84110 Crestet
France
Extreme Wine is a luxury 5-day full-immersion course, from the vine to the wine, designed for wine enthusiasts who are short on time but big on passion. The course is hosted at the highest vineyard in the South of France, La Verriere — a stunningly restored 9th Century former priory, high above the nearby Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas regions. This private wine estate is within the Mont Ventoux UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to Nicole and Xavier Rolet and their award-winning Chene Bleu wines (www.chenebleu.com).
Extreme Wine (EW) offers unparalleled world-class instruction, earning it the title of most effective, most intensive, most luxurious and best course of its kind in the world. It’s also a lot of fun! Each day, gourmet meals are carefully calibrated to pair with the course’s 100+ benchmark wines, embracing some of the finest, most impressive and highly treasured vintages from across the globe. Hands-on learning in viticulture, winemaking and wine pairing combine with the stunning setting of this high-end boutique winery to enhance and complete essential theoretical knowledge.
The course is accredited by the prestigious Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) with graduating internationally recognized WSET Level 2 and 3 Award Certifications* and a proprietary Chene Bleu (Art of Food and Wine Pairing) Certification**.
Full immersion is the most effective way to convert passion into tangible wine skills and to ensure long-term retention. Extreme Wine significantly increases students’ wine and wine-pairing confidence, and imparts the experience of enjoying wine to novices and connoisseurs alike.
Extreme Wine creator Nicole Rolet enthuses, “For the past 8 years, we pride ourselves on creating a truly remarkable encounter between the teacher, student, nature and our passion for fine wine. Our exclusive bespoke classes stimulate and challenge our participants while having fun, forging a bond between all things wine.”
EW courses are taught in English by internationally recognized wine authorities Clive Barlow MW, former chairman of education of the Institute of Masters of Wine and Nick Dumergue, a senior judge for Decanter World Wine Awards. Together, they have a combined 50 years’ experience in wine education and the wine trade.
Each day is packed with lectures and tutored one-on-one tastings covering all the major grape varieties and wine growing regions of the world. Attendees focus on the difference between good wine and great wine and a curriculum including: decoding often cryptic wine labels; stocking, managing and accessorizing a wine cellar or wine collection.
Extreme Wine’s gastronomic meals are carefully crafted by Michelin restaurant trained chefs Fabrice Leclaire, La Verriere Head Chef, and Jon Chiri formerly of La Mirande Restaurant in Avignon, Provence.
This year for the first time, within the Spirits section of the WSET programme, Extreme Wine Experience proudly includes a tutored tasting session via international teleconferencing to Sam Galsworthy founder of the London artisanal Sipsmith brand www.sipsmith.com
2015 prices range from €5100 – €8750 per person, for single occupancy, (reduced rates for shared occupancy) and is all-inclusive with 6 nights luxury accommodation, gourmet meals and airport transfers (see Tuition below). A bespoke Wine Experience course can also be designed for family, friends or corporate team building at a convenient date.
FAQS:
Visit www.chenebleuextremewine.com
Bookings:
Karen Glennon: Executive Director of Extreme Wine
Email: extremewine@laverriere.
Tel: + 44 (0) 7734 317376
TUITION:
The All Inclusive Extreme and Beyond Extreme Wine Experiences include:
- Bespoke English instruction by globally respected tutors and guest winemakers;
- All study materials;
- Six nights’ gracious and luxurious accommodation in a stunningly restored 9th Century Medieval Priory with state of the art amenities (wifi, tennis courts, infinity pool, trainers, yoga, helipad);
- Gourmet meals by private Michelin restaurant-trained chefs;
- 100+ super premium fine wines;
- Airport transfers at designated times;
- Exclusive field trips to private wineries in the nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas regions;
- Introductions to iconic winemakers;
- Black tie awards ceremony;
- Unique wine games and surprises;
- Use of Helipad.
SPOUSE PROGRAMME:
The spouse programme includes accommodation, attendance at all meals, all fine wines, excursions to nearby market towns, shopping, fitness classes, and use of the heated infinity pool and Jacuzzi, tennis courts, and more.
