Showing posts with label sommelier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sommelier. Show all posts

Tastevin – A Sommelier's Odd Looking Cup, Worn on a Neck Chain Around the Neck. The Sign of Wines from Burgundy.

from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

A tastevin for sale on Amazon.

The tastevin

The tastevin is a cup made in silver and traditionally worn on a silver chain by many a restaurant’s sommelier, its wine steward.  A tastevin may look like a silver ashtray, but its design was created to reflect light when looking at wine in dark caves lit only by candles.  The concave indentations in the traditional tastevin allow the cellar master to see if the wine was clear and to note the contrast and the depth of the wine’s color; all by the light of a candle. Only then would the cellar master sniff and taste the wine. Today the tastevin is worn by the professional sommeliers who know a great deal about wines, and especially the wines of Burgundy.
  
The sommelier
  
Wines are a very very important part of France’s gastronomic universe. Hardly any Frenchman or woman would consider sitting down to dinner without a wine or other alcoholic beverage accompanying the meal. The choice of wines on a restaurant’s wine list is the job of the sommelier. 
  
Viewing the clarity and color of the wine.
www.flickr.com/photos/isante/4817028323/
  
The sommelier has not just risen within the restaurant’s rankings though he or she will undoubtedly have worked as a server at some time.  Along the way, the sommelier will have spent from three to five years studying the wines of France and the world.  Then, after a few years, as another’s sommelier’s deputy, he or she will be given the responsibility for approving and managing a restaurant’s wine stock. 

The sommelier’s years of study included visiting the vineyards, the vintners, and the cellars.  Then they must invest time and money in acquiring the nose and taste buds that can identify the wines along with the knowledge of how to age them.  The public will have expert advice along with information on a wine’s history and its suitability for pairing with a particulate dish. The restaurant's owner will have a manager who knows how to taste and compare wines, and when to buy.  The sommelier controls stock levels and ensures the storage of the wine in a manner that allows them to age gracefully.
  
A sommelier decanting a wine.
Older wines, from ten or more years ago, along with wine produced by traditional methods, may have sediment. The bottle will have been stood upright for at least 24 hours before serving so the sediment will settle.  Then, by decanting, often through a filter, the sediment will be removed.  
www.flickr.com/photos/vinofamily/3467201365/
  
Managing the wines.
In many restaurants, the cost of the wines that are stored is the owner’s most significant investment. The wines and liquors in the cellar may cost more than the furnishings of the restaurant and its kitchen.   Aging wines is not just a matter of having a cellar with a suitable temperature it is also the manner of storage. Cellars have different temperatures at different levels, and the humidity changes slightly throughout the year. The bottles must be properly laid down and regularly turned. Wines often do not grow old gracefully on their own. Bottles that may cost hundreds of US dollars may still need to have their corks changed over the years, and that is not an inexpensive matter nor a straightforward decision.
   
228-liter barrels aging in a Burgundy cellar
www.flickr.com/photos/25850415@N02/2443502546/

The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin,

France has hundreds of Confréries. These are brother and sisterhoods dedicated to enjoying and promoting the wines, cheeses, fruits, and other food products in French cuisine. The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the brother, and sisterhood of the Knights of the Tastevin are based in Burgundy and promote the wines of Burgundy.  This Confrérie owns the Château of the Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy, which has been its headquarters since 1935. The Confrérie offers its members and guests excellent food and plenty of wine at their monthly meetings.
  
A ceremony with the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
www.flickr.com/photos/tourismesurlacotedenuits/15308052238/
  
Here, in the Clos de Vougeot the wines of Burgundy are tasted and honored.  The Confrérie also awards prizes for art honoring Burgundy and has annual charitable events. Despite its charities, its grand celebrations aim to promote the great wines of the Bourgogne, Burgundy.  That, and keeping the sommeliers of France informed and happy is its real raison d’être. The Chevaliers du Tastevin is not a small confrerie.  Its membership honors thousands of outstanding people from celebrated artists to Noble prize winners. They, in turn, acknowledge the charms of the wines of Burgundy and France.
    

Château de Clos de Vougeot

www.flickr.com/photos/navin75/15008110607/
   
The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Taste-Vin has an English language website:
  
View a YouTube video of the introduction of  new members of the Knights of the Tastevin:
  

Watching a master sommelier.
  
In a beautiful French restaurant in Basel, Switzerland, six of us sat down to dine with a French colleague who was a gourmand and a knowledgeable oenophile, a lover of fine wines.  Our colleague ordered a bottle of Gevrey Chambertin, one of Burgundy’s excellent reds.  The bottle chosen was an eight-year-old wine that came from a vintner he knew well.  After our hors-d'oeuvre and entrée, (the French first course), our host ordered a second bottle. When wine from a single vintner is aged correctly two bottles of the same vintage should taste the same.  Here, the sommelier did precisely what he was supposed to do.  He tasted the few teaspoonfuls of wine left in the first bottle using his tastevin.   Then he tasted the wine from the second bottle.  The wine passed the sommelier’s test and he poured the wine into the existing glasses. There was no need to change the glasses or to offer the wine to be tasted again.
    
A 2002 Gevery-Chambertin
www.flickr.com/photos/eprater/26005156540/

The sommelier was brilliant, no overacting. Nonetheless, his whole manner showed the importance and solemnity of the occasion. The wines were his responsibility, and his face showed quiet concentration.  With the taste of the wine from the new bottle came a light smile of appreciation and approval.  What a superb professional. The wine was the exactly the same, as expected, but this sommelier's low keyed and self-assured performance made a great meal and a great wine genuinely memorable.
   
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Behind the French Menu’s links include hundreds of words, names, and phrases that are seen on French menus. There are over 470 posts that include over 4.000 French dishes with English translations and explanations.  Just add the word, words or phrase that you are searching for to the words "Behind the French Menu" and search with Google or Bing.
    

Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman 
Copyright 2010, 2017, 2023.
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

Chablis; One of France's Finest White Wines and Chablis the Town.

from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman

behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

 


Chablis Grand Cru.
Photograph courtesy of Dale Cruse.
www.flickr.com/photos/dalecruse/8706768713/

Chablis AOP is a dry, crisp, white wine produced from Chardonnay grapes around the town of Chablis in the department of Yonne, Burgundy that since 1-1-2016 is part of the super region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

The town of Chablis, despite its famous name and history, is still a small French town; albeit an exceptionally pretty one.  If you are driving to Chablis, remember it is a small town. You may quickly drive through the town and be back out among the grapevines before you realize you have exited the town. We did that!  We, of course, did turn around and drive back. In the town center, we found an inviting looking restaurant to sample the local cuisine, and, again, of course, to order a bottle of Chablis.

The entrance to Chablis
www.flickr.com/photos/jamesonfink/13187892615/
                                
Despite its size, Chablis and its immediate area have quite a number of hotels, B & Bs, restaurants, and, of course, wine shops. You may also choose to stay in the towns of Avallone or Auxerre; both are about 20 km (12 miles) from Chablis.  We stayed in an excellent hotel in Avallone. The hotel is built on the sight of a post house where Napoleon I had once watered his horse!  Auxerre has many more hotels, but none whose claim to fame competes with Napoleon and his horse.
   
Vineyards in Chablis

 
In books on pairing wines, Chablis has always been one of the wines recommended to accompany oysters.  (The other favored choices are Muscadet, which comes from the area close to the city of Nantes in the Pay du Loire, and, of course,  Champagne).  Chablis and oysters are an interesting coincidence. The vineyards around Chablis are all set above an ancient limestone landmass with many fossilized oysters. Those old oysters must have spread the word, and so the wheel of life goes on.

Choosing a Chablis

French Chablis is very different from most of the New World versions I have tried. However, I am not an educated wine maven, and with hundreds of producers and four appellations when we arrived in Chablis, I needed help.  Luckily, in the restaurant we had chosen, there was a friendly and knowledgeable sommelier, and I had an up-to-date book in French wines. We discussed our interest in Chablis along with our budget. The sommelier suggested a reasonably priced wine that turned out to be fabulous. This was a Chablis from one of the lower Chablis appellations, but good sommeliers know a great deal more than just the names, the price, and appellations.  More about Chablis appellations and the information they contribute later. While we were enjoying our lunch and our wine we overheard the couple on the table next to us discussing their dissatisfaction with a much more expensive Chablis.  They had chosen a top of the line Chablis from the wine-list, it had been their own choice.  As with other wines, so with Chablis, the price does not guarantee any more than how much you will pay. More about the different Chablis Crus and grades toward the end of this post.
     
Chablis on French menus:
  
Cassolette d'Escargots au Chablis – A dish of snails served with a Chablis based sauce.
   
Bottle and glass of Chablis
www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/46088122924/

Filet de Raie au ChablisSkate, the fish, sautéed with Chablis. In the UK, skate is mostly seen when deep-fried in batter and sold in fish and chip shops. However, in France, skate will be served in the finest restaurants. In French kitchens skate be may be baked, poached or sautéed, but never deep-fried. Dishes with skate will be served hot with a butter or wine sauce, as skate tends to jell when cold.

Paupiettes au Saumon Sauce Chablis – Rolled filets of salmon cooked in a Chablis based sauce.
 
Poire au Vin de Chablis - Pears cooked in Chablis. 
   
Chablis vineyards
www.flickr.com/photos/lreivilo/2741453629/
  
Sauté de Queues d'Écrevisses, Brunoise de Petits Légumes au Chablis  - Crayfish tails sautéed with Chablis and served with finely cut young vegetables.  Brunoise is one of the important sizes in the French world of chopped fruits and vegetables, it denotes a cut about 2 mm (0.08”) thick.

Chablis has a number of unique local dishes that may also be on your menu. They include Jambon Chablis, ham cooked in Chablis, and a locally made Andouillette AAAAA sausage.
    
N.B.: When a sommelier or a wine-list only offer wines that are above your budget, then that is the time to choose a house wine. Most French restaurants, outside of some of the more exclusive,  have house wines that have been chosen with their regular diners in mind.  House wines will be approved by the sommelier and in smaller restaurants by the owner and the chef; the wine will be priced to keep the regulars returning.

French Chablis is made from very close to 100% French Chardonnay grape with a taste that is quite different from most New World Chardonnays that I have tried. Maybe it is the barrels, maybe its science, maybe it is the terroir. (Worry not, I will not get into terroir here).  Whatever the reason, French Chablis is different from other French wines made with Chardonnay grapes.
 
The town of Chablis and some twelve villages linked to her have festivals and fetes almost every month of the year. These celebrations are not only about the Chablis wines, though a sizeable number are.  The festivities include concerts, artist’s festivals and more.
   
The Sereign River flows through  Chablis
   
Finding the dates of Chablis linked festivals and fetes.
      
You may check the dates and places of wine and food celebrations throughout France when still in your home country through the local French Government Tourist Office. For Chablis tourism the town’s visitor information website is www.chablis.net.  If you are already in Chablis, the tourism information office is on the town’s main street:  1 Rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny.
      
Ask the Chablis tourist information office for a map of the town and a map of their Chablis  Route des Vins, their Chablis wine road.  Then request information on the town’s and surrounding communities’ celebrations and farmers’ markets.  With all that information, you have the perfect way to explore the area, including stopping off for wine tastings and joining in the celebrations that coincide with your visit.  The Chablis Route des Vins also passes quite a number of restaurants; choose one to enjoy lunch or dinner.
     
The most important wine fete in Chablis itself is the Fête des Vins de Chablis, the fete of Chablis wines. This fete it is held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday in October.  Additionally, the entire department of Yonne, which includes Chablis, celebrates its many different wines on the first Saturday in May. The town of Chablis, of course, will be doing its part.
            
Seeing the town of Chablis

Inside Chablis, you do not need a car. Just park and walk around the town.  Walk along streets that were laid down in the late middle ages with some of the original houses remaining.  Visit its two churches, one of which dates back to the twelfth century the other to the 18th. Both churches were rebuilt in the 19th century. There is also a 12th-century synagogue that was rebuilt some ten years ago.
      
There is a farmers’ market in Chablis every Sunday morning.  Given a bright summer’s day, you may want to pass on a traditional restaurant lunch and buy a chilled bottle of Chablis, a baguette and some of Burgundy’s magnificent cheeses. Find a road that takes you to the banks of the River Sereign that runs through the town and find a place for a picnic; enjoy.

Hiking in Chablis,
   
If you enjoy hiking, then consider joining one of the hikes that are organized by the Chablis hikers association, the Association des Sentiers Chablisiens  The association organizes  hikes  in the country around Chablis  twice a week for one and a half to two hours. Their French language website is:

Google and Bing translate translate the French very clearly.

Chablis appellations.

Four Chablis appellations set the boundaries of the different Chablis wines. The Chablis Appellations were created to differentiate the quality of the Chablis wines produced in each area.  Like the rest of France’s appellations and crus, they were set in 1935. They have been part of French law in 1946. However, since 1946, not one single Chablis wine, produced by any Chablis vintner, has had its quality grading changed! None are officially better or worse?
 
There are four Chablis appellations:
  
Appellation Chablis Grand Cru Contrôlée -   Considered the very, very best of all the Chablis wines.
    
Appellation Chablis Premier Cru Contrôlée - Nearly the very best.
   
Aging bottles of Chablis
     
Appellation Chablis Contrôlée -  A snippet below the nearly the very best.
  
Appellation Petit Chablis Contrôlée Chablis -  A little below the one below the nearly the very best.
        
Petit Chablis
www.flickr.com/photos/dalecruse/9201791579/
    
I have listed these appellations, tongue in cheek, as I certainly do not know why a single producer's wine has not been recognized for having improved or worsened in over 70 years!  However, the wine mavens know and the caves, the wine stores know, and their prices reflect the value. I also know that if you see a Chablis Grand Cru at a low price, leave it!  There is no good top of the line Chablis wines at a discount price.
    
Other great white wines from Burgundy are also made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. These other wines have their own names and appellations. Despite having the same grape in the bottle, these other wines also have, by the different soils, local micro-climates, magic, science or terroir have different tastes.  These additional 100% Chardonnay wines include famous names like Pouilly-Fuissé AOP, Chassagne-Montrachet, AOP, Corton-Charlemagne AOP, Meursault AOP, Montrachet AOP, and many others.

For more on all the wines from Burgundy see the website:


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Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman

 

behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

 

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