Chateau Lestevenie had a very successful London trade wine fair. The fair, especially for French vineyards, attracted top importers, restaurants and wine clubs. Kate Temperley brought her expertise of trade fairs to help Sue present our range of wines of which the 2011 Cotes de Bergerac rouge was a particular star. This despite everyone in the Tobacco Dock where it was held,agreeing the indoor temperature at near fridge level, was better suites to white wine.

Let's hope the bright dawn sky over the vineyard augers a good year ahead.Mind you,last year seemed fine more or less until harvest time. I stopped blogging after the hailstorm struck that wiped out some of our neighbours' entire harvest and caused us some pretty grim losses especially across the Cabernets.

Still enough of the moaning - from last year the Blanc Sec and the Rose quality are stunning.

Next week we will be exhibiting at the Wine Hub trade show in London. A show especially for the boutique producers like us.

Of course we are in full pruning swing right now. 100 rows done,only 300 to go.