As the Christmas lights were turned on all over London this week I feel as if I can now officially talk about the approach of the festive season. Bordeaux will be ready with it’s traditional Christmas market on the Allées de Tourny from 29th November until the 29th December.
The Grand Theatre will be showing a performance the Romeo and Juliette ballet from 16th – 31st and if you cross the square to The Grand Hotel you you can admire the ballet and Shakespearian themed decorations around the 4.5 m high Christams tree while sipping a whisky based Romeo or Champagne based Juliette cocktail.
Once you are in the festive spirit head out to the vineyards. If you are in the Entre deux Mers this weekend the spectacular Chateau Camarsac is holding a Christmas Market. Alternatively head North to Margaux for the 3rd edition of Margaux Saveurs with châteaux tastings, a lunch at Chateau Dauzac and events including golf, music, a market and art exhibitions in the 5 villages that make up the Margaux Apellation.
The festive season is the high spot for consumption of the sweet white wines from Bordeaux, if you missed the Sauternes and Barsac open doors last weekend do not despair, the Loupiac and Foie Gras weekend is on 23/24th November and on the 14/15 December the chateaux of Saint Croix du Mont are opening their cellar doors with the ‘Saveurs Croissés de Noël’ weekend.
December starts with a busy weekend, Le Chai au Quai in Castillon will be celebrating advent and the festive season, throwing open wide its doors on Saturday 7th from 12-6pm with ‘Au Jardin de la Riviere’ and ‘Au Plaisir Gourmand’ selling their soup and cheeses respectively, there will be music from Chantamicale from 17H00 and of course the wine and wine makers from Le Chai !
Closer to Bordeaux the propeties of Pessac-Leognan are holding a Portes Ouvertes the same weekend, a great opportunity to stock up with wine or to enjoy the tasting dinner on Saturday evening. Just across the river the ‘Foire au gras’ in Langoiran is the next day, on the 8th. This is a traditional Foie gras market, perfect to accompany the sweet white wines mentioned above. Local producers will also be selling chocolates, cheeses, patisseries and wines in the traditional market place.
I mentionned last year several château that have opened boutiques selling a lot more than just their wines, here’s another one for your Christmas shopping. Château Lestrille in the Entre deux Mers has a wonderful shop selling wines but also local crafts and amusing gift items all based on wine. Further up the road you can visit Terra Safran where Laurianne Gouyon has taken over the family vineyard, Château Les Prenes in Nerigean, and has planted crocus to produce Saffron as a compliment to their wine production. Her second harvest will be dried and ready for sale around mid December – perfect timing for Christmas.
