From mid-February 2012 DFDS and LD Lines will start a new Dover-Calais channel crossing effectively taking over from the gap that the demise of SeaFrance left.
Today we are very pleased to announce that we will start our new service on 17 February 2012. Initially we will operate the route with the NORMAN SPIRIT, which is flying the French flag. A further ferry under the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait as soon as we can be ready with a suitable ship.
With 5 crossings each way daily and fares starting from £29 each way this service restores some capacity on the short-sea crossing and offers travellers more choice.
It also means that DFDS becomes the major player in Dover crossings. They will retain the original Norfolkline route to Dunquerque.
The Norman Spirit has a long and varied history on the cross-Channel routes having been operated under numerous companies – most recently LD Lines. It originally entered service in 1991.
Cunningly aired on TV in the middle of winter, chef Raymond Blanc ventures back to his roots in the Franche-Comté to weave a magical pastiche of the best of France – home, family, food and wine!
In the series on BBC2 “The Very Hungry Frenchman” he shows viewers the country he loves so much and the French recipes that inspired him- starting with his childhood home in the Jura. This is not an area much visited by tourists, but I suspect that many will now explore the region in search of “hidden” or douce France.
Situated south west of Besançon (25 Doubs, Franche Comté), this area is home to Jura wines and Comté cheese – a hard rich alpine cheese that is great for fondue – and a wonderful cheese soufflé created by Raymond. The wines are somewhat out of the ordinary with unfamiliar grape varieties such as Savignin, Poulsard and Trousseau. The most distinctive wine is the Vin Jaune, which is an unfortified white wine which develops under a flor-like strain of yeast!
Celebrate St Valentine in Roquemaure(30 Gard, languedoc-Roussillon) at the Festo de Poutoun (Occitan for The Kissing Festival)11-12 February 2012. (also known as Fête des Amoureux)11-12 February 2012
Established over 100 years ago ,Roquemaure becomes the city of romantic legends. The town is decorated as it was in the 19th century.
There will be more than 800 costumed actors, floats and horse riders. Shop fronts are decorated as in olden times as is the post office and the lovers fountain. There is the traditional market including ancient trades, a music stand and wooden-horse merry-go-rounds.
Lovers will find themselves humming the most beautiful love songs to the sound of street organs and exceptional Limonaire barrel organs in the streets of the old village.
The remains of St Valentin are reportedly buried here. Unless you are a real romantic, better to hunt our the local wines – Lirac – mainly reds in the style of Côtes du Rhône and Chateauneuf-du-pape. (also nearby are the rosé wines of Tavel, considered by many to be the best rosé wine in France).
Dijon (21 Côte d’Or, Bourgogne) becomes a major rail hub with the opening of the TGV Rhin-Rhône. It used to be that all roads (and fast railway lines) led to Paris but in recent years there has been a recognition that getting from Bordaux to Lyon or similar trajectory does not need to be via Paris! Hence the A89 autoroute linking Bordeaux to Lyon via Clermont Ferrand and other routes.
Now there is a new high speed rail line linking Burgundy and Alsace (Lyon, Dijon, Belfort, Mulhouse) opens up another part of France with onward connections and ultimately direct links to Strasbourg, Germany and Switzerland.
Meanwhile to the south the TGV route from Provence now passes under the Pyrenees as far as Figueras in Spain and ultimately the TGV trains will dun direct from Paris to Barcelona and Madrid.
So Dijon becomes a major junction offering north to Paris, south to Provence and Spain – and east to Franche-Comté, Alsace and all points east.
From Spring 2012 all motorists in France are being required to carry a breathalyser in the car when driving in France. This is in addition to the requirement to carry a warning triangle and a hi-visibility jacket – all part of Sarkozy’s plan to reduce accidents on French roads.
Leucate (11 Aude, Langedoc) is a peninsula which juts out into the Mediterranean and encompasses an inland sea south of Narbonne and is the gateway to the Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée. With 16km of Mediterranean coast on one side and ponds and lakes on the other, this is a rich marine environment.
It’s exposure to the sea makes it an ideal place for wind-sports such as wind- and kite-surfing and the world championships (Mondial du Vent) from the 12-20 April 2008.
The area is quite exposed to the winds off the sea and the Tramontane wind down from the Pyrenees – great for the surfers, but not so ideal if you want to explore the park or take advantage of the many cycle paths available.
Nearby you’ll find the vines of the coastal enclave of the wines of Fitou AC (excellent rich reds) and further south the wines of the Cotes du Roussillon AC, including some good Muscats from Rivesaltes.
Biodynamic wine comes to the fore (or Four!) in September with a new series on making wine biodynamically in southern France.
A biodynamic wine is essentially an organic wine, avoiding pesticides and fertilisers in the vineyard and (as far as possible) any artifical chemicals in the winemaking process. But there is also an added “cosmic” dimension which determines key stages in the winemaking process from vine to bottle which are influenced by the phases of the moon and alignment of the planets.
Few are convinced that this approach is more than just a little bizarre, or that it produces distinctly better wines, although each of the established vineyards listed do have an excellent reputation.
Channel 4 will be showing a 6-part series about an Englishman’s quest to create a biodynamic wine in the Roussillon in the south of France starting on 4 September 2008 with Chateau Monty
Top wine critic and author, Monty Waldin, has decided to put his money where his opinionated mouth is and pack it all in to make wine biodynamically in rural France. He has just over a year to turn 5.4 acres into top selling organic wine. Renovating an old cabin on his vineyard so he can babysit his vines 24/7, his only company will be his donkey and occasionally his high maintenance girlfriend Silvana when she jets in from Italy. Regarded by peers as a bit loopy because of his views about Biodynamics, and even as the enfant terrible of the wine world (he’s upset the establishment for his harsh criticisms of the wine industry), Monty’s nonetheless forged a successful career and written several award-winning books…But now he’s abandoning life behind the laptop for a new one making his own wine in the French Pyrenees.
UPDATE:-
Jamie Goode, writing in the Sunday Express (17 Aug 08) adds: Think of biodynamic wines as “supercharged version of organic,” he says. Work in the vineyard is fitted in around the alignment of the moon and the planets, and growers claim it has improved the quality of their wine. Some of his recommendations include:-
• 2006 Chapoutier Organic Côtes du Rhône, France (£7.99, Waitrose)
• 2005 Bertie Collection Syrah, Minervois, France (£7.99, Oddbins)
• 2004 Didier Barral Faugeres “Jadis”, France (£17.30, Les Caves de Pyrene)
The epic story of the Côtes de Saint-Mont vineyards began in the fourth century BC, when the first plants were imported by the Greeks. It is thus one of the oldest vineyards in France. Then one witnessed an important development from 1050 with the founding of the Saint-Mont Abbey by Benedictine monks. The monks were particularly interested by an area already colonised by the vine. The ‘crus’ developed and these ‘fine wines from Gascony’ were exported to the United Kingdom as early as the 14th century. Today the appellation Côtes de Saint-Mont stretches over 49 villages in the Gers. Wines are considered as ‘discovery wines’ or ‘terroir wines’ and are experiencing a promising revival. As far back as the 11th Century the arrival of Benedictine monks (from the Abbey de Marcillac in Burgundy) helped to improve the wines of the area, and being on one of the roads to Santiago de Compostella they quickly acquired a reputation
In the heart of Gascony (Gascogne) the landscape is of gently rolling hills with good soil and exposure to the sun. The climate is gentle and ideal for maturing grapes in late season. VDQS is the abbreviation for VIN DÉLIMITÉ DE QUALITÉ SUPERIEURE – a classification which is slightly more generous than full Appellation Controllée (AC) status. As such it is a guarantee that the wines come from a small specific geographical area, and must contain certain minimum percentages of specified grape varieties (usually traditional to the area), and hence conform broadly to a particular style, However, there is more flexibility for the winemaker in yields and the addition of other grape varieties in the blend. We like to think of them mainly as Very Delicious Quaffing Selections, but are also capable of producing some really fine and serious wines. This is another example of the French classification system becoming less relevant, as all three wines which we stock from the Côtes de St Mont are much better than many other wines we have tasted which are classified as “Appellation Controllée!
PRODUCTEURS PLAIMONT. We generally prefer to work with smaller individual domaines, but the Plaimont co-operative is streets ahead of other co-ops – producing excellent and distinctive wines of consistent quality at keen prices. It has had the benefit of good management and leadership, which has ensured that, unlike many co-operatives, it does not work at the comfort level of the weakest members. Instead it has been visionary and innovative, and most importantly places the highest emphasis on wine quality. At the moment this is the only co-operative with which we work.
PLAIMONT is a concocted word made from the towns of Plaisance, Aignan, and St Mont, the 3 caves (cellars) of the co-operative.
The New France by Andrew Jefford
Save 20%. Andrew Jefford has travelled extensively in each of France’s 14 wine regions to investigate the personalities and producers who have masterminded the resurgence of the French wine industry. His views support our own assertion that France is producing some classy wines, often from beyond the traditionally high profile and expensive “fine” wine regions.CLICK HERE
PEYLOUBERE – ACCOMODATION – SW FRANCE PEYLOUBERE – Gers, South West France
Self-Catering Cottages and Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in a listed 17th Century domaine in Gascony – 35 acres, lakes, pool and Spa
Ideal location for visiting Madiran, Jurancon, Côtes de St Mont, Côtes de Gascogne, Armagnac, Floc de Gascogne vineyards
The town of Limoux (11 Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon) south of Carcassonne and in the foothills of the Pyrenees, brightens up the winter months with its Carnaval which it claims as one of the longest in the World often running from January- mid April. (15 Jan -25 March 2012).
Weekends and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) tned to be tje highlights with parades and floats, music and folk festivals. It all culminates on the last day of Carnaval with the the Nuit de la Blanquette (night of Blanquette) – the local speciality sparkling wine.
A trip up the iconic Eiffel Tower is a must on anyone’s first visit to Paris – and it is many years and many visits to Paris since I ascended.
I tend to take Paris in small chunks, knowing that all being well, I shall visit often again. I have still got the Louvre on my must visit list, so I have been reluctant to revisit the tower when there are other fantastic landmarks still unexplored.
But maybe I should think again – there are new restaurants, a new app and the view from any level of the tower is well-worthwhile.
On the first floor is 58 Tour Eiffel which offers a cuisine which is both simple and tasty in a friendly atmosphere. But on 2nd Floor is the new Restaurant Jules Verne – (see picture) created by chef Alain Ducasse – more stylish in a very 30s retro way and expensive but with stunning views to distract you from the gourmet food.
There is a revapled website at www.eiffel-tower.com and to prepare your visit you can now download an app for your i-Phone with maps, plans, opening times, weather etc.
A very gallic combination of herbs – the city of Tours ( 37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre) sets aside a day to celebrate with a Foire à l’ail et au basilic on 26 JULY 2012
This tradition is said to date back to the Middle Ages. On Saint Anne day, July 26th, garlic and basil producers and enthusiasts come together for an event in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Tours. Colours ranging from white, pink and green will highlight your stroll among the bold stalls where the scents and festive colours take on a sensual nature.
more info – www.tours.fr/
Quartier des Halles – Grand Marché – Place Châteauneuf
In Chartres (28 Eure-et-Loir, Centre) the winemakers of the Loire Valley will be holding a Paulée des Vins de Loire on 15 april 2012
Designed to promote the wines produced all along this iconic river, the Paulée des Vins de Loire is also an opportunity to discover some talented young winemakers
P&O Ferries will introduce a new ship on the Dover-Calais cross-channel route this Spring.
The Spirit of France will join up with its sister ship The Spirit of Britain. The two ships combined represent a step change in the level of service and capacity offered to cross channel ferry passengers.
At more than 43,000 tons and 213 metres in length, they are not only the largest ferries ever to work the Dover – Calais route but also the most technologically advanced.
When the Spirit of France and Spirit of Britain begin working together it will represent the realisation of the largest ever inward investment made by P&O Ferries into its shipping fleet, at a combined cost of €360 million.
The Dover – Calais route is officially the busiest shipping channel in the world with over 500 ships per day passing through its waters. The combined capacity of these two ships alone will amount to a staggering 3750 passengers between them.
After the demise of P&O Ferries’ cross-channel rival, SeaFrance, the arrival of Spirit of France represents a welcome boost for the Dover to Calais route as P&O Ferries continues to bolster the capacity of this vital link between Britain and mainland Europe.
oday we are very pleased to announce that we will start our new service on 17 February 2012. Initially we will operate the route with the NORMAN SPIRIT, which is flying the French flag. A further ferry under the French flag will be added on the Dover Strait as soon as we can be ready with a suitable ship.
and respected wine merchant 
Gascony map
In the heart of Gascony (Gascogne) the landscape is of gently rolling hills with good soil and exposure to the sun. The climate is gentle and ideal for maturing grapes in late season.
PRODUCTEURS PLAIMONT. We generally prefer to work with smaller individual domaines, but the Plaimont co-operative is streets ahead of other co-ops – producing excellent and distinctive wines of consistent quality at keen prices. It has had the benefit of good management and leadership, which has ensured that, unlike many co-operatives, it does not work at the comfort level of the weakest members. Instead it has been visionary and innovative, and most importantly places the highest emphasis on wine quality. At the moment this is the only co-operative with which we work.
Floc de Gascogne are all produced in this region 
