On a sultry August evening, I had the pleasure of enjoying an apéro at the magnificent Château Bélingard.

BÉLINGARD
One of the first posts I wrote when I started this website was on meeting Laurent de Bosredon and his wife Sylvie at their estate in Pomport (you can read it here). The history of Bélingard, not to mention its exceptional wines, captivated me during a press trip last year, and I was more than happy to return again just a few weeks ago.

MEMORABLE APÉRO, WONDERFUL COMPANY
Shortly before my departure to Duras late last month, I received an assignment from France Magazine which led me to contact Marie-Pierre Tamagnon (Press and Public Relations at the Interprofession des Vins de Bergerac et Duras). I met Marie-Pierre during that same press trip last year when she guided us through four unforgettable days of wine tasting and discovering the cultural and gourmet delights of the region.
When I went to see her again at the Maison des Vins in Bergerac during my holiday, I took my husband Hans, who often teams up with me on assignments as photographer/cinematographer. She told us about the Wine Center’s future plans, guided us around and graciously gifted us a set of Bergerac wines (which I am a great fan of; here’s a favorite). At the end we discussed meeting at the apéro offered at Bélingard that Thursday, and a few days later, there we were, savoring regional cheese and charcuterie and sipping a fine Ortus AOC Côtes de Bergerac (a luscious blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec with rich red fruit aromas and velvety tannins).

For those visiting the Dordogne in the summer, the Bélingard apéro is a fantastic way to spend a memorable evening discovering some the gems of this beautiful wine region. While engaging in pleasant conversation and indulging the palate, we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets ever. Many thanks to Marie-Pierre for her company and to Laurent and Sylvie for organizing such a wonderful event.

NOTE:
The final apéro this year will be held on the 23rd of August starting at 6:30 p.m. You can reserve your place by contacting Anaïs Estansan (anaisestansan@belingard.com / Tél : 05 53 58 28 03).