The French Wine Revolution and Bastille Day Let's Drink

Photographer Marie Ormieres
French Wine Maker Gerard Bertrand

I really miss live wine tastings, I mean REALLY miss them.

With the pandemic forcing the cancelation of large gatherings--and for a time any gatherings--our world has shifted to the virtual realm and it's just not the same. Especially when it comes to wine tastings.

I so enjoy the interactions and discussions during wine tastings, which of course you can still have virtually. But then I'm left with a bunch of open bottles and very few people to share them with.

What is wonderful about virtual tastings is getting to see friends and colleagues from around the country and world. I look forward to seeing who logs in to each one so we can chat on the side.

At the beginning of the month I joined a group of wine friends in a tasting entitled The French Wine Revolution. It was hosted by one of my favorite French winemakers, Gerard Bertrand.

In advance of the tasting I received a box full of goodies from several of his wineries, all in the Languedoc region of Southern France.

Lining up ones for The French Wine Revolution virtual tasting

I was thrilled to see four of the Cotes des Roses. These are the most beautiful, artful bottles. The glass on the bottom is cut to look like a rose and they come with a glass enclosure. The bottles I received were 375ml but they also come in the traditional 750ml as well as large formats.

Photographer Geoffrey Lucas
Cotes des Roses wine bottles

The rose was refreshing with red fruit and character.  The sauvignon blanc was crisp and citrusy, a kind of cross between Sancerre and New Zealand styles. The chardonnay was tropical with flavors of peach and even a touch of mint on the finish. Finally, the pinot noir was light and acidic with black currant.

These wines were actually second in the order of the tasting.

We began with an overview of a few of Bertrand's 16 vineyards, along his wine making philosophy where the earth is first. He takes great pride in biodynamic farming and operating practices, and you can literally taste the difference these efforts make.

Virtual tasting with winemaker Gerard Bertrand

While he talked about taking care of the earth and the vines, we sipped Gris Blanc, Bertrand's most successful rose in Europe.

Photographer Marie Ormieres

Made from Grenache Gris, a grape with a pinkish grey skin, it makes you salivate. Light and minerals with a bit of strawberry, it's a most perfect hot weather wine.

Two wines in the Art de Vivre collection were next. The striking, heavy clay bottles are an homage to Greek and amphoras that were traditionally used to age wine.

Art de Vivre Clairette du Languedoc Adissan is a white wine that smells like pineapple. Made from clairette, it was fresh and fruity and fun with a lingering finish

The Art de Vivre red consists of syrah, grenache and Mourvèdre. A young wine it was complex with black fruits (red on the finish) and herbs such as thyme. I immediately wanted lamb.

Photographer Marie Ormieres

The final wine came from Bertrand's iconic Chateau L'Hospitalet. The award winning 2018 Grand Vin Red, is another blend of syrah, grenache and Mourvèdre. It smells full with white pepper and strawberry. With good tannins and structure, it's a wine that will only get better with time.

One of the best things about these virtual tastings is that many are recorded. If you missed this when it was live you can still watch it here. Purchase the wines locally or via wine.com and taste along.

BUT WAIT...there's more...another live event tomorrow, July 14th. 

On Bastille Day (July 14th) Bertrand is hosting another master class--with a twist. He's teaming up with chef Tim Kilcoyne to raise awareness and support for World Central Kitchen. Kilcoyne is director of chef operations of the food organization that was founded by renowned chef Jose Andres.

Chef Tim Kilcoyne in action with World Central Kitchen

The organization's mission is to provide meals to communities in need, those suffering from natural disasters such as hurricanes, and most recently COVID-19 relief. The operation is massive, it is impressive and it has made a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world

You can taste through the Cotes des Rose with Bertrand and Kilcoyne during the French Wine Revolution and Bastille Day event which begins at 1pm EST. Sign up here.

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Bastille Day while being "safer at home" this year. See you online.

Virtual Tasting with the Legendary Domaines Barons de Rothschild

Nothing takes the place of a face to face wine tasting with a wine maker. However, in these times of social distancing it's not an option. Like so many industries, there is a shift to virtual gatherings.

Wineries have come up with a variety of ways to connect with owners, wine makers and wine experts. Wine.com has created an entire tasting series complete with celebrity vintners and with wines that have wide appeal.

It's quite simple. Select the tasting you want to participate in, sign up, and the wines are shipped right to your door.

I recently participated in a tasting with Saskia de Rothschild, chairwoman of the legendary Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite).

We tasted four of Saskia's wines from the family's vineyards around the world. She tasted along from her home in France, commenting on the history of the properties and vines, while sharing what she was tasting and smelling in each of the four wines.

We began with Chateau d'aussières Chardonnay; a delightful surprise for me. From the Corbieres Valley in Langeudoc, it was rich but not oaky or buttery, rather fresh with lots of minerals, nice acidity, and citrus. My Sauvignon blanc drinking friends loved it.

Next was CARO Amancaya; a partnership with the famous Catena family in Argentina. A blend of malbec and cabernet sauvignon it was a beautiful deep ruby color, with flavors of cherries, fig, caramel and pepper. I finished it later with pasta and it was perfect.

Moving to neighboring Chile we tried Los vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It smelled like violets and eucalyptus and had soft tannins. I tasted dark fruits like cherry and plum and agreed tis Saskia's suggestion of chilling it a bit and serving with grilled veggies.

Finally we moved to Bordeaux, where Saskia's roots are. Only the Chateau L 'Evangile Blason de L'Evangile was from the right bank; most of family's legendary vineyards are on the left. From the famous Pomerol region, it was predominantly merlot with a little cabernet franc as well. The wine was sensual and big, but still balanced.

The Wine.com tastings are also recorded; if you miss the live event, you can still get in on the wine fun. Here is Saskia's. 

If there are too many wines in the tasting for you to open at once, you simply click on the link and pick back up with the next wine when you are ready. I unashamedly uncorked them all.

The majority of people tuning in would never have the opportunity to meet Saskia or visit all of the wineries featured here. It's a great way to learn and enjoy some delicious wines while sheltering at home.

"Unboxing"...Wine

When I first heard of the "unboxing" phenomena, I really thought, this is the dumbest thing ever-- unless you are a friend of mine who does it. In that case it's BRILLIANT.

Unboxing is as simple as it sounds, taking things out of a box--filming and posting it on social media. I guess it's better than throwing slices of cheese on your toddlers face and filming that.

Then I got to thinking about it. I get excited every time a box of wine is delivered to my house. Sometimes I know what to expect, but more often than not I don't or quite frankly I have forgotten what's coming.

When I have friends over they too are excited to see what's hidden inside of that cardboard, what they might be helping me taste in a day or two, after things settle down in the bottle.

So I'm going to give it a go, not every delivery because once again, I'll forget. I will tell you that I was SUPER excited about this when it arrived, but didn't get that part on film, I'm learning..



The reason I was so excited about this? There are only 1843 bottles of this Besserat de Bellefon Cuvee 1843...and mama now has one. The packaging is beautiful and I can hardly wait to pop this cork and tell everyone about it.

Raise Your Glass! It's Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Everyone has something that signifies the beginning of the holiday season to them. For me, it is the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, the brightly colored wine bottles you'll now see in grocery and liquor stores, full of the newest release of wine from Beaujolais in France.

It has become a much anticipated celebration around the world on the third Thursday of November, the time designated by French law for this wine to be unveiled. Just like New Years, once midnight hits, corks are popped and the new vintage is consumed.

Thanks to my friends from Georges Duboeuf, I received a bottle in advance and was trusted to wait until midnight to open. Well, since midnight in France was 6pm US time yesterday......just kidding, I waited until midnight to pop the cork....really.

Georges Duboeuf is called the King of Beaujolais Nouveau and 2014 is being called a good year for Beaujolais. The winery's new release is full of red fruit, raspberry and it's a bit acidic.

Many wine aficionados turn their backs on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, saying this wine does not represent the true quality of Beaujolais. Since Beaujolais Nouveau (made from100% gamay grapes) is bottled 6-8 weeks after harvest, it has no time to age and does not have much depth of flavor. It is best with a little chill on it.

Beaujolais Nouveau may not be the best wine served at your holiday gathering but it's tradition, the labels are fun and festive and it is super affordable, in the $10 range. The holidays are officially here! CHEERS!

Rose Everyday- Wine Wednesday

Tasting in the world's rose' capital: Tavel

While spending time in France this autumn, my friends and I adopted a fabulous mantra "Rose' Everyday." When I finally made it back to the states, the first lunch date I had was at a small kabob place that only served fountain drinks and bottled water. I got a little fidgety, like an addict I whimpered to my friends....."No rose'? We might have to go somewhere else."

I've always liked this beautiful, dry, pink wine but I learned to LOVE it in France. It was hard not to after drinking it in the rose' capital of the world, Tavel. In fact, the only wine produced in this small village is rose'.

One of our many stops in Tavel was at Domaine Lafond, the winery also had some delicious reds, grown in neighboring villages, but the rose's were on our radar. Lafond Domaine Tavel (made mostly from grenache grapes) was a rich wine, spicy yet floral and one that would stand up nicely to food. It is exported to the US and you can find it for under $20.

Another good rose' for Wine Wednesday is Notorious Pink, from the neighboring region of Provence. This one is 100% grenache, with a little more fruit, a nice blend of citrus, berries, gentle acidity and a crisp finish. A great sipper, also in the $20 range.

Are you afraid of pink wine? Still judging it as that sweet, white zinfandel? It's time to move on my lovelies! In France, the pink stuff is revered. It is standard operating procedure to have it for lunch, and in the Rhone Valley where it is done so well, it is even considered appropriate to buy it in a box. I won't tell you how many we went through....boxes or bottles.

Think about adding rose' to your Thanksgiving shopping list. Not only is it a good starter, it also plays well with turkey.

Befriending The Box

I've always been a fan of rose' and have loved exploring the subtleties of this beautiful, dry, pink wine, in the Southern Rhone. It is so important here that there is an entire region/village/town that only produces rose', no other wine; Tavel. It is awesome and it tends to be a bit more pricey than its neighboring region/village/town called Lirac. In Lirac is where I discovered rose'..... in a BOX. So good!

Find wines bottled as well as boxed in many Rhone tasting rooms

The beleaguered boxed wine (in the US) is a man's best friend in France, at least for everyday consumption. Boxed wine is meant to drink, not age, in packaging with a vacuum seal technology that prevents air from contacting the juice once opened. Air is the enemy of an opened bottle. The box is also a bargain, providing twice as much wine for the money.

Special containers allow regulars to get their wine to go

Not only did this fun tasting room in Lirac sell wine by the bottle and box, but also BYOC: bring your own container. Reduce your carbon footprint, save a few Euros and have your house wine close at hand. The box of rose' we bought has for sure been close at hand, so convenient; like getting water out of the tap. Too convenient as a sip here and a splash there adds up quickly.

We found out just how quickly the random afternoon sips added up today, as suddenly we had to tilt our 5-liter box a bit to get a full glass. When the flow turned to drops things got serious. 'Someone' pulled the wine bag out of the box and began wringing the ends, almost like trying to get that last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.

By the photo, it is clear that we had more than enough Euro's on the table to go out and buy another box, or better yet, walk to the cooler and open a REAL bottle. But who wants to take the easy route? It was great sport to see how much we could milk from the vacuum sealed, vineyard utter.

The absurdity of our attempt and echoes of our laughter ended in sweet success, as each of us got enough crisp, cold wine to enjoy on the terrace with some local cheeses, fruits and sundried tomato tapenade; while contemplating the next bottle....or box. Cheers!

Wine Wednesday; Flowers and Fruit

I've been drinking lots of French wine lately, not only honing my palate for an upcoming trip but also because I LIKE IT!

I also like finding great values, which is not always easy when it comes to wines from Bordeaux. Mouton Cadet is one of the regions most successful, affordable brands, offering some wines that are perfect for waiting out the summer heat.

While I like a good rose' anytime of the year, put a nice chill on the 2013 and have it with grilled seafood, stir fry or as a sipper while hanging out with friends. This one is made up of mostly merlot, with a little cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. I liked it better after it opened up a little as the raspberry notes became more clear. Nice and dry, this wine also looks beautiful in the glass.

Known mostly for its amazing red wines, Bordeaux is also the birthplace of sauvignon blanc. Mouton Cadet's The is a fresh delight with just the right touch of citrus. I noticed lots of peach and a hint of juicy nectarine. Another good choice to pair with fish or chicken off of the grill, or a fresh salad with some salty, creamy cheese.

Find both wines in the $10 range. Now that makes for another happy Wine Wednesday!

Wine Wednesday; Affordable French

Know what I love about French wine? Everything! I've been pleasing my palate with lots of it lately, getting ready for an upcoming 'European vacation.'

But just because the word France is on the label does not guarantee goodness, and definitely not value. So I was happy to try the latest bottlings from famed French winemaker Michel Chapoutier as they have both.

These wines come from vines that are on the border with Spain, grown on harsh terrain with hot summers and cool winters. The stress on the vines produces some great flavors.

Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rose' d'Oc is a beautiful salmon color and it smells both floral and mineral. After my mother's first sip she said, "Wow, peppery." (She wanted to be quoted in my blog.) I too got some spice and lots of minerals with a bit of citrus on the finish. A lovely, affordable rose'.

I tried the Blanc Cotes du Roussillon with an Italian bean soup, some grilled vegetables and some citrus shrimp; it worked well with all. The interesting blend of grenache blanc, grenache gris, vermentino and macabeo produces a wine that has a bit of grapefruit and melon; a crisp wine perfect for Florida.

The Rouge Cotes du Roussillion Villages is a tasty red blend of syrah, grenache and carignan.  A good food wine, this is bold; full of menthol and blueberry, blackberry and juicy plums.

All three of these French wines come in around $13 a bottle. Now that's a bargain. Thank you Michel Chapoutier.

Gourmet Gifts and Party Pleasers

It seems like no matter how much you plan for the holidays, you always forget something or somebody. So wether you need to put together a last minute gift basket or stock your kitchen with goodies to last through the rest of the year. I've recently found a few fun consumables that are also new to the marketplace in general. Impress your guests and your hosts with some or all of these treats.

You can never go wrong with putting bags of gourmet chips in your gift baskets and having extra bags in your pantry, for when celebrations lasts longer than anticipated or unexpected guests arrive. When I opened a box of English chips from Tyrrells, you would've thought I had a box of gold, the way my friends reacted. Tyrrells chips have recently been launched in the US with unique flavors like Mature Cheddar and Chives, Worcestershire and Sundried Tomato or Beetroot, Parsnip and Carrot with a touch of Sea Salt. What makes them different, besides the flavors is that they are cooked by hand in small batches. We couldn't wait to open them and dig in and I couldn't get enough of the Sweet Chili and Red Pepper. They run around $10 a bag.

On the sweeter side, look for Snappers, a delicious new product from the Milk Shake Factory by Edward Marc Chocolatier. They are the perfect flavor combination of salt and sugar. And the perfect texture combo of crunchy and chewy; made with pretzels, caramel and chocolate.  Until now, you've only been able to find these in the Pittsburg market. However, Costco has picked up the tempting treat and now sells Snappers at select locations for $8.99 a bag. They are turtle-like but without the nuts and also a bit messy but soooo tasty.

 To wash down both of these treats, try something sparkling, like a lovely Cremant d'Alsace from Helfrich winery in France. The grapes in this bubbly come from the oldest documented and northernmost Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace.  A bit yeasty with lots of minerals, flavors of green apples and in the $20 range, it's one heck of a great bargain for what's in the bottle. It's tre impressive! I could drink champagne or sparkling wine every day, all day, on it's own and with almost any food. In fact one of my favorite things, because it's so yin and yang, includes bubbles and chips!

Grab these for your Christmas or New Years celebrations and enjoy. Cheers.

Super Moon, Super Sipping

What a great weekend for watching the skies. The Summer Solstice, when the sun reaches it's highest point, teamed with a Super Moon, when the moon reaches it's lowest point or is closest to Earth.

Summer Solstice is celebrated with feasts and festivals. Mine was a feast of wine, and it was epic.  A dear friend had a solstice party that culminated in a blind tasting of more than 20 bottles. We lined them all up on his protected pool table and the fun began. As each wine was poured, guests shouted things like "old world", "young", "cabernet", etc.

The wines came from North America, South American and premier growing regions of Europe. They ranged in price from $10 to over $100. Only two were corked or on their way out. One was mine: 2008 Domaine des Huards Cheverrny Le Pessoir Rouge. It was a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay from Loire, France. I raised my hand to say it was mine and a gentleman next to me asked if I was sure I wanted to admit it.

I said, "Yes, I'm glad I found out now instead of at a dinner party."

Take a look at some of the amazing goodies we got to try:

Wine Wednesday, It's a Steel

I'll be the first to admit that Chardonnay is typically last on my list when it comes to picking a white wine for the night. However,  I'm  always open and constantly looking for ones that I can embrace.

I just so happened to find one from Louis Jadot that is perfect for summer in Southwest Florida; Steel Chardonnay. This white burgundy is not weighed down by oak. It is bright with a lot of minerals on the nose, and a lot of pineapple on the palate.

It's acidic, with fruity apples. I want to call it "spunky". The Steel is a steal in the $15 range

Wine Wednesday, Tariquet

This is the time of year where I can't take time off from work physically. But mentally, I took a road trip this week to a nearby place called France; you may've heard of it?

Ithier Bouchard from Domaine du Tariquet arrived in Florida at 1am, by 2pm I was sampling his crisp whites and unique Bas-Armagnac, with my friends at The Twisted Vine Bistro in Downtown Fort Myers.

Tariquet is a family owned vineyard in Gascony, in south-west France. For Wine Wednesday I've picked their entry level, flagship wine: 2012 Domaine du Tariquet Classic.

This wine consistently wins awards for it's unique blend and great value; in the $10 range for retail. The 2012 is mostly Ugni Blanc and Colombard,  mixed with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng. The result is a fresh, grassy wine with crisp citrus and juicy tropical fruits. Another great summer find.

A number of restaurants are pouring Tariquets other wines, but Bistro 41 at the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers and the Wine Merchant in Naples currently have this blend. You wont be disappointed. Bouchard talks more about the wine here:

Great Gift

I don't understand why Rose' wines aren't wildly popular in Southwest Florida. It's a perfect warm weather wine and goes well with a wide variety of food. But so many people fear the "pink", perhaps relating it to that sweet, pink White Zin.

Over the weekend, I tried a bottle of Chateau D’Aqueria Tavel Rose’ with a salty cheese tray and some tuna tartare. It was beautiful; both in the glass and in my mouth. The wine had a vibrant salmon color, it smelled floral and a bit fruity; but it was bone dry and crisp, with flavors of raspberries and a hint of pepper.  

Tavel Rose’ is made mostly of Grenache grapes grown in the southern part of the Cotes-du-Rhone region of France. It’s a great food wine and the packaging is “tres cool”. If you're in need of a gift for a wine lover, a Francophile or someone who likes to try new things, this is a good one. And with a price tag under $20, it's affordable.  

If you’re in Southwest Florida, Bistro 41 has Tavel Rose’ by the bottle for around $60. In fact Bistro has four Rose's on their wine list now! Hurray for Rose'!!!

Bubbly By Moonlight

Did you see the lunar eclipse this week? Spectacular! Since an event like this hasn't happened in nearly 500 years it was cause for celebration in my neighborhood and around the world. What does one drink at 2am, outside under the stars, watching an historic full moon lunar eclipse? Bubbles of course!!!

Snuggled under blankets next to my favorite neighbors, I popped the cork of a French Veuve du Vernay and watched Mother Nature put on a spectacular show. The bubbly was light with lots of pear. Other than watching an eclipse in the middle of the night it would be perfect poolside, for a girl's weekend or mimosa's. Consider it for your New Year's Party.  It's not gonna knock you over with complexity but it's a fantastic value at around $10 a bottle!!

I'll never forget drinking it under the stars, making wishes on the shooting ones and watching the moon turn red with my dear friends! That's what bubbly is all about!