South's NWWA Visits France
So, what did you do this summer?
It seems to be an age-old question that is asked at the beginning of every school year. For you, maybe an ordinary day was spent at the pool or walking along Alki. But, for a group of 20 students from South Seattle Community College’s Northwest Wine Academy (NWWA), this past summer was anything but ordinary.
These students toured the wine-rich country side of France from Bordeaux to Champagne and everywhere in between, led by NWWA instructor Reggie Daigneault.
"It was a great first tour,” Daigneault explained. “Our students gained knowledge, expertise, respect for properties, vines and wines, and learned the traditional as well as the latest techniques used both in the vineyard (Biodynamic and Biologique) and in the winery," Daigneault said.
Earlier this year, Daigneault was instrumental in forming a partnership with Bordeaux School of Wine and South’s NWWA. Only 14 schools across the country have this partnership and among them, South is the only community college.
This partnership helped open the doors to resources and information that was not available previously. NWWA students were able to ask questions and learn from the distinguished faculty at the school. The students also attended a blending class there, which the students agreed was the highlight of the trip.
In addition to visiting vineyards, the group toured chateaus, domains, castles, cathedrals, towns and even caves in the region.
"The students had the special opportunity to taste many different kinds of wine, and speak directly with the French Vignerons (winemakers)," Daigneault explained. “Not only is Europe rich in the history of wine, but it's intertwined with wars, royalty, religion, tradition, and, of course, the best of all…the foods of the regions!"
The food as well as wine was plentiful and the students were happy for the comfortable bus ride throughout the French country side, Daigneault noted.
This first tour was a huge success and the NWWA is already looking forward to the second tour.
”We would like to invite everyone who is interested to join the September 2014 tour, which will visit Burgundy, The Rhone Valley, Provence and Languedoc Roussillon," Daigneault said.
So, what are you doing next summer?