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There are a variety of wine apps out there to assist wine lovers in their quest for the perfect vino. Do you want to learn more about the wine you drink? Perhaps understand how to match wine with the food you’re eating?  I’m not suggesting you become a wine snob, but having a little knowledge […]

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Top 10 Paris Foodie Must-Dos If one thing is certain, it’s that visiting Paris and living in Paris are two different endeavors when you’re a foodie. When you live here, you have to retain some modicum of restraint, for the sake of both your waistband and your wallet. But as a visitor, you can take […]

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The movement towards growing grapes by organic or biodynamic methods is slowly growing in France, and there are now notable examples in Provence. These wines are still single digit in terms of overall production. However, some world famous producers, including the Domaine de la Romanée Conti and the Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, ...

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When thinking of filling your wine cellar for the summer, consider Loire Valley wines.  Wine cellars give you flexibility, and a spectrum of wines for your enjoyment. You choose wines when they are most available, and keep them until they are mature. That doesn’t mean that all of your wines are for long term cellaring. […]

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Please welcome Bill Eyer of Cuvee Corner for a feature on affordable Bordeaux wines.  The motto of his blog is “The intersection of where great wine meets reasonable prices”.  I was intrigued by his take on French wines and asked him to write an article on what he would recommend for everyday Bordeaux wines. Here […]

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I have just conducted a course in tasting French white wines from some of the most famous wine  regions in France. One dozen tasters each contributed $25 to pay for the wines, and we had four sessions, three wines a week. Each tasting featured a progression of wine tastes, and enabled the tasters not only […]

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Sauternes, a dessert wine with varying sweetness, was one of the world’s favorite wines a century ago. These wines, from the Sauternes and Barsac region south of Bordeaux, are  now making a comeback, having suffered from the general urge to trim calories. A little goes a long way, so start with half bottles. Their return […]

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5 ways a Hotel Concierge Service Is Your Best Advocate While in Paris, on a wine tour to France, or elsewhere, the unexpected can sometimes ruin a trip.  But where can you turn when you need help while on a trip abroad? One of the most overlooked resources while in country is the hotel concierge service. We […]

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Cassoulet and Cahors Wine: Perfect French Winter Comfort Food Have you ever looked for an easy cassoulet recipe? Chilly winter evenings call for satisfying meals, preferably not hard to make, that fill you up and taste particularly good. It’s the dinner equivalent of relaxing before a roaring wood fire. But you don’t want to slave ...

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Restaurant Wine Lists: See How You Can Order Wine With Confidence Restaurant wine lists can be intimidating. There you are at a nice restaurant for a fine occasion, perhaps while on a wine tour in France. You have some idea which dinners you wish to order. The wine steward delivers the restaurant wine list, pauses […]

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Pascale Bernasse Named Condé Nast France Top Travel Specialist Pascale Bernasse, President of French Wine Explorers, has been honored again this year with an enviable spot on the 2012 List for Condé Nast France wine tours, published by luxury travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. This annual list recognizes the world’s finest travel ...

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 What is Armagnac? For an after dinner indulgence, a fine French brandy is in a class by itself. Cognac is the great favorite. But what is Armagnac? Armagnac, from the départements of Landes and Gers south of Bordeaux, also has fervent admirers. It has been enjoyed since the 14th century.  A Latin manuscript from 1310 […]

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Burgundy Grand Cru Wines Tasted During Our Epic Tour The delicious goal of our Burgundy Wine Tour of the Grand Crus is to experience wines from all the Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte d’Or and Chablis. This is one of the best wine tours in Burgundy offering the opportunity to taste all the Grand […]

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Discovering the wines of Margaux, the region and its properties, could well be the highlight of your trip to Bordeaux. Margaux is the largest of the six regions of the Médoc, and the farthest south. The 1,479 lucky people who live there reside in one of the most famous wine making regions on earth. The […]

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The annual champagne tasting at Wide World of Wines in Washington, D.C., let us preview an assortment of fine champagnes for the holidays. Champagnes are a blend of Chardonnay (flavor and consistency), Pinot Noir (depth), and Pinot Meunier grapes (a touch of spice). “Blanc de blancs” will use just Chardonnay, while ...

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