Yapp Travel

To Burgundy for 'Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne' a brilliant, bi-annual, Behemoth wine tasting which starts in Chablis on Monday morning and trails its way southwards across the world's most illustrious viticultural real estate over the rest of the week.     After an early start, and despite the best efforts of striking air traffic […]

  When Robin and Judith Yapp officially retired back in 2004 (unofficially they still help out on a regular basis) they bought a property in the Gard, the better to explore La France Profonde. Not surprisingly they took a keen interest in the local wine and were intrigued to discover the little-known Duché d'Uzès Wine. […]

A recent trip to visit friends and relatives on Cape Anne in Massachusetts provided the opportunity to revisit one of my all-time favourite restaurants 'Woodman's of Essex'. Happily, although I had managed to clock a full decade between visits, it hadn't changed one iota. Founded in 1914 by 'Chubby' and Betsy Woodman and still run […]

Many moons ago, well before family life so that I think counts as moons ago, various groups of friends would have the derring-do just to book a ferry and jump in a car with a copy of the Rough Guide, and head off for a few weeks in the summer. My best man, Gareth and […]

In keen anticipation of a family holiday in France thoughts turn to the pleasures of French market shopping and the wealth and quality of the comestibles to be found and fine meals that will ensue. The first task is to select a decent market. In high summer that means nothing too large or touristy. Bigger […]

Two further days of tastings and meetings in the Loire focused on the Touraine. The format of tastings in a region that incorporates diverse AOCs can be polarised.     For example, a visit to Didier & Nadège Aubert in Vouvray incorporated sec, demi-sec, sweet and sparkling versions of Vouvray (Chenin blanc) in multiple vintages. […]

The annual Salon des Vins de Loire at the Parc d'Expositions in Angers at the beginning of February is a great opportunity to meet multiple wine makers under one roof, catch up on their news and sample their latest offerings.     After two vintages when volumes were down in 2012 and 2013 the atmosphere […]

My excursions to France, whether for business or pleasure, normally see me emerge from the Eurotunnel and steam south on the A26 heading for Champagne or sunnier climes. The Nord-Pas–de Calais region seems to have little that encourages one to linger. This summer, however, I decided to dally overnight in the pretty medieval market town […]

Bright eyed and bushy tailed after a good night’s kip we were now ready for the Northern part of our Rhône foray. First stop was a visit to long-standing Yapp supplier and Rhône ‘royalty’ Jean-Louis & Erin Chave. On the way we dropped into the 4 hectare Clos Florentin vineyard which is where the Chave’s […]

  By the time we arrived in Châteauneuf-du-Pape on Monday, morning mists were clearing to reveal a vista of vines in golden Autumn sunshine. Our first port of call was at Le Vieux Donjon where a smiling Claire Michel told us she was relieved to have completed the complicated 2014 harvest. Hot on the heels […]