The Wine Cellar

I think it's the small things that make a difference and last week I discovered that some of the biggest and most expensive ski chalet companies buy their wine in the UK! They tell us they are all sourced especially for the customer and that that they have a sommelier, but what they actually mean is,they get someone to go to the warehouse and drive it down to the resort in a van!


I made this discovery last week when I was on a tour of the Savoie vineyards. I went to source some delicious local wines.I didn't 'go it alone' as you can imagine. I thought that old adage 'I know a lot about wine I drink it all the time' wouldn't get me very far, so I employed a wine expert to help and took along my friend Mrs H, who is a professional chef and the fussiest drinker I know!! It was our expert Wink (yes that really is her name) who enlightened me as to how chalet companies buy their wine. I was horrified. Talk about cheeky.

We found some fantastic wines, not at all what I expected. I am planning to add a link to the vineyards websites from our own, so that everyone can see what I mean.For me,it's important to support the local producers, so it was a good place to start the cellar.Next we will be doing a champagne tour to find some exquisite aperitifs.I plan to visit Ruinart (my personal favourite) Drappier, Mailly and Gimmonet. The last two are smaller houses that supply many UK wine stores under 'own names'. I'm looking forward to it.It's good to try something new, you never know when you might make a great discovery. After that, it will be the Rhones,Bourdeaux and Loires.

Fingers crossed they don't deliver in a white van, then I will look silly!!