 Generations
• Varieties Grown: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay
• Hectares/Age of Vines: 50
• Altitude/Soil: Between 200-400 meters above sea level. Limestone, Silex, and Marne.
• Farming Methods: Organic - Certified | Biodynamic
  

Bastille Brasserie

Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux opened Bastille in 2006. Christoph and Michelle were both working at the Watergate Hotel before they opened Bastille.

Bringing the flavors and aromas of France to Old Town Alexandria, Bastille Brasserie and Bar is a popular family-owned restaurant which has been pleasing palates since 2006. The restaurant is owned by chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, who bring their own unique twist to traditional French bistro dishes, inspired by whatever is fresh and seasonal. You can choose to dine at an intimate table for two in the dining room or opt to enjoy a lighter meal at the bar.

 

See: Burgundy Dinner at Bastille Brasserie & Bar in Alexandria, VA, with the Food of Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux and the Wines of Ed Addiss and Barbara Selig (Wine Traditions), Washington DC (September 2023)

 

Arriving 

 

Five Wines + Five Courses 

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:30pm | $115 pp ++

APERITIF
Amuse
Gougères au Chèvre
L’Instant, Sauvignon Blanc, VDF 2022

PREMIER
“Marmite de Fruits de Mer”
Bay Scallops | Clams | Mussels | Lemon | Crème Fraiche | Brioche
Coteaux du Giennois, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022

DEUXIÈME
“Flétan de l’Atlantique” GF
Atlantique Halibut | Cauliflower | Beurre Blanc aux Fines Herbes
Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022

TROISIÈME
“Lapin au Poivre Rose” GF
Braised Amish Rabbit | Pink Peppercorn Sauce | Lardons | Broccolini
Coteaux du Giennois, Pinot Noir - Gamay 2021

QUATRIÈME
“Galette au Chèvre”
Herbed Goat Cheese | Caramelized Onion-Orange | Thyme | Flatbread
L’Instant, Pinot Noir, VDF 2022

DOUCEURS
Mignardise

The Wines

Chef Christophe Poteaux

Bye-bye

 

LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 

 

Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 

  

   

 

Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours

 

This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.

 

A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

 

Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Dinner at the Kitchen Counter of Les Petits Prés, Angers, Loire Valley, France, with Star Chef Samuel Albert (February 2024)

 

Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024

 

Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 

 

Menu Dégustation at La Dariole (Bib Gourmand Michelin) in Orléans with Chef Nicolas Hervé and Domaine Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Pinot Noir (February 2024)

 

Dinner at L' Alchemiste in Saumur at Michelin-star Level with Chef François Deplagne (February 2024)

 

Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)

 

Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)

 

A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer

 

Meeting Jean-Marie Bourgeois and Jean-Christoph Bourgeois of Domaine Henri Bourgeois at their Domaine in Chavignol/ Sancerre, Loire Valley, France 

 

Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)

 

Announcement: A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, Washington DC, led by Annette Schiller, Tuesday, March 26 at 7.45 pm

 

A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

 

Wine and Goat Cheese in the Loire Valley: Crottin de Chavignol (Cheese), Sancerre (Wine) and Pouilly-Fumé (Wine)

 

German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)