Celebrating their 200th birthday, The National Gallery has unveiled "Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers", an exhibition which showcases Van Gogh's most spectacular paintings. Walk beneath the starry night, relax in the 'Poet's Garden' or unwind under a shady tree in Saint-Rémy! Bringing together Van Gogh's most loved paintings, some which are rarely seen in public, the exhibition tickets are available until the 19th January 2025 or 8th December 2024 for non-members. See here for more information and to book tickets.
Working with the Van Gogh Museum earlier this year, Domaine du Météore launched two wines which represent the link between nature and art, the South of France and Vincent Van Gogh himself. These wines are available in the UK and are a celebration of the paintings now on display at The National Gallery.
Domaine du Météore takes its name from the meteorite which struck a hillside in southern France over 10,000 years ago. Today, vines grow within and around its 200m-wide crater, surrounded by garrigue, with the scent of wild thyme, fennel, and mint. Owned since December 2018 by two British doctors, neurologist Paul Jarman and endocrinologist Paul Jenkins, the estate makes organic wines inspired by the land and its history. It is currently in biodynamic conversion. See my article on The Write Taste (and also published in IWC Canopy) for a report on the estate and its winemaking approach.
Both these wines are aged in stainless steel tanks.
This wine takes its name from the famous sunflower painted in Languedoc, near the meteor crater.
🍇 Grapes: Roussanne and Viognier.
🎚️ ABV: 12.5%.
👃 Nose: Delicate aromas of flint, lemon and nutmeg.
😋 Palate: A fresh and rounded palate with notes of pineapple and apricot, a slight creaminess and a mineral finish.
💳 Where to buy: Available from Domaine du Météore (in a case of 6) and a selection of UK retailers, including Gnarly Vines and Clapton Craft, for £19-£20 per 75cl bottle.
This wine takes its name from the beautiful autumn landscape of tall poplar trees lining the roads, typical of the Languedoc region. The bottle label depicts Van Gogh's 1884 painting, which he described to his brother as "a study of an avenue of poplars with yellow autumn leaves, where the sun makes glittering patches here and there on the fallen leaves on the ground …"
🍇 Grapes: Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
🎚️ ABV: 14%.
👃 Nose: Aromatic with notes of blackcurrant, loganberry and a hint of lavender.
😋 Palate: Notes of blackberry and blackcurrant with a savoury edge, touches of paprika spice and nutmeg, bright acidity, soft tannins and a long finish.
💳 Where to buy: Available from Domaine du Météore (in a case of 6) and a selection of UK retailers, including Gnarly Vines, for £19-£20 per 75cl bottle.
Domaine du Météore's winemaker, Simon Frech, says "Van Gogh's paintings and our wines are both the product of the same terroir of Mediterranean garrigue. Van Gogh was captivated by a special light that we have in our region; light that makes our grapes grow until perfect maturity. So actually what we try to do when we make Domaine du Météore wines is the same as Van Gogh, demonstrating the beauty of the South of France."
