Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Wednesday 5 August 2015

2015 Les Grandes Tablées: great evening boating on the Loire




Enjoyed a great evening on the Loire dining and drinking Saumur-Champigny on a boat taking us from Monsoreau to Saumur carefully navigating some very shallow parts of the river. Vignerons on the boat included Patrick Vadé, currently président of the Saumur-Champigny producers, Frédéric Filliatreau, a past président, Philippe Porcher and Richard Desouche. 

Looking towards the confluence of the Loire with the Vienne

A soirée de la modération....

Boats take cover Jim @helm



 Captain Christine Austin 

Captain Juel Mahoney


 François – the legendary baker responsible for 
organising the baking for Les Grandes Tablées
including over 6000 portions of crumble 


 Hot air balloon over the Château de Saumur 

 Great sunset 



Frédéric Filliatreau

Under the bridge@Saumur

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