“Grenache is for me, the wild, wild woman of wine, the sex on wheels and devil take the hindmost, the don’t say I didn’t warn you.” – Oz Clarke I rather like Oz’s description of Grenache, the wine grape of many personalities. Having spent a bit of time in Spain, I myself have fallen prey to her charms: sometimes in the magenta-hued guise of a … Continue reading You Say Grenache, I Say Garnacha: A Toast to #GrenacheDay
Saturday the French Winophiles recount their favorite French memories – either long-ago trips that we’ll never forget or those we imagine when our wanderlust kicks up a fuss. Like most people who have been to France, I have both in my repertoire; but today I’m going back to 1993 and my first visit. My French boyfriend took me on a two-week vacation that began and … Continue reading Do You Know the Way to Vézelay? (#Winophiles)
When was your last visit to France? Mine was in December, a trip I’d been anticipating for a decade-and-a-half. Truth be told, though, I had traveled the streets of Paris on many occasions over the years – every time I daydreamed to escape reality, I landed in the Place des Vosges with its exquisite shops, or on the banks of the Seine watching the bâteaux … Continue reading Dreaming of France: What’s Your Story? #Winophiles
When you think of France, what’s the first image that appears in your mind? Is it the statuesque splendor of the Eiffel Tower? Or maybe the lavender-imbued fields of Provence? Whether we’ve traveled to France or not, we have heard about her charms, seen photos of her beauty. As a child, long before I ever saw France with my own eyes, I dreamed about it, … Continue reading Dreaming of France: The #Winophiles Share their Favorite Stories – Past, Present, and Future
As we landed in Paris, I saw the drizzle of rain streak across my window. Why is it that every time I land at Charles de Gaulle it’s grey and miserable? You’d think it might have (ahem) dampened my enthusiasm for making the trip, but no, especially not this time. My husband and I had a special anniversary to celebrate, and it was Christmas. I’d … Continue reading Talêgo Épicerie Fine: A Taste of Portugal in the Heart of Paris (#WinePW)
The peloton has had a much-needed day off after two hellacious stages in the mountains. You might assume that they’d feel feisty and fresh, ready to mount their bicycles and attack the course. But that’s the funny thing about Grand Tour races: rest days don’t always have a positive effect on the riders. Some do, indeed, come back fully recovered and on their game. Others aren’t so lucky. It’s as if their bodies, pushed to the limit over two grueling weeks, engineer a complete biological and mental shut-down. All systems on lock. ¡No más!
So, while we have only five days until the finale in Madrid, overall outcomes are anything but assured. Tuesday’s race is an individual time trial, in which each rider races solo against the clock, with no teammates alongside to help. It’s a difficult discipline to master, and it tends to favor the bigger riders and sprinters. Chris Froome, currently in first place, is an excellent time trialist, and we’d expect him to put his rivals on the defensive today. But, like I’ve said many times, you never know. Anything can happen! Continue reading “The Circuito de Navarra and La Rioja: It’s Stage 16 of #Vuelta2017”
I’m really excited for Sunday’s stage: we’re heading to Granada, one of my favorite Spanish cities! If you’ve been there, I don’t have to explain at all because this magical municipality has already won you over with her charms. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada is a bustling university town full of shops, bars, and restaurants. Despite its being chock-full … Continue reading Granada: Home to the Alhambra, the Sierra Nevada, and Stage 15 of #Vuelta2017
