Tag: france

It is Aug-uary in Vancouver.  I cannot see the north shore mountains and the clouds are covering the tops of the concrete towers that are spread across the lower mainland.  Red wines are on my horizon. So I dipped into my wine cellar and decided to open two red wines from Europe.  The first wine is CVNE Viña Real Crianza…

It is not often that I have a chance to taste aged red Bordeaux wines.  I purchased 5 wines in the past during the Bordeaux releases.  Four wines are from the Right Bank of Bordeaux and one is from the Left Bank.  The wines’ vintages are either 2005 or 2008, which makes the wines, 16 and 19 years old.  I’ve…

Crémant is a category of sparkling wines in France made using the same traditional method as Champagne but produced outside the Champagne region. This delightful bubbly offers a high-quality, often more affordable alternative to its famous counterpart while showcasing the unique characteristics of various French wine regions. Like Champagne, Crémant can also be white or rosé in colour. What is…

Gérard Bertrand‘s Le Chouchou 2023 is the winery’s answer to new consumer trends, producing a light, fresh red wine.  It has low alcohol content and can be enjoyed at a cooler temperature.  It sits somewhere between a rosé and a fuller-bodied red wine, IMHO.  This wine is a blend of organic Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault grapes coming from Cevennes, Limoux,…

When I was in University many years ago, I purchased a bottle of Maison Louis Latour Chardonnay, that was on their entry-level scale.  That wine sparked my interest in French wine.  In some “New World” regions, Chardonnay has been more recently planted, while other locations have had Chardonnay vines for over 100 years.  Over time, through the wine trade’s many…

We are now enjoying nicer summer weather.  It’s time to get out onto the patio and enjoy some rosé and white wines. While you may think of Rhône wines as being Syrah or red blends, this region also produces white and rosé wines.  Here is a press release I received talking about these Rhône wines. ~~~~~~~~~ This summer, treat yourself…

Beaujolais wines have garnered immense popularity for their vibrant fruitiness and easy-drinking nature. Nestled just south of Burgundy in France, Beaujolais is often overlooked for its more famous neighbour. Beaujolais’ youthful exuberance pairs excellently with a variety of dishes, including charcuterie, roast chicken, and light pasta dishes. Beaujolais also complements classic French cuisine such as coq au vin and beef…

Geoffrey Finch, a Canadian born in Victoria, moved to Paris and has been sharing his passion for wine and gastronomy in France for over 40 years.  He operates a series of historic walks through Paris’s vineyards, both visible and open to the public, those closed to the public, and some open only for special occasions.  His love of wine led…

Gérard Bertrand Winery is the ambassador of the fine wines of Languedoc-Roussillon around the world. Gérard Bertrand owns 16 estates with their unique terroirs in the region. The Languedoc has been growing grapes for wines for 24 centuries (Greeks planted grapes around 550 BC) and produces 5% of the world’s wine.  Gérard has loved his vineyard land passionately and enthusiastically…

The history of wines from Alsace traces back centuries, with evidence of viticulture dating to Roman times. Situated in northeastern France, Alsace’s unique terroir, characterized by its cool climate, varied soils, and abundant sunshine, has fostered the cultivation of distinctive aromatic white grape varieties along with Pinot Noir. Today, Alsace wines enjoy global acclaim, renowned for their quality, versatility, and…