2011 Wine Tasting - SOLD OUT  
Click Here, Check out the Wiskey Tasting. 

Madame Ghislaine announces another great line-up of wine tasting shows, featuring her exciting line-up of premium wines at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival!   Click icon to the right to attend the Wine Tasting Show = >

A brand new event, an oenological take-down of mythic proportions, will delight and surprise you as Madame pits identical varietals from the Old World against New World versions.  It will be epic!  She’s also bringing back the very popular deep-dive into the concept of “terroir” (the idea that the aroma and flavor of wine is strongly influenced by micro-climate), and an exploration of unusual varietals that you may never have tasted before, and

Madame will also offer classical tastings of old world and new world wines, and the most popular of all - the final weekend "Best of the Season."  (The "Best of the Season" seatings usually sell out in September - a word to the wise!)

Madame also serves individual elegant tasting plates of fruit, cheese, and bread. She and that Scottish lightskirt Bonnie McKinlay will delight you with some special surprise tasting items selected to compliment the wines.

And those of you who agree that the wine tasting is the best entertainment value at faire will be delighted to know that entertainers including Marc Gunn, Vince Conaway, Owain Phyfe and others will be there for your pleasure. And we believe the Queen will again make the wine tasting a stop on her progress around the faire – accompanied of course by the charming Lord Dudley. 

The schedule of tastings by Madame Ghislaine for 2011 include the following.  Oh, and where it says, “TBD” – it means that Madame is still conducting her exhaustive research on your behalf! 

The schedule of tastings by Madame Ghislaine for 2011 include the following.  Oh, and where it says, “TBD” – it means that Madame is still conducting her exhaustive research on your behalf! .

 Week One:  Classical European Selections  

Taste European wines at their most characteristic - but as always, Madame Ghislaine will surprise you with new ideas about them.

• Cava – Penedes - Spain
• Pinot Blanc – Germany 
• Pinot Grigio or TBD – Italy
• Chenin Blanc – Loire – France
• Pinot Noir – Burgundy – France
• Rioja or Ribera del Duero Temperanillo – Spain
• Montepulciano or Chianti – Italy
• TBD

Week Two:  Terroirs Revealed   
The idea of “terroir” – that wines are the expression of the soil, climate, method and even culture of a particular place - is explored as we taste varietals that demonstrate this important concept.  Oh, and Madame Ghislaine has a couple of secrets up her sleeve.

• Cava – Spain
• Sauvignon Blanc – Napa – St. Helena
• Sauvignon Blanc – Napa – Rutherford
• Pinot Noir - France
• Pinot Noir – Washington State
• Cabernet Sauvignon - TBD
• Cabernet Sauvignon - TBD
• Tokaji

Week Three:  New World Wonders
If Madame Ghislaine had known how spectacular wines from the Americas and Pacific Rim would be, she would have told Columbus and Captain Cook to hurry up!  She’ll be just as impatient to share these wonderful wines with you.

• Sparkling Wine – Tasmania
• Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand
• Chardonnay - Chile 
• Australian Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley
• Pinotage – South Africa
• Malbec – Argentina
• Vin de glaciere – New Zealand or Canada

Week Four:  Varietal Encounters
Join Madame in an exciting exploration of lesser-known varietals.  No chardonnays or cabernets here – discover new aromas and flavors in wines worthy of attention.  So many wines – so little time!  Trust Madame to help you find new favorites.

• Prosecco - Italy
• Gewurztraminer - Germany
• Viognier – France or US
• Alberino – Martin Codax – Spain
• Temperanillo – Spain
• Pinotage – South Africa
• Petite Syrah 
• Moscatel de Setubal – Portugal – Bacalhoa or similar

Week Five:  Old World vs. New World

It’s a knock-down, drag-out fight – oenological jousting, as it were!  Let’s see which winemakers will win over our sophisticated guests in an epic battle between Team France/Spain vs. Team Americas/Pacific Rim!  Who will you bet on? 

• ·      Cava – Spain vs. Sofia – Napa
• ·      Chardonnay – France vs. Chardonnay – Chile
• ·      Sauvignon Blanc – France vs. Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand
• ·      Pinot Noir – France vs. Pinot Noir – USA
• ·      Garnacha/Grenache – Spain vs. Grenache – McLaren Vale, Australia
• ·      Eiswein TBD vs. Ice Wine TBD

Week Six:  Season’s Best
Celebrate another wonderful season of wine and revelry as Madame brings you the best of the season as determined, no, not by democratic processes but by Madame and Her Majesty the Queen! 

Madame can’t wait to see her wonderful guests again!

Price includes wines, food (plenty for lunch), entertainment and a souvenir champagne flute. 

Don’t wait and be disappointed – almost all of the seatings sold out last year. Get your tickets now! 

Wine tasting tickets are $45 per person. Each date has limited seating available and each date normally sells out in advance. Festival admission tickets must be purchased separately, and are also available through our QuickPrint ticket system. 

Wine tastings begin at 1:00 PM and last approximately 90 minutes

Distilled Delights – A Tasting of Brandy, Grappa, Poire Williams, and Calvados

Madame will take you on another adventure as she leads you in exploring new tastes and aromas in distilled spirits such as brandy (Spain), grappa (Italy), poire Williams (TBD), and calvados (Normandy).  Only ONE TASTING in 2011, so get your seats early.  Bask in the warmth of these delicious spirits by the side of lovely Lake Allbright.  $25.00

Brandy tasting takes place on Saturday December 3rd begining at 3:30pm at the wine tasting garden.