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I’m completely biased when it comes to discussions about natural wine.

As an approach to winemaking. As a recalibration of taste. As an ethos towards life and the agricultural products we choose to consume

I’m all in.

And I wear my passion on my sleeve.

I luckily wandered into Chambers Street Wine almost a decade ago, and under the tutelage of my friends David Lillie and Jamie Wolff, along with many of the staff there, have embraced the artisanal and natural wine world with abandon.

Chambers Street Wines has made a huge difference to me personally and to the community of wine lovers in New York and across the country by championing these small, unorthodox, often brilliant winemakers from across the globe.

Enter Isabelle Legeron.

Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 10.31.22 AMAlmost unknown here, she has done for many in Europe, London especially, what the team at Chambers Street have done here, albeit in a different way.

I got to know her initially online as That Crazy French Women a bunch of years ago.  Then personally when I made my first pilgrimage to her then fledgling RAW Faire in London.

She’s the real deal in the European wine world.

She has been a unstoppable and insistent change agent towards the acceptance of natural wine as a category and as an approach to winemaking.

The first Frenchwomen MW (Master of Wine), she is knowledgeable as they come, as graciously opinionated as can be with a huge heart (and smile) and unlimited chutzpah around her beliefs.

Isabelle is in New York next week for the first time in 20 years.

Chambers Street Wines is hosting a book signing for  “Natural Wine: An Introduction to Organic and Biodynamic Wines Made Naturally” and a celebratory dinner with the New York wine community.

A quick word on Isabelle’s book.

Screen Shot 2014-11-04 at 10.33.44 AMShe starts by sharing an epiphany.

While viewing the manicured landscape from her friend’s house in Cornwall one weekend, she realized that the perfect picture was truly an image of agricultural decline, not pristine beauty. An example of the destructive effects of monoculture to the natural health of the land. And our food and wine as well.

Her book is a rallying cry to the core benefits agricultural biodiversity. A dive into the science of the soil and a straight on debunking of a series of myths around the use of sulfur, cultured yeast and additives in wine making.

It drew me in from the start.

You may not agree with it all.  You will absolutely learn a great deal about agriculture and winemaking.

You will also be bowled over by her passion for the topic and her huge heart for the natural winemakers who are changing our view of what constitutes a great wine in today’s world.

And I promise you will be thankful for the section of the book with descriptions of over 100 recommended natural wines to track down and drink.

–>The Chambers Street Wine Natural Wine Events

There is a bit of poetic appropriateness that Chambers Street Wines is the host of her short visit to New York.

If anyone has opened the NY market to the fact that the very best wines in the world are indeed from these producers who embrace natural approaches, it is certainly them.  If anyone has done so for the European market it is certainly Isabelle.

–>A Natural Wine Tasting

Tuesday November 4th. 5-6.30PM at CSW. (No charge.)

This is to get us ready for Isabelle’s arrival.

She will not be here  till next week–but I certainly will be.

The first two commenters on this post get a signed copy of Isabelle’s book as a gift from me. All you need to do is to comment here then show up at any of the events.

–>Book Signing and Natural Wine Tasting

Thursday November 13th. 4:00 PM TO 7:00 PM at CSW.
Isabelle will be leading the tasting and signing books. (No charge except for the books!)

Rumor has it that the producers being poured will be:

Dirty and Rowdy, Werlitsch, Occhipinti,Vinos Ambiz and Clos Fantine.

Be there and look me up if you are downtown.

–>Natural Wine Gala Dinner with the New York Community and Isabelle Legeron

Thursday November 13th. Starts at 7PM at Contra.

Food by Chefs Jeramiah Stone & Fabian Von Hauske, wine hospitality from Wine Director Jorge Riera.

$180, which includes meal, wine, taxes, and gratuity.

The following are being poured:

Costadila Sparkles
, AmByth Grenache Blanc
, Terroir al Limit Terra de Cuques
, Courtois Racines
, Cornelissen Munjebel
, Salinia St. Marigold and Navarre Demi-Sec.

Great crowd and exception wines guaranteed.

SO–

I’ll admit that I introduced Isabelle to Jamie Wolff at CSW, so yes I will be at these events for certain.

The natural wine community in New York that spans shop and restaurant owners, the trade, winemakers, writers and bloggers and just lovers of wine means a great deal to me.

There is a joyousness around it that holds a special place in my life.

Hope to see many of you there!