Tag Archives: France

Avignon (P1): Popes, Palaces, YMCAs, And Wine from Visan?

Posted on July 21, 2014 by waywardwine

123 days into our EU Austerity Drinking Tour takes us to the heart (or at least funny hat) of the Rhône Valley: Avignon: home to Popes and Châteauneuf-du-Pape: arguably France’s biggest red wine. We leave a very Roman Nîmes and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape, EU Austerity, France, Rhône Valley, RHONE, Visan, wine | 3 Comments

Nîmes, France (P1): Romarin Cheese, Wine, and Roman Temples and Amphitheaters: EU Austerity Drinking Tour Day 120

Posted on June 16, 2014 by waywardwine

DAY 120. Our EU Austerity Drinking Tour returns to France, its wine, and fabulous cheese. Why?

Spain wore us out. It was beautiful yet challenging. So our combination of illness, poor Spanish, and budget tightwad-ery pushes us back into France. Now with a return flight, a handful of months remain to tap the rest of Europe’s drink. We leave Valencia for Nîmes:

But not before Barcelona. Worst of all Shakespearean tragedies, Spain had killed my iPod: home to wine notes and fuzzy photos. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Château Virgile, France, French cheese, iPod, Maison Carrée, Nimes, Romarin, travel, wine | 3 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Olivier Leflaive, Les Setilles, Bourgogne Blanc, France 2011

Posted on June 5, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday we drink Chardonnay. Wait! No! Keep reading! I lied. It is not Chardonnay, it is magnificent, fabulous, white Burgundy.

Now, yes, white Burgundy must be Chardonnay. But you try and grow any grape in Burgundy. Any grape. No matter how hard you try, the resultant wine will taste of Burgundy. Why?

The weather in this eastern French valley sucks. The soil sucks. Vineyards are smaller than American homes. Traditions and rules are painfully restrictive. Wine-making is stuck in the past. And everyone looks pale, angry, and old. Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, EMPTIED BOTTLES | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, France, French wine, Leflaive, Olivier, wine | 2 Comments

Climbing the Pyrenees to Andorra: Capdevila Pujol, Brut, Cava, Spain NV

Posted on March 31, 2014 by waywardwine

After a month of drinking our way through western France, we shift our EU Austerity Drinking Adventure south. But before bathing in Spain’s wine culture, we tack on three days in Andorra. We have no idea what Andorra will be. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Andorra, Capdevil Pujol, cava, France, Perelada, Pyrenees, Spain | 2 Comments

Calling Summer: Picpoul de Pinet, Gérard Bertrand, France 2011

Posted on March 27, 2014 by waywardwine

Drink Picpoul, any Picpoul, and summer will come early. The shear pulling of your cork will turn the Earth a little closer to the sun. Snows will melt. Frosts dissipate. For you will be drinking sunshine.

While Monday’s EU Austerity Drinking Tour dipped its toe in Toulouse. A bit further to France’s coast sits an appellation called Picpoul de Pinet.

Hot-hardy red grapes dominate the land. But the village of Pinet has held resolutely to the green grape Picpoul.

Named for stinging (Pic) lips (Poul), the grape exudes saline, mouthwatering, citric acidity: perfect with seafood. It helps that below its vines spreads France’s second largest lake: the Étang de Thau: the only place outside of Normandy that France certifies oyster production. Continue reading →