A Breizh of Fresh Air
As much as I love living in Champagne, sometimes one has to get away, to see new sights and try new things to drink. One weekend I sped off to […]
The Unvarnished Truth about the Champagne Harvest of 2016
With harvest already underway in some parts of Champagne, and others yet to start, my loyal readers ask “What’s really going on?” “How bad will it be?” “Will there really […]
Pop Open a Bottle of Bubbly; UNESCO Just Granted Champagne World Heritage Status!
I’m delighted to be able to share the news: after much lobbying and help from many of you, UNESCO has just granted World Heritage Status to the “coteaux, maisons et […]
Debunking Wine Myths: Vegan Wine, Sulfites, and Unicorns
Today I’d like to share my views on some common wine myths. Yes, the truth is out there, and now it’s in here! Vegan Wine: This wine tag became popular several […]
Aix-to-See
More pictures and stories of the South of France, you say? Your wish is my command! From our base in Arles, we drove to Aix-en-Provence. At their huge outdoor market, […]
Under Pressure: Wine Presses Then and Now
“Le Pied Violet” was the winning name I created long ago for a wine label contest. When we think back on how grapes used to be crushed to make wine, […]
Going Green: An Introduction to Organic Wine
What is organic? When we use the word “organic” to refer to agricultural products, we mean grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals. Only “natural” methods of […]
Real Life in Champagne; It’s Not All Bubbles and Brie
When I was still in the US and dreamed of living in France, my images were based upon a few visits I’d made to Paris, plus stories I’d read of […]
Châteauneuf Rocks!
The most distinctive element of the terroir in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the predominance of rounded rocks called galets which reside at the foot of the vines. The rocks absorb the heat from […]
Getting to Know French Wines
Are you a wine-loving expat living in France? Perhaps you travel to France frequently but live elsewhere? Or maybe you’re planning a long vacation in France and you want to […]
In Great Spirits 