Anne-Claude Leflaive, director of Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, France, in collaboration with six other highly respected Burgundy vintners, has founded Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs in Puligny-Montrachet. With the goal of broadening wine professionals’ knowledge and understanding, Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs is an educational program that focuses of vine growing and winemaking using an ecological, environmental and humanistic approach.
The first school of its kind, Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs has been in the works since 2005 when the initial plans were formed. The origins of its inspiration, however, were much earlier. In 1991 Domaine Leflaive began experimenting with biodynamic farming, which initiated inquiries about its effectiveness and benefits. Rather than respond to every individual inquiry Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs provides a forum for biodynamic advocates to share their experiences with a broader audience.
Beginning in May, 2008 Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs will offer seminars ranging in duration from three hours to two days covering such broad subjects as wine making techniques, biodynamic farming methods, wine tasting, and botany. Each seminar is led by an expert in their field, including such luminaries as microbiologists Claude and Lydia Bourguignon, oenological revolutionary Bruno Quenioux, and terroir specialist Bruno Weiller.
Classes will be held throughout the year. The 2008 schedule currently includes seminars May through August. The seminars are divided into in French and English offerings. The seminars are limited to only 12 people, providing an intimate and personal experience, and take place predominantly in the vineyard.
Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs is a non-profit organization formed under the guidance of Anne-Claude Leflaive in collaboration with Michel Boss, Vinium; Pierre-Henri Gagey, Louis Jadot; Dominique Lafon, Domaine des Comtes Lafon; Jean-Marc Roulot, Domaine Roulot; Aubert de Villaine, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti; and Antoine Lepetit, Domaine Leflaive.
For more information or to attend Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs please visit www.ecolevinterroir.org.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:06 am
lookin for a good wine school, to study more on wines, really passionate for wines, working with the imperial new delhi india
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Check out the wine and spirit education trust http://www.wset.co.uk