Italy’s Heart and Soul of Wine and Food (#ItalianFWT)
To know the wine of Emilia-Romagna it’s important to understand the region and food.
Two Bargains From Bordeaux and Bergerac #Winophiles
Bordeaux is famous for expensive red wine. But most folks don’t know how large the Bordeaux and neighboring regions are- there are literally thousands of wineries stretching for miles. After digging deep to challenge the “expensive” myth, I found two bottles that may turn your perception upside-down. This month our French #winophiles group scoured France to bring you amazing wines… Read more »
The One High Altitude Wine Region You Must Try #ItalianFWT
Alto Adige gets about 300 sunny days per year – perfect for high acidity retention in its grapes. It’s where snow capped mountain slopes meet a Mediterranean climate with pristine blue skies. And it’s where distinctive wines are produced. The Italian Food, Wine, and Travel authors (#ItalianFWT) virtually travel to northern Italy for Alpine Wines this month. And, in fact,… Read more »
A Tasting of French Rosé
California made people think rosé is sweet…and lesser quality. But it’s made all over the world. And, Provence (France) is credited for putting it on the map. Rosé is for serious wine lovers, yes, but really anyone interested in wine. Perhaps it were the marketers that ruined its image? Cheap and affordable? Rosé is just the opposite. It can be… Read more »
Basque-ing in the Sud-Ouest: Wines of Irouléguy #Winophiles
Great French wines are found in the Basque. Most people think of Spain when they hear the word Basque. But a little known fact is 15% of the area lies within southern France, where the coastal towns of Biarritz, Bayonne, and St-Jean-de-Luz entertain sun worshipers and surfers while just inland Hendaye in the Pyrénées foothills captivates hikers. The south west… Read more »
A Franciacorta Masterpiece That Rivals Champagne
Vinexpo Bordeaux was the site of several talks and master classes including a special tasting showcasing the Italian sparkler Franciacorta. Little known in the United States or other parts of the world, Franciacorta may just be the next Champagne. It hails from the Lombardy region of northern Italy, where Italians have been making renditions of sparkling wine since the 1600s…. Read more »
These Ladies In Beaujolais Are Worth Paying Attention To
A new group of ladies emerged from the land of Beaujolais, with an inaugural kickoff at Vinexpo in Bordeaux last week. Unique and specific, their portfolio of wines is a hit. I met some of the woman behind Elles Et Beaujolais- they are a compelling force in the region. 5 women, 5 vineyards and 1 common spirit: quality, tradition and… Read more »
Navigating Southern Burgundy: Mâconnaise and Beaujolais
Buying wine is like buying chocolate. They both have a world of flavors and attributes to consider. Do you want fruity or deeper earthy tastes? Belgian? Dark or milk? 85%? Then you navigate labels- Costa Rican, single origin, fair trade? You decide on a bar but see local producers as you head to check out. So many choices. The same… Read more »
Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017
Vinexpo is coming to Bordeaux July 18 through the 21st of June. So what is it and what’s it about? Here’s a quick read with a fun video at the end. Vinexpo is: an international brand established in 1981 specializes in major event and exhibition development in the wine and spirits sector, organized by and for people in the trade… Read more »
Saint-Aubin in Burgundy Invites You To Dine
To understand Bourgogne it helps to understand its regions; a few offer excellent value wines. Saint Aubin is one in particular. Bourgogne (referred to as Burgundy in many countries) is long and narrow. The whole of Bourgogne runs from the town of Auxerre in the north (the land of Chablis) to just south of Mâcon, (north of Lyon in the… Read more »