The countdown to Bordeaux has now begun, where together with the other five winners of the Millésima Blog Awards 2017, an international English-language competition dedicated to wine bloggers, I will have a magical experience discovering this marvellous UNESCO heritage city overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, world-famous for its extraordinary wines!

As you probably already know, I won the Millésima Blog Awards 2017 in the food-wine pairing category with this article: Oysters: things to know, tasting, pairings and a delicious recipe... and finally the time has come for the official award ceremony in France!

So I want to give you some advance information on our Bordeaux programme ?

Saturday 1 April 2017

Having the flight from Malpensa at dawn, I will leave the lake rather early, I expect around 4am maximum! Translated to do hair and make-up... I need to be up at 3am! Those who know me know that I usually haven't gone to bed at that time (I and Daniel di Cascina Lorenzo we say good morning/good night to each other as if we were in a time zone, instead of living 8 km away! ?)

Check-in at 15:00 at theInterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel (5 stars - Michelin Hotel) and we have a few hours to relax from the trip in the rooftop jacuzzi, the indoor pool or the NUXE Spa Les Bains de Léa with hammam, sauna and oriental scrub room. (I have to get a nice costume... but is it too late for the flab? )

At 6 p.m. an aperitif awaits us at Victor Bar with the Head Sommelier of the Grand Hotel. We will also meet Manuela Picot, Hospitality Manager of Millésimaand Marcus Din Mbedi, from the events department of Millésimawho will explain the week's programme and give us all the practical information. (I brushed up on my English... let's hope well! )

At 7 p.m. we will dine at the Brasserie Le Bordeaux Gordon Ramsey with Manuela and Marcus... and I'll finally get to try the cuisine of the multi-starred chef who has brought the behind-the-scenes of restaurant kitchens to TV with his 'Nightmare Kitchens'. I'm very curious... I wonder if we will also have the pleasure of meeting him personally! ?

Sunday 2 April 2017

On Sunday, Coline Cleiren will lead us on a wonderful walk in Bordeaux, a UNESCO heritage city, with Bruno, my Italian guide from theBordeaux Tourist Office.

At 12 noon, we will have a quick lunch at 'L'Orangerie' and visit all the rooms of the InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel, where we will stay until the next day! And then it's off to La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux!

For me, who loves architecture as much as I love wine, the Cité du vin in Bordeaux equals paradise! Parisian architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières have designed a sensual space that lands on the Garonne river. Personally, the shape reminds me a lot of a Decanter! The City of Wine is a unique cultural structure that expresses the soul of wine through an engaging and sensory approach based on evocative architecture. I can't wait to immerse myself in its extraordinary itineraries!

We are looking forward to a private preview tasting of the 2016 Pessac Léognan Grand Cru Classé, from the Vintage selection Château Haut-Bailly.

Finally, at 7:30 p.m. the dinner starts at the historic Millesima warehouse in the centre of Bordeaux, which will be followed by the award ceremony for us winners of the Millesima Blog Awards 2017... how exciting! But I won't have to give a speech in English, will I? 😀

We will spend the last night at theInterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel, and then move to the beautiful Château Pichon Baron for the rest of the week!

And then I won't reveal any more... because if you already know everything, you won't follow me for the rest of my Bordeaux week! 😉

The programme is really interesting... so many compliments to Millésima for its splendid organisation!

I look forward to meeting my fellow travellers: Lisa Denning (New York - Manhattan, blog The Wine Chef), Rob Frisch (Chicago, blog Odd Bacchus), Daniel Ercsey (Hungary, blog WineSofa), Jeff Burrows (Minnesota, blog Food Wine Click) e Agnes Nemeth (Hungary, blog Hungarian Wines). ???

What are 3 Americans, 2 Hungarians and 1 Italian doing in Bordeaux?

Tasting the best Bordeaux wines, of course!

Cheers  ?

Chiara