Archive for November, 2009

Dordogne’s famous vineyard Chateau Belingard, has just won 3 silver awards for their wines for 2009. One was commended by Decanter World Wine Awards, the second at the South-West Wine Challenge in Bordeaux and the other for the Macon Wine Challenge 2009. These are just a couple to add to their growing selection after winning various awards for three consecutive years. In 2007 they were awarded for their Cuvee Alliance Bergerac Red, and in 2008 Blanche de Bosredon Bergerac Dry White and Chateau Belingard Cotes de Bergerac Medium Sweet.

Chateau Belingard is honoured by Dordogne’s ‘Louisville’ magazine who feature the vineyard regularly in their publication. The family run business’ popularity and success is down to many factors, the average age of red wine they produce is 30 years, while white wine is 35 years old. If you are after a French holiday where wine tasting is at the top of your list, you can experience the whole process. The equipment they use consists of a sorting table, pneumatic and horizontal presses, temperature controlled stainless steel vats, a press filter, plates and cartridges, French oak barrels and American oak barrels. Grapes are hand picked as well as mechanically picked before starting the process.

Owner Laurent de Bosredon is constantly perfecting his wines, saying: “As for the white and red wines of our region, I am seeking a subtle balance between a fruity, floral and soft presence in the mouth, with an underlying tannic or tight and silky aroma. And for the Monbazillac sweet wines, I have wines that are a juxtaposition of white wine and sugar. Botrytis is a miracle. The wines of Chateau Belingard from a Noble Rot harvest must be an exceptional blend of harmony and elegance, between fleshy and fresh fruit.”

After proudly winning their prestigious awards, young Chinese girl Sue who is training at the Belingard, cooked up a feast as an ‘Au Revoir’ gift to the awarders.

Some of the 20,000 British expatriates in the Dordogne region may lose their say in the next British general election.
Less than 13,000 of the 5.5 million British citizens living abroad worldwide have registered to vote in the upcoming UK general election according to the Electoral Commission.

Though British citizens who live overseas can register as overseas voters if they have been on the electoral register in the past 15 years, in December 2008 there were only 12,874 voters registered as overseas voters.

In 2006 the report ‘Brits Abroad’ found that France was the most popular choice for British emigres within the EU, with over 200,000 people choosing to extend a French holiday to a more permanent arrangement. Out of these 20,000 have settled in the Dordogne region, roughly one tenth of the total number.

The Electoral Commission, an independent body that acts as the UK’s elections watchdog, has launched a campaign trying to encourage UK citizens abroad to register to vote ahead of the announcement of the general election.

As a general election is certain to take place by June 2010, the commission says that voters should register as soon as possible. Even those who were too young to vote when they left the UK can register in the last place their parent or guardian was registered.

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said: “British citizens living abroad come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but we know that most maintain strong links with the UK. It is easier than ever before for British citizens abroad to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues back home and many will also want to have their say in elections.”

“Anyone that wants to register should go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk for more information and to download a registration form. But as an election can be called at short notice, they should do so now.” me of the

There has been a rise in sales on Eurostar travel, according to new figures released. Between July and September 2009, a reported rise in sales show that a total of 2.6 million passengers travelled on the service compared to 2.4 million this time last year, revealing an increase of 6.8%.

Eurostar’s chief executive Richard Brown said: “Today’s figures show that, despite tough times, people are increasingly realising the great benefit of travelling with Eurostar. In recent weeks a number of our major corporate clients have eased their business travel restrictions.”

Eurostar could be at even more of an advantage after the government announced an increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) of £1, adding to the cost of flying to France. Mr Brown told the BBC that Eurostar had always faced competition from airlines, but this could now change after the increased tax. Brown said: “We would not have attracted the number of people we have if our prices were not as good, or usually better, than the airlines.”

French holidays and the tourist businesses could however be affected if people would prefer to fly. The increase in APD will be pushed up to £11 per person and will be imposed on short haul flights, including Europe. The government argues that this duty is an environmental tax, even though private jets and cargo flights don’t pay the fee, much to the irritation of other airlines.

There will also be another Air Passenger Duty rise in 12 months time, which could provoke people into using the Eurostar rather than to fly.