NEW DELHI, November 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
IIHM Hotel School, India Leads in Delivering Hospitality Education
A 10-day trip from India was organized to the Vineyards of Spain and France where IIHM undergraduate students were chosen to be flown to these Vineyards for understanding the world of wines.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161103/436189 )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161103/436190 )
Across its 7 campuses, a series of tests and interviews for its 3rd yr Specialization students made the management decide the winners and they were then flown for this exercise. The all-expense paid, sponsored tour for the students was conceptualized as an incentive for them to get a first-hand feel of gathering some wine knowledge in the vineyards of Europe.
The 10-day long wine tour to France and Spain started from 30th September 2016 in Bordeaux.
Day 1 the group reached Chateau Kirwan, Margaux and Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauilliac, Bordeaux. The IIHM Euro Wine tour journey began here in front of a magnificent castle and lush green lawns where the students clicked a memorabilia post which they moved to see the cellars which keep some of the best red wines of the region. They witnessed the Wineries, various wine making equipment, oak barrels, steel tanks and got to taste some of the finest wines from the region.
Pichon-Longueville-Baron has roughly 73-hectare in vines dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and runs adjacent to Château Latour and lies on deep gravel beds. Grand Vin is Chateau Longueville au Baron de Pichon - Longueville and their second wine 'Les Tourelles de Longueville' are amongst the best and were made to taste by the touring students.
Day 2 the group went to Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac - Leognan and Chateau Rayne Vigneau, Sauternes, Bordeaux to study the Vineyards, picking up Botrytis affected grape bunches and tasting it, giving hands on idea of the legend behind these wines. The cellars had countless oak barrels with this iconic wine sitting and ageing. A tour of the Chateau's cellar and the methodology of making these wines were undertaken where the students tasted 'Chateau De Rayne Vigneau 2010' and Chateau's second wine 'Madame De Rayne 2010'.
1er Grand Cru Classe, Rayne Vigneau is recognized among the top wines of Sauternes, on many occasions being placed immediately after Chateau D'Yquem. Located near the village of Bommes, the gravely vineyard are about 84 hectares in total dominated by Semillon, followed by Sauvignon Blanc. The influence of the Ciron stream aides in the over-ripening of the grapes by causing morning mists encourages the growth of the Botrytis fungus. Picking is carried out by hand, so that each grape is picked only when it has been perfectly 'botrytised'.
Day 3 the group toured Hennessey Cognac, COGNAC and the famous Chateau Cheval Blanc, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux - Cheval Blanc, a 1er Grand Cru Classé (A) is unquestionably the leading estate in St. Emilion.
A sprawling estate, with a bit of tradition and technology, students were exposed to the vineyard and soil type, followed by a tour of the Winery. One could see how the grapes were being sorted and crushed before going in for fermentation. Rows of neatly lined concrete tanks in the winery were a treat to the eyes.
Cheval Blanc is one of the few estates to use 100% new oak for their wines. It is Located in the north-west of the St. Emilion appellation, bordering Pomerol. Cheval Blanc's vineyards dominated by Cabernet Franc followed by Merlot enjoy a peculiar variety of soil - gravel, clay and sand. Cheval Blanc's reputation has remained unchallenged, as a benchmark wine, a yardstick against which other Bordeaux are measured. Dating back to the 1830s, it is located in Bordeaux's Saint-Émilion appellation, on the right bank of the Gironde River. Although a Merlot country, Cheval Blanc normally contains a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc, which makes it a rather special wine. Amongst the best is Chateau Cheval Blanc 2011 which is a full-bodied wine, rich and voluptuous. Tannin is smooth, silky and elegant. It's perfectly balanced with lovely fresh fruit on the finish.
Day 4 the group drove to South of France and picked up the legendary Master of Wine, Liam Stevenson from UK, who joined in specially to enhance the knowledge delivery to these youngsters from India.
Day 5 was spent in visiting the Commercial Winery Foncalieu, Arzens, Roussillon, Chateau Haut Gleon, Roussillon - Blending and Domain Begude, Limoux.
Day 6 the student group after a heavy breakfast visited Parellada, Finca Garbet, SPAIN, followed by the visit to Castle and Winery. Students tasted the fermenting wine from the steel tanks and were told about the differences between the various batches and tasted some exceptional Cavas from House Torello Mata - Brut Reserva, Brut Gran Reserva, Rosat Trepat and Grand Reserva Barrica.
Cava Agustí Torelló Mata, PENEDES is one of the most prestigious family-owned estates of the region. Agusti Torelló Mata did not have a viticulture background, but after following his passion, he opened his winery in 1959. The Cavas are a blend of three indigenous varieties, Xarel-lo, Macabeau, Parellada and to some extent local red variety - Trepat, extensively used in making their Rose' Cava. A small yet technologically updated winery uses soft pressing with separately vinifying each parcel. Kripta is their signature wine which comes in a shape of a Roman amphora. Its grapes come from the best plots and are aged for almost 5 years. Arguably it is the best Cava in Spain.
The group was fortunate enough to visit the famed Torres Winery as well which has more than 1300 hectares of its own vineyards and is present in more than 150 countries.
Its headquarters are in Vilafranca del Penedès and its name is associated with the best wines in the world.
Day 7 was spent on visits to Cellar Cal Pla, Priorat and to the famous Cellar Burgos Porta, Frank Massard , Priorat. As the group toured the vineyards, Liam Steevenson MW (he did his dissertation on Priorat for his MW), explained the soil structure of the region, effect on grapes, climatic conditions, vineyard management and the 'Terrior' the region to these ever inquisitive bunch of students from India who made notes and recorded every word that the legend spoke.
Franck Massard is a sommelier by profession and was crowned 'Sommelier of the Year, UK, 1996', his love of the subject made him acquire a vineyard in Spain's Priorat along with a friend. Their first harvest was just 500 bottles of their first wine, Huellas. Franck now owns vineyards in the lesser known regions like Ribeira Sacra, Terra Alta, and Valdeorras.
Wine lovers will love to note that the dominant grape here are Grenache and Carignan, although the region is very rugged and the vineyard are terraced, but this kind of landscape makes it especially great for these two varietals. Significant temperature variation between day and night means that the grapes ripen slower and therefore better accumulation of aromatic compounds, natural freshness and good acidity. The vineyard gets natural spring water rich in minerals that makes a huge difference as well. Low production and gentle pressing of grapes to extract the right flavors without any overpowering aromas is carried out.
On day 8 visits were made to Albret Winery , Navarra and Urbina Winery , Rioja before moving to Paris on day 9 and 10 for sightseeing taking the visit count to 16 best Vineyards of Spain and France making it certainly a dream tour for any wine lover in the world and finally flying back to India. New age Wine Education has indeed arrived on the world map. Lucky bunch of 10 students which any one on the planet will agree!
About IIHM Hotel School:
IIHM is one of the largest Hotel School Chains in India delivering International Hospitality Management programs from Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK and University of West London, London, UK with campuses at Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Bangkok. For more details www.iihm.ac.in
Media Contact:
Abdullah Ahmed
Director
IIHM Delhi
[email protected]
+91-11 43204700/01
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