Thanks to the indefatigable Walter McKinley our “coin” as the French would say will host the first International conference ever to focus exclusively on that great unsung hero of varietals: our very own Grenache or Garnacha. It takes place at Crestet our neighbouring village over the weekend 4th-6th June . The objective is to provide an ongoing forum for examining the challenges and opportunities facing Grenache based wines, their producers and their markets…and to showcase the quality and versatility of the grape. The Symposium takes the form of a closed session for top end wine professionals and critics on the friday, followed by two days where the public will have access to their conclusions, to network, and sample a raft of different Grenache styles from around the world…Rhone of course but also California, Priorat, Australia and South Africa. Walter has attracted some serious heavy hitters to compere the show…mister “Judgement of Paris” himself Steven Spurrier and the French wine critic/writer Michel Bettane.  Having had a sneak preview of the initial delegate list it looks like a roll call of all the wine writers I know of…well done Walter! Should be informative and loads of fun.

La Madelene is opening its doors to participants wishing to stay a few minutes drive from the conference centre La Verriere for this very special event. Contact us on rhonewineholidays@googlemail.com or 00 33 67 57 88 497 and for more detail on the programme for the weekend go to www.granachesymposium.com

To Beaumes de Venise for a rendezvous with the Bouletin family, very lovely people making wonderful wines…not particularly well known outside the area.. but on the strength of my tasting deserve to be. Jerome and Fabienne Bouletin’s 30ha estate is unusual in that it comprises Vacqueyras, dessert Muscat and from the 2009 vintage Cru level Beaumes de Venises reds all under one roof..a result of the marriage between families from the two villages. The wines are all made at the winery just on the edge of Beaumes de Venise however…around 50% of sales are from the caveau here, the balance local sales, plus export to Belgium, Holland, and just a little to the USA. I went up with Jerome to the magnificent setting for the 8ha of Muscat they own overlooking the village, sandy soils here, all white Muscat a Petit Grains. The wines: Muscats at Bouletin come in 3 cuvees, tradition, semi sweet and dry…the tradition is gorgeous, light in colour , very aromatic on the nose and the honeyed sweetness on the palate perfectly balanced against freshness, the finish clean and pure. The Vacqueyras comes in two cuvees, a tradition and an oaked aged superior version…both lovely wines , for my money the tradition a perfect example of Rhone wines at this level/price point - a melange of ripe fruit, compote and Provencal herb , smooth tannins and a little sweetness in the lingering finish. Bien fait…superb! La Madelene guests will be visiting Bouletin this year for sure.