Paris to Jersey: A Wine Lover’s Island Escape – by Josie Sharp

As France’s distant cousin, having once been a part of its mainland several centuries ago, aspects of French culture can be seen on the island of Jersey today, from its road names to its local language, Jèrriais.

Located off the Contentin Peninsula of north-west France, it became a desirable stronghold for both the United Kingdom and France throughout their conflicts, leading to the construction of fortifications and castles that still stand today.

Jersey was also the only part of the British Isles occupied by German forces during the Second World War, attracting history enthusiasts to its shores alongside those drawn to its beaches.

What may be unexpected to those not in the know is that Jersey is becoming a premier destination for those with exceptional taste in food and wine alike.

La Mare Wine Estate

At the forefront of this movement is the La Mare Wine Estate in the island’s northern parish.

As a working winery and distillery, the grand 18^th-century Jersey farmhouse is surrounded by the vineyards, meadows and fields that make up the Mare Wine Estate.

Much like vineyards in France, the estate emphasises the importance of Jersey’s unique terroir for creating its wines.

The island’s abundant sunshine and soil types, paired with its maritime climate where salty winds sweep through the vines each day, combine to create the distinctive and exceptional wines cultivated, produced and sold on the estate’s grounds.

Adding to Jersey’s sense of pride are its wine names, like its Bailiwick red wine, named after the crown dependency and Perquage Rosé, for a series of walking routes across the island.

The La Mare Wine Estate offers tasting tours of its vineyard for as little as £19.95.

After the tour, guests can enjoy its adjoining restaurant serving local Jersey produce and savour La Mare’s wines, with a view of the vines where the very grapes were grown.

The Club Hotel & Spa

St Helier, the capital of Jersey, is home to the four-star Club Hotel & Spa. With its award-winning restaurant, it offers a welcome touch of glamour after a rustic day exploring the island.

Its ideal location, just 15 minutes by taxi from the airport and a 10-minute walk to the city centre, means the resort is perfectly placed to offer guests everything they need and more.

The Club Hotel & Spa is well-equipped for relaxation, including a calming spa with an indoor pool, thermal suite and seasonal outdoor pool. Its rooms continue this sense of ease, offering comfortable, well-appointed spaces with modern furnishings, soft neutral tones, and thoughtful amenities designed for a restful stay in the heart of St Helier.

The hotel also benefits from St Helier’s simple public transport network, making it easy to explore the island for a flat fare of £2.75.

At just nine miles by five, visitors are never more than five minutes from Jersey’s coastline and award-winning beaches, with Mont Orgueil just a scenic walk along the coast from St Helier.

Guests staying at The Club Hotel & Spa are just moments from the sea and sandy stretches, with the nearest shoreline becoming an easy coastal walk to St Aubin, a quaint town, neighbouring St Helier.

However, a dining experience at the Club Hotel & Spa’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Bohemia, is the true highlight of a stay at this splendid boutique hotel.

Bohemia Restaurant

With chef Tom Earnshaw at the helm, the seven-course signature tasting menu is an ode to the island of Jersey.

Previously, the esteemed chef has said “I want guests to taste Jersey in every dish, the finest ingredients from this island and neighbouring France, cooked with real intention.”

Each dish at Bohemia embodies this ethos, drawing on the wealth of local produce found on this island.

Jersey butter, Royal Bay oysters, seaweed and seasonal vegetables; the island of Jersey serves as the kitchen’s pantry, rather than using distant suppliers for many of its ingredients.

However, due to its proximity to mainland France, this tasting menu is, of course, not without a French soul.

First served with a delightful selection of amuse-bouche, including steak tartare and a glass of champagne, it is unmistakably influenced by the French philosophy of savouring a dining experience.

The line-caught John Dory, served with Alsace bacon & barbecued spring greens and mange tout, is served a la grecque.

Despite the misleading name, it’s not a Greek dish but a French culinary technique in which vegetables are gently simmered in a fragrant, acidic broth rather than water, enhancing their flavour. 

Another stellar dish on this tasting menu is the dessert, a whipped chocolate crémeux.

This traditional French pudding, similar to a mousse but much denser, was topped with a dash of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and caviar to add a modern twist to the bistro classic.

This seven-course tasting menu, with an optional cheese course, reflects a distinctly French approach to dining, valuing the local gastronomy used and taking the time to both understand and enjoy it.

Bohemia’s in-house sommeliers enhance the wine experience, taking time before each course to explain the flavours, regions and background of the wines included in the optional wine flight.

Many French wines feature on the sommelier’s selection for this menu, including bottles from the most esteemed wine regions like the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, as well as some up-and-coming vineyards from Spain.

Each wine pairing complemented its dish perfectly, while the macchiatos were just as enjoyable, an ideal French-style finish to a Michelin-starred dining experience.

This Crown Dependency’s unique mix of rich history and idyllic landscapes makes it the perfect island escape from the bustle of France’s cities.

While visiting Jersey, travellers should make the most of the island’s cuisine and wine at every turn, where the Jersey pride felt in each oyster shucked, butter dish served, and local wine bottle opened is palpable.

This rich culinary and cultural haven is now even more accessible with a new direct flight route from Paris to Jersey starting on 31 May.

I was a guest of The Club Hotel & Spa and Bohemia restaurant for the purpose of a review. Visit The Club Hotel & Spa’s website, including their restaurant, here: https://www.theclubjersey.com 

Visit La Mare Wine Estate: https://www.lamarewineestate.com