Philippe Sella Visits the Cellar Door

This was the first week of the new season here at Clos Henri. The cellar door was opened just in time for the influx of French rugby fans to touch down in Marlborough for the Rugby World Cup. Among our many blue cladded visitors was none other than French rugby legend and former French union player Mr Philippe Sella. We are all hoping for a blue/black final... Croisons les doigts!

Bastille Day 2010 at Clos Henri - 14th of July

For the 5th year in a row, we have celebrated Bastille Day on the estate - in our church 'Ste Solange'. The celebration is held around a particular French wine region, that we get our Marlborough winery friends, local authorities, suppliers, local clients and team to discover through regional food specialities and a wine from the region in question.

We started few years ago with Champagne (always good to start with a bubble), Rhone Valley (to warm up a bit from our cold winter), Chinon (as it was the year we built our winery and or winemaker is from Chinon) and this year we focused on Provence and Bandol.

Of course our guests get to try all these delicacies with our wines. It is a fantastic moment to gather our friends every year and share a special moment of Wine & Food. Since it is a mission to find the French delicacies, we cook ourselves (helped by our few French people on the estate) which makes it a real gift from the heart to the Marlborough wine community that fully welcomed the Bourgeois family in NZ.

Clos Henri elected Gold Medal Cellar Door 2010

Every year, Wine Marlborough (promotional institute for the Marlborough wine region) organises for Mystery Shoppers to visit wineries 'incognito' and evaluate their tasting rooms as known as cellar doors. The evaluation is held on the quality of the service, quality of the information given, little step further done by the cellar door host, quality of the experience given.

We are proud to receive a Gold Medal for the season 2010. We always ensure our visitors have a wonderful experience and leave our cellar door with relevant information about Clos Henri and wine in general. 'Terroir' being one of the important notion for us to explain, through comparative tastings of our wines and a wine from Sancerre, as well as through a display of soils that show the terroir characteristics of our estate.

We've also opened a little cafe this year at Clos Henri where French cheese and terrines are served. This brings a little plus to the atmosphere, and enables our visitor to enjoy good quality products with a glass of our wines amongst the vineyard.

We invite you to visit us:

From mid may to end october: by appointment only

From beginning of november to mid may: Monday to Friday - 10am to 4pm

On 639 state hwy 63 - RD1 - Wairau Valley - Blenheim