The Bordeaux WineGeese Tour June 2007

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The Return of the WineGeese to "The Medoc"

June 25 saw the arrival of the Ireland Funds WineGeese Society to their spiritual home, Bordeaux in the South West of France. This, their third trip, was voted by all as the best yet. Arriving weary but happy at the Cordeillan-Bages we were welcomed by a cold supper washed down with Lynch Bages.

Over the next four days the group visited the creme de la creme of the Medoc Vineyards. Chateau d'Yquem, Chateau Latour, Chateau d'Issan, Chateau du Tertre and last but not least Chateau Pape Clement. All have historical Irish connections and the wines they produce comprise one of the great cultural treasures of France. No ordinary tourists were we! We were shown around by either the owners or the winemakers thanks of course to wine historian extraordinaire Ted Murphy and his good friend Daniel Lawton, one of the most important wine brokers in Bordeaux.

Dining Highlights.
Chateau Lynch Bages with Lilian Barton Sartorius and her husband Michel. Chateau les Ormes de Pez with Jean Charles Cazes owner of Lynch Bages who spoke fondly of his family’s Texas connections through the Halliday Acers family. Finally a most elegant evening at the Primrose Club, the oldest Club in Bordeaux hosted for the third time by Daniel Lawton. This has now become a tradition. As has the group-singing of Daniel's favorite song The Rose of Tralee. A heartwarming thanks by Ireland Funds President & CEO, Kingsley Aikins, in fluent French ended this memorable evening and our stay in Bordeaux.

On to the Cognac region, the brandy capital of the world, for our last day in this magical part of France. We had a pre lunch visit and tasting at Delamain with our host, none other than Charles Braastad Delamain. Brandy experts rate Delamain as one the great cognac's of the world. Then on to Chateau de Bagnolet historical home of the Hennessy family to lunch with Maurice Richard Hennessy followed by a tasting and tour of their famous operation.

Our farewell dinner took place at Chateau l'Yeuse overlooking the Charente
River on the outskirts of Cognac. There we were joined by members of the Martell, Delamain and Hennessy families. As WineGeese Society leaders John Sharkey and Ken Gorman remarked in their post dinner speeches “it was for us a truly historic and memorable occasion to be in the presence of such Brandy Royalty”. This was personified by the Grande Dame of Cognac Evelyn Hennessy who ended the evening with the statement “I want you all to know that I am Irish and I have had a great time."

And so said all of us!

• more photos > (thanks to Sue Dickie)

Photos

1. The group arrives at our first destination, Château Latour

2. Early morning finds the group tasting their first premier grand cru of the day

3. A joyful group departs Latour

4. After a superb lunch at Café Lavinal, the group heads out for Château Yquem

5. Helen and John Sharkey at Yquem

6. Emmanuel Cruse leads the wine tasting at Château d’Issan

7. The WineGeese arrive at Château Pape-Clément

8. Our host, M. Daniel Lawton at the Primrose Club in Bordeaux

9. John Sharkey and Ted Murphy at  Château Pape-Clément

10. Departure of the WineGeese from Pape-Clément

11. Ken Gorman, David Fennelly (winemaker at Château du Tertre), Ted Murphy, and John Sharkey

12. Charles Braastad-Delamain greets the WineGeese at the House of Delamain in Jarnac

13. John Sharkey, Ted Murphy, Charles Braastad-Delamain, and Ken Gorman

14. Ken Gorman, Maurice Hennessy, John Sharkey, and Ted Murphy

15. Robert and Simone McDonough at Château de Bagnolet