Gold Rush

The opening dinner of Riga Wine & Champagne’s 2019 Fall session featureed only the very best – the Gold medal wines of Latvia’s Wine of the Year competition. That means some very serious champagnes, rieslings, and classics from Spain, USA, and Australia. And that’s not all - Barent’s chef Ivans Smigarevs took care of a multi-course meal and Kaspars Reitups, the world’s No.23 sommelier, disclosed the best pairings.

The Treasures of Michael Schuster’s cellar

Michael Schuster, our long-time friend and one of the world’s leading wine authors, kindly agreed to share a dozen treasures from his London’s cellar. During this special dinner Michael served a selection of wines - from democratic to sophisticated and super-expensive - that had been sleeping in his cellar for decades and represent special moments from Michael’s life and career. There were loads of unique stories and insider’s tips during this unforgettable journey via Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone and Eden Valleys, Bordeaux, Piedmont, Mosel and Madeira. Vincents team - Head sommelier Raimonds Tomsons and Chef Oskars Sprukts - took care of a splendid multi-course dinner.

TOP 100 WINES + CHEFS

Top 100 Wines + Chefs once again was a foodie & wine lover’s heaven – not only giving the possibility to sample the top 100 imported wines in Latvia but also taste the signature dishes from the most exciting restaurants and chefs of Riga all set in Hanzas perons - the most modern event’s venue in Riga.

Fine & Mature with Michael Schuster

A little get-together in the company of Michael Schuster, our friend and one of the world’s leading wine experts. Nice evening with five course menu by chef Ivans Smigarevs + two beauties, Champagne Laherte Frères "Les Grande Crayères" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2014 as aperitif and Austrian legend Nikolaihof Riesling "Vom Stein" Federspiel 1990, Wachau, as well as stories by Michael and "Barents" team - Kaspars Reitups and Ivans Šmigarevs.

IAN D’AGATA and INDIGENA WORLD TOUR in RIGA

2-day advanced masterclasses of Piedmont wines for the Baltic wine trade professionals led by Ian D’Agata, one of the world’s leading Italian wine authorities and a wine writer. The purpose of Indigena – World Tour is to organize through the year a number of master classes in different countries, bringing together a selected number of experts and professionals at different career levels to discover great Italian wines. Masterclasses in Riga covered Monferrato: Barbera d'Asti, Ruchè, Nizza, Grignolino, Albugnano, Albarossa and Langhe, Roero and the others: Nebbiolo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Valtellina, Arneis, Dolcetto.

Champagne Gala Dinner by Electrolux

Peter Liem, one of the world’s leading champagne experts and the Guest of Honour of the festival, was joined by two famous chef de caves - Francis Tribaut (Champagne Lallier) and Pascal Agrapart  (Champagne Agrapart), and Baltics' most passionate champagne lovers! A range of beautiful champagnes were presented at the dinner, as the chef we invited one of the most talented chefs of Latvia, Ivan Smigarev (Barents) and the guests arrived with their favorite champagne to share it with other champagne lovers over the dinner. Champagnes to be presented at 1st part of the Gala Diner: 2010 Bérêche & Fils Le Cran Premier Cru, 2008 Agrapart & Fils Mineral Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, 2002 Lalllier Memory Collection MAGNUM, 2010 Robert Moncuit Vozémieux Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs MAGNUM, MV 12  Henri Giraud Aÿ Grand Cru Fût de Chêne Brut MAGNUM, 2008 Cristal Louis Roederer, 2008 Dom Pérignon Chef de Cave Legacy Edition.

Vénus on a Date! Special guests Pascal Agrapart and Peter Liem

A very special date with Pascal Agrapart’s Vénus - one of the most prized cuvées of Côte des Blancs - in the company of the owner and winemaker Pascal Agrapart and our friend and one of the world’s leading Champagne expert Peter Liem. It was a great pleasure to enjoy 7 different vintages of Vénus (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012) as well as a surprise selection of some other Agrapart’s cuvées (2000 Agrapart Millésime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, 1995 Agrapart Millésime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, 1976 Agrapart Millésime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut) accompanied with the stories of Pascal and Peter.

From Champagne with Love! Curated by Peter Liem

We asked a dozen leading Champagne producers to share just one unique bottle for this special opening night of Riga Wine & Champagne. In the company of our Guest of Honour and one of the world's leading Champagne expert's - Peter Liem - we enjoyed: Champagne Veuve Fourny Clos Faubourg Notre Dame 2009, Champagne Jacquesson Dizy Corne Bautray 2004, Champagne Pierre Péters Esprit 2002, Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion 1999, Champagne Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres 2012, Champagne Jérôme Prévost Les Béguines 2009, Champagne Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée 2002, Champagne Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d’Aÿ MAGNUM 1988, Champagne Drappier Grande Sendrée 1989, Champagne Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 1996, Champagne Bérêche Campania Remensis 2010, Champagne Roederer Cristal Rosé 1988.

Baltic Wine Forum & Awards in association with Cross Keys Gin

The 2nd Baltic Wine Forum featured some of the best European sommeliers and wine directors, like Ronan Sayburn MS (67 PALL MALL & CEO of the Court of Master Sommeliers), Ian D'Agata (Italy, Vinous) and Piotr Pietras MS (HIDE, London, #2 Sommelier in Europe, 2017), shared their knowledge and stories on building engaging and profitable wine lists.

Audi Bubble Parade 2019 at the National Arts Museum!

The most hedonistic Champagne and sparkling wine parade in the Baltic countries. Tasting of more than 100 champagnes and 50 sparklers in the company of the most passionate Baltic Champagne lovers, producers and chef de caves, all set in National Arts Museum’s Main Hall!

High-end Bordeaux with MICHAEL SCHUSTER

The Gala Dinner of the festival celebrating mature Bordeaux accompanied by tasting insights and comments by one of the world’s leading Bordeaux authorities and our long-time friend Michael Schuster. Only 1996 vintage. Only Pauillac and its northern neighbour Saint-Estèphe. Only First growths, and Super-seconds. Plus the occasional over-achiever from Pauillac like Lynch-Bages or Pontet-Canet.
Aperitif: 1996 Veuve Clicquot Rosé Magnum; 1996 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé; 1996 Bollinger La Grande Année Rosé.
Dinner wines: 1996 Château Pontet-Canet (Pauillac); 1996 Château Lynch-Bages (Pauillac); 1996 Château Cos-d’Estournel (Saint-Estèphe); 1996 Château Montrose (Saint-Estèphe); 1996 Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron-de-Pichon (Pauillac); 1996 Château Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande (Pauillac); 1996 Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac); 1996 Château Latour (Pauilac); 1996 Château Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac).

NATIVE WINE GRAPES of ITALY

Ian D’Agata’s masterclass for professionals only. Ian D’Agata, the world’s leading Italian wine authority, led a tasting of Italian wines, complemented with Ian’s encyclopedic wine stories. It was an unique opportunity for the wine trade professionals to receive plenty of advanced insights into the world of Italy’s native wine grapes and wines. Ian D’Agata’s work Native Wine Grapes of Italy won the prestigious 2015 Louis Roederer International Wine Awards Book of the Year, never won before by any Italian. The book was also featured in the Top 10 Wine Books of the Year by the NY Times, the Financial Times and the LA Times.
Ian is the world’s leading Italian wine authority, a wine writer and author, Creative Director of the Collisioni Wine & Food Project, Scientific Director of the Indigena Festival, Director of the Italian International Indigenous Center for Wine & Food Studies (3iC) and Senior Editor of VINOUS. 
The master class was held in cooperation with the Latvian Sommelier Association and the Italian Embassy in Riga.

TOP 101 WINES + CHEFS

Top 101 WINES + CHEFS not only moved to a new location but also experienced a complete transformation. The Parade was a foodie & wine lover’s heaven – with a possibility to sample top 101 Gold and Silver medalists of the Wine of the Year competition and match wines with signature dishes from the most exciting restaurants and chefs of Riga (Vincents + Oskars Sprukts; Māris Jansons + Kest; Bibliotēka No.1 Restorāns; Ivans Šmigarevs and Mārtiņš Rītiņš), all set in the creative surrounds of Zuzeum.
The Wine of The Year competition finds out the best world wines available in Latvia, thus making the lives of Latvia's wine lovers easier by shedding light on the vast variety of wines available here. An international jury led by Michael Schuster assesses more than 500 sparkling, white, red, dessert and fortified wines in a «blind» tasting in order to hand out 14 Gold, 87 Silver, 224 Bronze and 55 Worth a try medals. It was possible to try all 14 «Gold» and 87 «Silver» medalists at the Parade.

TAR & ROSES + Ian D’Agata

A unique chance to dine in the company of Ian d’Agata, Italy’s leading wine authority, and nebbiolo, Italy’s most noble grape. Guests the evening was tasting a selection of nebbiolos from Barolo commune in Piedmont, Italy, both young and mature, modern and traditional, barolos from all corners of the Barolo commune. The evening’s wine list included region’s superstars like Bruno Giacosa and Bartolo Mascarello.
Wines of the tasting: Barolo 1982 Cannubi-S.Lorenzo-Via Nuova E.Pira; Barolo 1985 Sori Ginestra Conterno Fantino MAGNUM; Barolo 1990 Bussia Giacomo Fenocchio; Barolo 1996 Cascina Francia Giacomo Conterno; Barolo 1997 Vigna Elena Elvio Cogno; Barolo 1999 Bartolo Mascarello Edizione Speciale; Barolo 2001 Vigna Rionda Luigi Oddero; Barolo 2004 Bricco Rocche Bricco Rocche Ceretto; Barolo 2008 Riserva Rocche del Falletto Bruno Giacosa; Barolo 2011 Tre Tine Giuseppe Rinaldi; Barolo 2012 Ravera Bricco Pernice Elvio Cogno; Barolo 2012 Monprivato Giuseppe Mascarello.

FESTA ITALIANA by ELECTROLUX

Ian D’Agata, the world’s leading Italian wine authority, was dining with Riga’s most passionate Italian wine, food, and culture lovers, and was happy to share his stories about the wines and their place in Italian culture. The cuisine was presented by Biblioteka No1 team in cooperation with consultant chef Andrey Schmakov (SAVVA (Moscow), Tartar (Tallinn)). Dinner was held in collaboration with Electrolux Latvija.
Wines of the evening: Adami Bosco di Gica Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore; Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige (Franciacorta); Ferrari Brut (Trentodoc); 2014 Abbazia di Novacella Kerner (Alto Adige); 2017 Giovanni Almondo Bricco delle Ciliegie (Roero Arneis); 2015 Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore; 2009 Collavini Schioppettino Turian (Friuli Colli Orientali); 2015 Gulfi Nerojbleo (Sicilia Rosso); 2001 Isole e Olena Cepparello (Toscana); 2013 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico; 2003 Tedeschi Capitel Fontana Recioto della Valpolicella Classico; 2017 Planeta Passito di Noto.

The World Sabrage Record

This one-of-a-kind event featured Raimonds Tomsons, the European Sommelier Champion, breaking the World’s sabrage record - he sabered 71 bottles in one minute! The World Sabrage Record concluded the Audi Bubble Parade at the central staircase of National Arts Museum.

Audi Bubble Parade at the Museum

The largest Champagne tasting in the Baltic countries with more than 100 champagnes and superstar guests like Peter Liem and the leading chef de caves! Amazing location too – National Arts Museum!

Champagne Gala Dinner at Vincents

Peter Liem, one of the world’s leading champagne experts and the Guest of Honour of the festival, was dining (& drinking) with us at this intimate champagne dinner. Peter was joined by seven famous chef de caves and Baltics' most passionate champagne lovers! Guests included Christophe Constant (Paul Bara), Jérôme Legras (Legras et Haas), Adrien Dhondt (Dhondt-Grellet), Laurent Champs (Vilmart), Sébastien Legolvet (Henri Giraud), Frédéric Panaïotis (Ruinart), Gilles De La Bassetiere (De Venoge).

Baltic Wine List Awards 2018

Baltic Wine List Awards were created to discover and spotlight restaurants with good, great and extraordinary wine lists in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn at a time when an appreciation for wine is becoming an integral part of Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian cultures.

Baltic Wine Forum «WINE + MONEY»

Champagne meets Art by Electrolux

On this special date, we brought together four of Latvia’s most celebrated artists to showcase their favorite champagnes and art! The artists were Elita Patmalniece, Frančeska Kirke, Vineta Kaulača, Helēna Heinrihsone, while the team of sommeliers consisted of Jānis Volkinštens, Mārtiņš Pīlēns, Santa Zāmuele, Ronalds Pētersons and Aigars Nords. The popular TV personality Valdis Melderis will act as the host of the Dinner. Some of the champagne we tasted: Dhondt-Grellet Dans un Premier Temps, Henriot Blanc de Blancs, Dosnon Alliae Brut Nature, 2007 Michel Loriot Apollonis Les Sources du Flagot, 2010 Laurent Benard Extra Brut, 2007 Gosset Celebris Rosé, 2008 Palmer & Co, 1982 Bonnaire Grand Cru Cramant, NV Henri Giraud Code Noir Blanc de Noirs Aÿ, 2006 De Venoge Louis XV, 2004 Boizel Grand Vintage Brut.

An Evening with the Godfather

“No champagne grower is as renowned or as influential as Anselme Selosse. Whether directly or indirectly, he has inspired an entire generation of young winegrowers in the region, and among consumers, his champagnes have become some of the most sought-after wines in the world.” - Peter Liem, www.champagneguide.net. We kicked off the 7th season of the festival with a Selosse dinner featuring all six lieux-dits (dg. 2016), six different Substances (dg. 2007 – 2016), Selosse Rosé (24/04/17), and Selosse Il Était Une Fois Liqueur (L9599). Boom!

“VISS, KAS JUMS JĀZINA PAR VĪNU” MAIKLA ŠUSTERA VADĪBĀ

Meistarklase/ degustācija Maikla Šustera vadībā. Meistarklases laikā preparēsim desmit klasiskus pasaules vīnus, apgūsim vīna vērtēšanas principus un degustēšanas mākslu, kā arī piedzīvosim Šustera grāmatas Essential Winetasting jaunā izdevuma pirmizrādi Baltijas valstīs.

Italian sparkling and classic masterpieces for professionals

A showcase of Italian masterpieces – a sparkling wine masterclass under the guidance of Raimonds Tomsons, Europe’s best sommelier, as well as a Parade of classic red wines of Piedmont, Italy’s noblest winemaking region, with the participation of wine producers. In collaboration with WHYNET.

The battle of the greats by Electrolux

This one-of-a-kind wine and food matching dinner featured Raimonds Tomsons (Latvia) and Andreas Larsson (Sweden). The current European Champion and the 2007 World Champion chose a selection of superb wines to accompany a four course dinner created by Biblioteka No1 team and the consultant Andrey Shmakov. It was a symbolic battle between the two champions as the public was voting for their favourite wine and food combinations. In cooperation with Electrolux.

Luminor champions’ parade 2017

Latvia’s most anticipated wine tasting featuring Top 100 wines of «Wine of The Year 2017» competition. This is the time to enjoy the best champagnes, sparkling wines, white wines and red wines from all over the world and available in Latvia that had been ranked highest by the Jury of the «Wine of The Year 2017» contest.

Champagne night out with Richard Juhlin

Richard Juhlin, the world’s no.1 champagne expert and the Guest of Honour of the festival joined us for this superb champagne dinner. The four-course dinner kicked-off with a set of famous prestige cuvées, and continued with favourite champagnes brought by the guests themselves. Champagne Night Out was a true celebration of Champagne.

Montrachet lunch with Michael Schuster

The Gala lunch celebrating the grandest of white Burgundies – the mighty Montrachet and its grand cru neighbours Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet, Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet, and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet in the company of Michael Schuster! The range of the wines included all grand crus from vintages starting from 1992 to 2014. Please see Michael Schuster’s review of the tasting in The World of Fine Wine Issue 59.

Magnumi pret pudelēm PĪTERA LIEMA kompānijā

Latvijas sabrage rekorda mēģinājums

Latvijas sabrage rekorda mēģinājums

«EAT DRINK VOTE» by Electrolux

Maris Jansons, the chef of BIBLIOTĒKA N°1 Restorāns, was side-by-side with Raimonds Tomsons to create the perfect «marriage» between wines and food. In partnership with Electrolux.

Audi bubble parade 2017

Champagne gala dinner

Champagne Gala Dinner with champagnes and stories of Champagne house owners and chef de caves from Champagne Henriot, Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, and Champagne Pierre Peters and Peter Liem (champagneguide.net). Highlights: Pierre Péters Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons 1999 MAGNUM, Piper-Heidsieck RARE 1998 MAGNUM, Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 1999 MAGNUM

Vakariņas ar DOM PÉRIGNON «Vincentā»

Festivāla rudens sesijas ekskluzīvākās vakariņas "Vincentā" ar Dom Pérignon šampaniešiem no pieciem ražas gadiem un divām paaudzēm, kā arī īpaši piemeklētiem Mārtiņa Rītiņa radītiem ēdieniem vakariņās.

Vakariņas «CHAMPAGNE + CHEFS by Electrolux»

Pjemontas vīni profesionāļiem

Meistarklase profesionāļiem un ekskluzīva Pjemontas, Itālijas cēlākā vīndarīšanas reģiona, vīnu degustācija Latvijā ar ražotāju un vīndaru līdzdalību. Degustācijas pirmajā daļā profesionāļiem bija iespēja walk-around degustācijas formātā iepazīt astoņu atzītu vīndaru produkciju – no baltajiem un dzirkstošajiem līdz Barolo un Barbaresco. Otrajā daļā notika meistarklases formātā, kurā Raimonds Tomsons (restorāna "Vincents") sniedza detalizētu informāciju par reģionu, kā arī tika degustēta virkne izcilāko vīna paraugu ar ražotāju komentāriem. Sadarbībā ar Pjemontas vīnu asociāciju Winexperience.

La Paulée de Riga jeb Burgundijas dzīres

Nordea Čempionu parāde

Burgundy: People with a Passion for Wine

Filmas vienīgais seanss Latvijā bija kā saldais ēdiens visiem Latvijas frankoholiķiem. Filma, kas izpelnījusies kritiķu uzslavas un atzinības vadošos pasaules kinofestivālos, pirmo reizi kinoteātros tika izrādīta tieši Rīgā.

DE VENOGE CHAMPAGNE DINNER

Festivāla 2016.gada rudens sezonas noslēgumā nedēļu pēc Burgundijas dzīrēm notika mūsu partnera «Kolonāde. Mūsu stāsti...» un šampanieša nama de Venoge krāšņas šampanieša vakariņas. Vakariņu laikā ar savu klātbūtni mūs pagodināja arī de Venoge mājas saimnieks Gilles de la Bassetierre.