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 »
Alto Adige gets about 300 sunny days per year – perfect for high acidity retention in grapes. It’s where snow capped mountain slopes meet a Mediterranean climate and 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, Alto… Read more »
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 »
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 the South of 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… Read more »
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 »
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 »
Pineau des Charentes is a complex fortified wine with a sophisticated sweet side. It’s about the mingling of grape flavors with Cognac characteristics. People say it’s fresh, sweet and fruity but for me there’s more. It’s deep layers of complex flavor that promote discussion: bright to bruised apple, ripe apricot and fig, light spice, and vanilla nuttiness. Some have floral… Read more »
A few weeks ago Vinitaly was our destination in Verona. We previously attended a few wine events in California but nothing compares to Vinitaly. What an experience! A HUGE wine conference with thousands of vendors (4,270 exhibitors from 30 countries), it’s one of the largest in the world. Knowing where things are located will keep you from wandering aimlessly. It’s… Read more »
Spring in Bordeaux means “En Primeur”. The city is buzzing with an influx of experts, journalists, merchants, enthusiasts…it’s about wine professionals converging to taste and purchase the latest vintage. “En Primeur” = (wine) futures En Primeur refers to a system where châteaux (the plural form of château) release a limited quantity of their wine- known as the first tranche– for… Read more »
With a 2,000-year winemaking history and now exporting just a portion, there’s an alluring mystery to Corsican wines. This French island, which is close to Italy and claims to be neither, is as mysterious as it’s grapes. I didn’t know much about Corsica, let alone it’s food or wine, until the French Winophiles group chose a virtual visit to the… Read more »