Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

It’s our second-favorite day of the week! Thursday has arrived with another Newsletter of Great Importance for the Carpe Vinum First-Favorite Day of the Week and the Tasting Announcement for Friday! This week we’re embarking on the 3-week trip around France with the Tour de France! For the first week it’s going to be interesting. Those crazy cyclists (Not to be confused with “bikers”. Way different.) cruised all the way across Northern France, beginning in Alsace, passing by Champagne and ending in Loire. Sure, there’s some more interesting and scenic and historically rich territory between the starting point and the ending point. But as far as we’re concerned, it’s just those three.

“So you must like the Tour de France and bicycling a lot to do these tastings following the race,” you must be wondering. The answer is clear. Like most Americans, as long as we have one of our own in that race winning it for the glory of the country, we’re behind him all the way. As long as Lance is in there with that yellow jersey, we love bike races. Wait. . what? He retired? Hm. Isn’t he good enough to win without competing? Oh. Okay. Ah, well, then it’s still a good trip around one of the most important and influential wine countries in the world. On a bike, even.

So we’re starting in Alsace, the wine region situated in Northeast France, right on the German border. It’s a slightly cooler climate, and features cooler-weather grape varieties, predominantly whites. Look for some of the world’s best Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and the occasional really-really-expensive Pinot-Noir. Next up we have Champagne, just East of Paris. The Tour doesn’t actually pass THROUGH Champagne, but I thought it was close enough to throw one in there as an Extra-Special Pour. Finally, the race concludes the week on the far West of France in the Loire. . .well. . .just North of the Loire, but close enough by wine standards. In the Loire we find wines dominated by the white grapes Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, and the noble red varietal of Cabernet Franc. I have some of my favorite Loire regions represented in here.

So we’ve got a mix of reds and whites tomorrow. Maybe someone can fill us all in on how the race is going. I last heard they kicked out half the racers for doping. Like anything called “doping” sounded like a good idea to begin with. . .

So Friday, July 7th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Tour de France: Alsace and Loire!!!
Domaine Schlumberger 2004 Les Princes Abbes Pinot Blanc, Alsace
Kuentz Bas 2004 Alsace Blanc, Alsace
Chotard 2004 Sancerre, Loire
Chateau de Fesles 2004 Anjou Rouge, Loire
Domaine de la Charriere 2004 Coteaux du Loire Rouge, Loire

Tour de France: More From the Loire!!!
Domaine des Roches Neuves 2003 Terres Chaudes, Saumur Champigny, Loire
Chateau de Chamboreau 2002 Savennieres, Loire

Tour de France: Champagne!!!
Heidsieck & Co. Monopole NV “Blue Top” Champagne

A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours, and $5 for the Champagne.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next Friday tasting is Tour de France Week 2: Bordeaux, SW France, and Languedoc!!

M