Last week I went to the Vintage Cellars International Wine Fair held at Winthrop Hall at the University of WA. It was held on Monday and Tuesday from 17:30-20:00. For $25 I thought it was a great opportunity to try international wines.

I arrived at 17:30 sharp and once they opened the doors, I made my way downstairs to taste French wines and sample some delicious cheese. I lived in Bordeaux when I was a student so you would think my heart was for Bordeaux but having studied Burgundy through my WSET courses and visiting over 20 wineries on press trips, I fell for Burgundy. I love everything that is Burgundy, the small vineyards and climats, the people, the town of Beaune, the food and the atmosphere. I also enjoy the different styles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are grown here (as well as the Sauvignon Blanc in Saint-Bris and Gamay in Beaujolais).

Some stands only had the one region on their table, others covered different regions on the one table. I ended up talking to Patrick of Divawine and his colleagues about the French wines on their stand. These were from Burgundy, the Loire and Côtes du Rhône.

At the fair there were so many wines to try I just couldn’t taste them all. In a store you reach the same predicament but wouldn’t have the finances to buy all the wines in the store so you start to say to yourself, “where do I start?” So if you’re looking to step into France and want want to enjoy your trip, try the wines from these producers:

Maison Champy’s history dates back centuries. It was set up in 1720 by Edme Champy and was the first ever Burgundian négociant at that time. It remained in the family until 1990 when the current director Pierre Meurgey and his father father bought Champy. With their own history and knowledge of the winemaking and brokering, they wanted to re-ignite its reputation.

The 8 wines I tasted from Maison Champy were delicious. Of course each offered something different especially at the different price points but never the less, well worth trying. The wines stocked by Vintage Cellars range from $22.21 to $62.21.

La Chablisienne: Set up in 1923 this cooperative in Chablis works with a number of growers from a range of vineyards to produce some fantastic wines. ‘Minerality’ comes to mind when I taste these wines. People have different views about what ‘minerality’ means – La Chablisienne has put together a guide regarding the definition of minerality – see here. For me it signifies a slight flintyness coupled with a high acidity. The wines I tasted at the fair and at the vineyard in Chablis when I visited over 2 years ago, offered a myriad of flavours but there was always a touch of flintyness along with the high acidity combined with the other flavours in the wines. The wines stocked by Vintage Cellars range from $22.21 to $44.44.

William Fèvre: I didn’t have a chance to try the wines from William Fèvre but having been to the domaine a few times in 2010, I recommend buying their wines when you see them on the shelf. Due to its history, reputation and their vineyard locations, these don’t come cheap. The wines stocked by Vintage Cellars range from $35.55 to $61.10

Champagne Moutard: Having been making Champagne for the past 400 years, you’d be right to think the Moutard family know a thing or two about Champagne. I enjoyed their Moutard Brut Grand Cuvée NV at $33.99 with its persistent bubbles and rich and creamy texture. But I found the Moutard Cuvée des 6 Cépages 2006 ($88.88) very interesting as it is made from 6 different grape varieties. In most cases Champagne is made with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonny. In this wine, it is made from these 3 plus Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Pinot Blanc. At $88.88 a bottle it might be a bit pricey for some, so share it with a friend for a special occasion!