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Connoisseur Club

France's Famous Wine Regions and Northern Spain 2010

September 5 - September 14, 2010

Itinerary

Loire Valley and Bordeaux (9 nights and limited to 20 couples)
September 5 – 14, 2010

We will start in the fabulous Chateau country of the Loire valley, where we will visit such legendary chateaux as Chateau Chambord and Chenonceaux. Our home base for 4 nights will be Chateau d’Artigny, an elegant castle in the heart of Chateau country. We’ll enjoy exclusive visits to some of the Loire’s most prestigious boutique wine producers and enjoy meals in famous chateaux hosted by world-famous winemakers. We’ll also have a free day to plan your own special activities including biking, hot air balloon rides, and more.



Next we’ll travel by train to the most famous wine-growing region in the world, Bordeaux. We will stay in the middle of the beautiful city of Bordeaux at the spectacularly renovated Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux. The hotel faces the impressive Grand Théâtre and is located inside the Golden Triangle, the finest shopping and pedestrian area in the city. Our location will give us great access to this pedestrian-friendly city and easy access to the surrounding Bordeaux wine regions.

We will have five days exploring Bordeaux including one “free day” to enjoy shopping in Bordeaux, biking, sight seeing or simply to enjoy surrounding area.
One day will focus on the left bank “Medoc”, one day in Graves/Pessac-Léognan & Sauternes, and a day in St. Émilion and its surrounding satellite regions. Wine expert Bill Blatch, one of the most famous and respected Bordeaux experts in the world, will join us. Bill will be organizing special chateau visits to taste wines and visit legendary chateaux you’ve only dreamed about. We will hold private events at some of the most prestigious chateaux in the region and you will meet some the most prestigious winemakers/owners in the world!


Tommy and Michael at Singita Game Reserve, South Africa

Traveling with the Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club

Chef Tommy Klauber and Michael Klauber have been immersed in the hospitality business since they were children, growing up on the shores of Longboat Key, Florida, at their family-owned Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. They have studied and traveled the culinary highways of the world extensively and are your perfect hosts for this journey, as you might expect!
A recognized restaurateur and wine connoisseur, Michael opened the award-winning Michael's On East Restaurant in Sarasota over 20 years ago, and is the proprietor of Michael’s Wine Cellar, a successful wine retailer and host to exclusive wine tastings and education.
Chef Tommy has owned and operated the highly-acclaimed Pattigeorge's restaurant since 1997, and recently opened a new restaurant, Polo Grill & Bar, in the Lakewood Ranch Main Street shopping and dining district. Tommy is one of America's brightest and most creative chefs.
Their nearly unlimited access to chefs and winemakers around the world consistently create one-of-a-kind experiences for members and travelers. Their eight Connoisseur Club culinary adventures to date have taken them and their fellow travelers to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Napa Valley, Southeast Asia, and the Baltics. Traveling with Michael and Chef Tommy is truly an adventure, full of excellent food, fabulous wines and exciting destinations!

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