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Aristide Spies & Pascal Carré 
traverse the vineyards of the world to select wines of
all horizons for your greater pleasure

Contest of the best Sommelier of Belgium 2007
Ruinart Trophy
Sunday October 14, 2007 - hotel radisson – Brussels

Contest Prosper Montagné 2007 - 2008

First Sommelier of Belgium.





"Frank Desmedt, Provost of the Sommeliers, giving the first price to Aristide Spies"

Trip To Bordeaux

Here in St Julien at Château Beychevelle

Travel To Australia

Recently, they went to Australia to discover last rising stars of the Australian vineyard there.
A human great adventure, they told us.

After famous Hunter Valley and Mudgee (N.S.W.),
direction Victoria and her vineyards with the fresher climate

        

Here at the Yarra Yering Estate (Yarra Valley)
in company of the winemaker Haisma Mark

 In the north of Melbourne with Heathcote,
the Jasper Hill Estate produces remarkable Shiraz

Ron Laughton (owner and winemaker) with his wife Elva

The vine is present since 1840 in South Australia

Very old vines of Shiraz at Kaesler Wines in Nuriootpa (Barossa Valley)




However more recent structures
but quite as qualitative are born in Western Australia

Here in Margaret River at the Watershed Estate
with the manager of the Estate Geoff Barrett

Up

Greece - March 2008

Château Porto Carras’ vineyards, appellation Côtes de Meliton in Central Makedonia region, on the Sithonia Peninsula

French grapes varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah,...)
planted on the slopes of Mount Meliton     

Alpha Estate is situated in the heart of the Amyndeon appellation
(Western Makedonia region)

Alpha Estate located in Ampelia
(whose name derives from the Greek meaning “vines”)

Alpha Estate located on a unique terroir on a plateau at an altitude of 700 metres,
semi continental climate with influence from lakes and mountains.
Result : very well balanced red wines, high quality

Katogi Strofilia Estate in Metsovo, Epirus region, in the north west of Greece

Katogi Strofilia Estate whose Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
and Merlot vineyards are planted at altitude 950 metres !

Up

Verona – Vinitaly - April 2008

 

After an intensive day of tasting, friendly moment in Verona with Ms and Mr Batzella, talented producers in Bolgheri D. O. C. Up       Chile - May 2008 Chile, Montes Estate (Colchagua Valley) on the unique terroir of Apalta   Our Belgian group and our Chilean guide, the oenologist Claudia Gomez,  in front of the Apalta vineyards Chile, Altaïr Estate (Cachapoal Valley) on the first foothills of the Andes, altitude 600 m. Cachapoal Valley, Altaïr vineyards Chile, Amayna Estate (Garcès Silva family) in Leyda Valley, next to the Pacific Ocean. Climate is fresh and it allows to produce high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Amayna Estate, a tasting with the oenologist consultant Jean-Michel Novelle (on the right on the photograph) Up       European Contest - Sofia - May 2008 William Wouters, president of the “Belgian Sommelier Guild” et Aristide Spies in Sofia (Bulgaria) The Ivan Vasov National Theatre is located in the centre of Sofia where the final of the Best Sommelier of Europe 2008 was organised   The 10 semi-finalists candidates of the European Competition from left to right : Belgian Ambassador in Bulgaria, Mr Ph Beke who came for supporting his country, Aristide Spies and Isa Bal, winner of the competition of the Best Sommelier of Europe 2008 Aristide wins the competition of Alsacian wines from left to right : Pascal Carré, William Wouters, Serge Dubs (Best World Sommelier in 1989), Aristide Spies, Thierry Fritsch (oenologist of CIVA) from left to right : Pascal Carré, Paul Brunet, Aristide Spies, Serge Dubs, William Wouters Pascal Carré, Kazuyoshi Kogai (president of the association of the international sommellerie), Aristide Spies and William Wouters Sir Isa Bal, Best European Sommelier 2008 and Aristide Spies Festal atmosphere during the closing dinner of the European Competition 2008 Up Brotherhood of the Jurade de Saint Emilion - June 2008     Chapter of the Jurade de Saint Emilion (in June, « new wine judgment »). Vinous brotherhood which origin went back to 1199.  Exit of the Jurats from the monolith church.   Sacrament to the Jurade in the monolith church in Saint Emilion. Louis Havaux (First Honour Jurat ) and Aristide in the Town Hall Gardens in front of the Room of the Dominicans. Up   Yves Radelet’s Restaurant   The Chef Yves Radelet, owner of the eponymous restaurant offers to his customers an original and modern cuisine. Aristide matches dishes and advices wines from all over the world for the greatest delight of the guests.  (Restaurant Yves Radelet : 17/20 Gault-Millaut, Young Chef of the Year 2006 Gault-Millaut,  Chef of the Year 2008 Gault-Millaut, Membre Euro-Toques)   Up   Chile - January 2009   Visit and tasting in Cono Sur Estate in Chimbarongo (Colchagua Valley) where the 2007 “Ocio” cuvée based on Pinot noir from Casablanca Valley is a great success. Visit and tasting in Casa Lapostolle Estate situated on the magnificent Apalta terroir (Colchagua Valley) Tasting in Casa Lapostolle Estate where Clos Apalta 2006 and superb Cuvée Alexandre Syrah 2006 are both outstanding wines.   Vineyards of Errazuriz Ovalle Estate (Colchagua Valley) Casablanca Valley, visit of the vineyards of Quintay Estate and Geo Wines with oenologist Alvarho Espinoza and my travel companions : Louis Havaux et Hervé Lalau   Casablanca Valley which benefits from a fresh climate thanks to the proximity of the ocean. This superb land produces white wines and remarkable Pinot noir. Visits and tastings in the Santa Rita Estate and the Carmen Estate (Maipo Valley) Visits and tastings in the Santa Rita Estate and the Carmen Estate (Maipo Valley) Louis Havaux, Hervé Lalau and Aristide Spies in Maipo Valley Visits and tastings in Concha y Toro Estate (Maipo Valley) Visit and tasting in the Errazuriz Estate (Aconcagua Valley). The vineyards are not without pointing out the beautiful terroir of the Rhône Valley. Vineyards of Errazuriz Estate (Aconcagua Valley). This terroir is very favourable in Syrah, Carmenère and the Cabernet Sauvignon. These late ripening grape varieties find here a soft and late fall, supporting their maturation. Visit and tasting in Tamaya Estate (Limari Valley) Limari is the next to last wine valley before the Atacama desert in the north of the country. Here, without irrigation, no vineyard could be planted. Rainfall are about 80mm of water each year, which only falls in 2 days! However, thanks to the freshness of the nights due to the proximity of the Andes and the ocean, the wines aren’t uninteresting. Central Market in Santiago of Chile. From these coloured stalls fly away  tropical fruit perfumes, spices,… a treat for the amateur… Up         Canada - June 2009 Québec – June 2009 – One of the jury during the “Sélections Mondiales Canada”

From l. to r. : Lilyane Weston, journalist – Richard Bastien, winemaker – Joel Payne, journalist – Yann Juban, assistant general manager of OIV – Aristide Spies, sommelier Members of the « Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Vin » (FIJEV). From l. to r. : Louis Havaux, Honor President – Hervé Lalau, Secretary-General – Yves Paquier, treasurer – Aristide Spies, member Up           Radio RTBF Vivacité – Summer 2009     « En cuisine »  Culinary Broadcast on a main Belgian radio (RTBF) with Candice Kother the food and kitchen expert. Benjamin Maréchal, the broadcaster Up

Best Sommelier
of Belgium -
Ruinart Trophy 2007 :

&

First Sommelier
of Belgium 2007-2008 Prosper Montagné

Mr. Spies Aristide

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