Bergerac Duras Wines debuted in the U.S. in spectacular fashion. These beautiful wines from southwestern France are kissing cousins to their more famous neighbor, Bordeaux. However, the wines are quickly gaining recognition for their distinctive character. 

Bergerac Duras Wines were celebrated in a most fitting setting, the private dining rooms of New York’s famed Lafayette Grand Cafe and Bakery. The venue is world renowned for its Parisian-inspired cuisine and it’s chic and airy atmosphere.

Arthur Hon, a James Beard Award semifinalist, is a Sommelier and Wine Educator. He was host to the master class and wine pairing lunch at Lafayette.

Bergerac wines are not unlike those of their cousin, Bordeaux. The mild springs and sun-drenched summers of their native Cotes de Duras lends itself to rich varietal wines and blends from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec (Cot) and Cabernet Franc. The unique climate also allows for the creation of some spectacular sweet and semi-sweet wines that go marvelously with a variety of ethnically inspired dishes.

All of this and more was explored in depth through the expert guidance of Sommelier Hon.

Arthur Hon came to his sense of wine appreciation through the world of art. As a young undergraduate and advanced degree student at the famed School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he sought employment at Chicago’s popular Sushi Wabi and then became wine director at the Michelin starred Sepia.

A self-proclaimed visual artist by calling, Hon is currently Beverage Director of the Modern by Union Square Hospitality Group, the Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning restaurant located within the Museum of Modern Art of New York City, a fitting setting for an artist-turned Sommelier.

Bergerac gets its name from the 17th century literary figure Cyrano de Bergerac, the insecure poet-soldier from the play of the same name by Edmond Rostand.

 Bergerac, who is known for his distinctive but unattractively large nose, is enamored with the beautiful Roxane, who has also attracted the romantic attention of a handsome but insecure nobleman.

 In the play, Bergerac helps the more attractive man win over the woman they both love by “loaning” him his romantic words of poetry. It is a play that examines the conflict between inner worth and outer beauty.

In a menu at Lafayette that included both classic French favorites and trendy ethnic fare, Hon led a mouth-watering culinary tour through the wines of the Bergerac Duras.

A Mosaic of Terroirs, Ten Appellations, Five Colors, One Story was the title of the presentation. Among the distinctive wines presented were some that are uniquely associated with the region made from grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc and Gris, Sémillon, Muscadelle, Mauzac, Chenin Blanc and Ondenc. 

French classic dishes such as Rainbow Trout Meunier with Lemon and Crispy Capers and Prime NY Strip Steak Au Poivre were paired with the wines Chateau Le Tap 2024 and Monsieur de Cyrano 2023 and Chateau Puy-Servain Terrement Rouge 2023.

Additional wines that were presented included Chateau Du Grand Roc ‘P’Tit Rouquin,’ 2023 and Chateau Kalian Monbazillac 2023, and Le Clos Du Breil ‘Classique’ 2024-Bergerac AOP, among others.

 As a Sommelier, Arthur Hon compares his work in wine as a multi-dimensional outlet that allows him to express his creativity. He is firm in his belief that pretense has no place in the world of wine.

“Creativity and passion don’t always have to be complex or come from afar,” he says. “Simpler is always better.”

For more on the beautiful wines of the Bergerac Duras, visit vins-bergeracduras.fr/en/.