Food, Wine and Travel Blog

The world of wine is far more than simply a numbers game. Instead, it champions the familiar and esoteric, with hundreds of obscure grape varieties found across Europe. They may be responsible for only a few thousand bottles of wine per year in terms of volume. Yet growers continue to cherish them, despite the onward […]

Certain grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, always elicit a smile from sommeliers, winemakers, and oenophiles. Its ability to produce some of the finest and long-lived red wines in the world is unquestionable. Loved and adored by millions, this noble red grape variety can scarcely put a foot wrong. And then there’s red grape varieties […]

Syrah is perhaps the most underrated of the ‘noble’ red grape varieties. Every critic worth their salt will tell you the same thing; Syrah (or Shiraz) is responsible for some of the finest red wines made in the world today. Like all great varieties, Syrah is a true chameleon, growing on a range of terroirs […]

In 2010, wine producers, importers, and journalists attended the first International Grenache Symposium, held in the village of Crestet in the Southern Rhône Valley. The event was created by the grape’s most ardent supporters, passionately committed to transforming both winemaker and consumer perception of this historically maligned red variety. Have they succeeded? The high prices […]

Merlot, the resplendent red grape variety of Bordeaux, achieved massive notoriety in 2004. The impetus was the Oscar-winning film Sideways. During a brilliant scene, the lead character Miles delivers an expletive-filled rant about his passionate disdain for the grape. Thanks to the power of celluloid, US consumers were suddenly talking about this much-loved variety in […]

Recently, a leading university in California made a remarkable discovery. After conducting several experiments, scientists at the UC Davis in California found that grape pomace (the grape skins, pulp, and seeds left behind after fermentation) potentially had numerous health benefits. These included the ability to boost the body’s immune system and intestinal health. ‘Early results […]

French cuisine is often recognized as the best gastronomy throughout the international culinary landscape. French food is beloved worldwide, from fresh baguettes and buttery croissants to artisanal cheeses and dishes like coq au vin, croque monsieur, and quiche Lorraine. Traditional French meals begin with an aperitif to whet the appetite, potentially served with something to […]

What is Méthode Champenoise? Sparkling wine can be made almost anywhere if you have the correct equipment. It is an expanding global enterprise (despite what the Champenoise would have us believe), with key players in the US, Spain, England, Italy, Australia, South Africa, and even Russia! The climatic conditions, terroir, and grape varieties will vary […]

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a prime vacation getaway for French mainlanders. The island is a French territory, though it lies just 90km off the coast of Northern Italy and almost twice the distance from France. Corsica’s nearest neighbor is Sardinia, a short 11km away across the Strait of Bonifacio. […]

Known as the Gastronomic Capital of the World, Lyon is the ultimate destination for the culinarily inclined traveler. The hilly city lies in the southeast of France, surrounded by the venerable vineyards of the Rhône Valley, Beaujolais, and Burgundy. Located at the junction of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, Lyon has always been a hub […]

Paris is one of the world’s most enchanting cities. Brimming with history and culture, the city of lights has long been a haven for fine artists, fashion designers, literary geniuses, and best-in-class chefs. Acclaimed sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Cathédrale Notre- Dame, and the Louvre, home to several of humanity’s greatest masterpieces, attract over […]

The great wines and crus classés chateaux of Bordeaux have made this French wine region famous worldwide. Between Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, and Sauternes, a treasure trove of fine wines are produced surrounding the Gironde Estuary, Dordogne, and Garonne rivers. The Roman Empire, Basque traders, British colonizers, and more recently, the Asian elite have […]