Category: French Winophiles

Cycling, France, French Winophiles, Spain

Exploring the Languedoc with Domaine Magellan (#Winophiles)

This Saturday I get to indulge in a few of my favorite things: the Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) cycling race begins, which takes me – strangely enough – to Southern France for the first two days; and the Winophiles blogging group meets to discuss affordable French wines. Spain, France, cycling, and wine – who wants to come with me?

If you’re so inclined, please join our chat on August 19th at 11 am EDT. You can find us on Twitter at the appointed time, using the hashtag #Winophiles. We’d love to hear your wine suggestions too, so chime in at any point. Just be sure to append #Winophiles to your tweets so we can welcome you. Our host this month is Jill Barth, who captures the exquisite beauty of France in her blog L’occasion; you can read more about this month’s topic here. Continue reading “Exploring the Languedoc with Domaine Magellan (#Winophiles)”

theswirlingdervish15 Comments
Budget Wines, Côtes de Gascogne, Cycling, French Winophiles, Gascogne, South West France

Toast #TDF2017 with Wines from the Côtes de Gascogne (#winophiles)

Stages 12-14 send the peloton scurrying around South West France, a large swath of forests interspersed with vineyards and farms. Its quiet, rural landscape runs from the Pyrénées Mountains in the south, up the Atlantic coast to Bordeaux. As you can imagine, many styles of wine are produced here, most from grapes native to the area. Which brings us to the only challenge in tasting … Continue reading Toast #TDF2017 with Wines from the Côtes de Gascogne (#winophiles)

theswirlingdervish20 Comments
Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, France, French Winophiles, Mercurey, Paris, Pinot Noir

Mercurey Rising: Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise

While not as famous as the red wines from the Côte d’Or, Pinot Noir produced in the village of Mercurey can provide outstanding value for the price. You won’t find any Grand Cru offerings here, but there are plenty of good bottles that will satisfy your craving for red Burgundy while leaving your wine budget intact. I was inspired to write this post as a … Continue reading Mercurey Rising: Pinot Noir from Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise

theswirlingdervish19 Comments
For Foodies, France, French Winophiles, Recipes, Southern Rhone, Uncategorized, Viognier

A Feast for the Senses: Viognier and Indian Spices (#Winophiles)

There’s a reason French wines are held in such high esteem: for years they served as the benchmark against which all other wines were compared. After all, it was the infamous Judgment of Paris in which several American wines outshone their French counterparts that catapulted California wine onto the world stage. And, let’s face it: whichever wine first tempted us to explore the wonders of the … Continue reading A Feast for the Senses: Viognier and Indian Spices (#Winophiles)

theswirlingdervish19 Comments
For Foodies, French Winophiles, Recipes, Travel, Uncategorized

Cross-Cultural Food Pairings for French Wine (#Winophiles)

The French #Winophiles are off and running this weekend, headed for destinations unknown. Yes, we will keep our focus on French wines, as usual. But this month we’ll scan the globe in search of delectable food pairings from other cultures. Are you ready to pack your bag and hit the road with us? Be sure to stash a few bottles of your favorite French wine … Continue reading Cross-Cultural Food Pairings for French Wine (#Winophiles)

theswirlingdervish4 Comments
France, French Winophiles, Travel

French Wine Is the New Black – French #Winophiles

You know the saying: “<Insert Trendy Thing Here> is the new black.” Meaning that it’s hotter than hot, coveted by those in-the-know, and welcomed, perhaps even de rigueur in chic circles everywhere. Sounds a bit like French wine, n’est-ce pas? Have you ever seen a quality wine list without at least a few bottles from France? There’s a reason French wines are held in such … Continue reading French Wine Is the New Black – French #Winophiles

theswirlingdervish10 Comments
Books on Wine, Champagne, France, French Winophiles, New York City, Uncategorized

The Enduring Allure of Champagne (French #Winophiles)

Champagne.  Uttering the very word evokes a visceral response, one that sparks the neurons and magically transports us to another place and time.  Sure, there are other sparkling wines, and many of them are high-quality sippers at that.  Cava, Crémant, Franciacorta, Prosecco, Moscato – each of these prompts images of gaiety, happiness, and light.  But only Champagne (that word again!) instantly connotes celebration, conviviality, and … Continue reading The Enduring Allure of Champagne (French #Winophiles)

theswirlingdervish21 Comments