by Paige Donner Ahhh… summer is at long last nearly here. Dream vacation destinations are beginning to dance through our heads like sugar plum fairies in wispy toutous as the languid summer months of promised sunshine begin to magically reveal … Continue reading
by Paige Donner One of the best wine salons of France, Le Salon du Vin put on by La Revue du Vin de France, takes place annually right around my birthday. To be perfectly honest, there’s really no better way to celebrate the bittersweet passing … Continue reading
Meet the Winemaker Reception Come meet Cloudburst’s winemaker, Will Berliner from Margaret River, Australia for a complimentary tasting at Lucy Bar. This event will take place TONIGHT, May 16, from 5 to 6:30 pm. In town for two weeks only, … Continue reading
Scheduled to open September 2013, this All Luxury resort at the foothills of the Andes has a full sustainability agenda. Listen to what Frances Lalas has to say about guiding the resort’s grounding in sustainable development on Green Is Good … Continue reading
reposted from Bourgogne-Wines.com Editorial SCIENCE AND WINE: A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN BOURGOGNE A major new step in scientific research into Bourgogne wines has just been taken. The University of Bourgogne, in conjunction with the Regional Council, is creating a … Continue reading
So many good champagnes…So little time… All photos by Paige Donner c. 2013 – See FULL SLIDESHOW HERE It’s hard knowing that I’m the envy of all my wine enthusiast friends and colleagues Stateside and in Canada. My only … Continue reading
by Paige Donner I want to talk a little bit today about wine labels. In particular, French wine labels. Now, as an American, we all know that unspeakable little secret that we women wine drinkers in the U.S. buy our … Continue reading
Delivered straight to your Mailbox… the box of gourmet treats that will inspire your taste buds… and your culinary kitchen prowess too! Brand new in France – Sign up for your Easter Treats La BonneBox now. Click on the link … Continue reading
by Paige Donner This title actually began as a chapter heading for my journal entry about my visit to Champagne Louis Roederer in Reims. But I liked it so much that I’m using it here, too. It just works so beautifully. It … Continue reading
by Paige Donner March 7th was a day clearly marked on my calendar. I was invited to participate in my first-ever “Vin Clair” or still wine tasting for champagne. In Champagne this is monumental because these are the newly vinified wines that … Continue reading
With Spring just around the corner, the itch to get outdoors is growing stronger day by day. It’s easy to imagine how the grapevines must be feeling ’round about now… ready to burst forth and get busy bathing their buds … Continue reading
Explore more than 150 wines from 40 Paso Robles wineries. Paso Robles is California’s third largest and fastest growing wine region, so come taste a new vintage from your favorite winery or discover new ones! Wineries from Paso Robles will … Continue reading
The Hôtel de Crillon invites you to celebrate love in the heart of Paris in its exceptional and romantic setting.Love is In the Air at the Winter Garden From Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 February, 2013 The historic and sumptuous … Continue reading
Voila’ – the Winter Edition of the Center for Wine Origins U.S. Tasting Guide. Each bar and restaurant is carefully curated and selected for their comprehensive showcasing of both Port and Champagne. “Each location not only showcases fabulous selections of … Continue reading
If you’re in LA this weekend – here’s one option where you can munch and watch the fraternal fracas that is Super Bowl XLVII…
Opened on NYE ’13 in Vegas, Eva “Desperate Housewife” Longoria says her new restaurant is designed to cater to the ladies: small plates and a catwalk. Female-only restaurants are trending right now with another new one set to open on … Continue reading
Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut – Aÿ, Champagne, France by Paige Donner Tasting Notes : Hints of roasted apples, spiced apple compote, peaches greet your nose after your eyes have been seduced by the fluttering of fine bubbles in that golden … Continue reading
Figaro on Broadway, brand newly opened and just across from the historic Los Angeles Theater, serves a full French Bistro menu and boasts a full on-site French bakery (boulangerie / patisserie) with fresh breads, pastries, croissants and other fabulously Frenchy treats … Continue reading
WHEN: December 12, 2012 until April 7, 2013 Where: 1947, Yannick Alléno’s new Pop-Up Gastronomic artistic culinary odyssey of a restaurant at Cheval Blanc in magical winter playground Courchevel, France Please find here excerpts from the Press Release with my … Continue reading
by Paige Donner Corton Grand Cru – Charlotte Dumay Recently I was privileged to taste some of the great Hospices de Beaune (Burgundy) wines. These were the 2012 vintages, so not only are they “babies,” they are still infants. Which … Continue reading
by Paige Donner Upon closer examination, you will find many extra-ordinary elements to the Champagne House Duval-Leroy. For starters, there are the champagnes. In Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2008, their Brut NV was the only champagne to make … Continue reading
If you ever find yourself for a day, or, better yet, a weekend, in Champagne during the Autumn season, use this as a sample daytripping itinerary and you won’t go wrong. Make your main destination Champagne Ernest Remy which is … Continue reading
The consistently high quality of bio-dynamic wines is winning out over their reputation of a cultish way to cultivate grapes. Here are two recent Mainstream Media Reports about Bio-dynamic wines. The first is a French news report during this year’s … Continue reading
[re-posted from Press Release] For Immediate Release: October 24, 2012 Los Angeles — As supporters rallied in front of Los Angeles City Hall today, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Proposition 37, the Right to Know … Continue reading
Oct. 26th is Global Champagne Day!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥Chérie Du Vin - You will LOVE my wine picks! The French Wine Society earns mention within the pages of a murder-mystery written by award-winning author J. Michael Orenduff. [Re-posted from The French Wine Society- visit their … Continue reading
This video shot by the prolific Parisian, Eric Tenin, founder of the Paris Daily Photo site and man-about-town extraordinaire, captures the annual Montmartre grape harvest with charm and flair.
I just love that “New York, New York” is being crooned in the background with that fabulous Parisian accent in Montmartre, one of the most historical neighborhoods of Paris.
For the longest time, in fact, up until just a week or two ago, folks in California were committing a crime when they made bread or apple sauce, say, at home and took it to the market to sell. It … Continue reading
[From Press Release] The prestigious annual Cognac Awards were presented before the auction, going to two Americans. Ann Tuennerman, Founder of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, was presented with “Cognac Personality of the Year Award”, and acclaimed spirits … Continue reading
[Pinot Noir, Moët & Chandon]
FIXATED ON FUNGI
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 MARKS BERNARDUS LODGE’S HOMAGE TO THE MAGICAL MUSHROOM WITH FORAGING TREKS, SPA TREATMENTS, MUSHROOM MIXOLOGY & CHEF STAMENOV’S FUNGI-FRESH MENU
- Special Event: Five Star Edibles from the Wild Repast/November 17, 2012 -
CARMEL VALLEY, CALIF. – 2012 - From the oak-studded fields of Carmel Valley to the redwood forests of Big Sur and Monterey Bay, the seasonal forage for local porcinis, chanterelles and candy caps hits a high note this winter at Bernardus Lodge. The two-month homage to Mr. Fungi includes Big Sur foraging treks, mushroom-infused cocktails, anti-oxidant “FunGal” spa treatments and a special a la carte menu at Marinus Restaurant focused on the coveted gems of the forest. A new two-night hotel package is also available.
SHAKEN, SAUTEED & SAVORED…
From Bernardus’ Chanterelle and Elderflower Martini to the succulent Squab “Cailette” with Porcini and Sauce Perigord, the seductive qualities of the mushroom have outpaced most screen sirens. Ancient Egyptians linked the mushroom to immortality and its exotic flavors were reserved solely for royalty. South Pacific cultures believed in the mushroom’s aphrodisiac qualities, the early equivalent of Viagra. While cultivation credits go to the French and Southeast Asians, it is the Californians – those early-adopter foragers, cutting-edge chefs and passionate palates – that have placed these fleshy fungi on a pedestal. Continue reading
Bonjour,
We have the pleasure to announce you that Gérard Bertrand has been awarded on Tuesday “Red Winemaker of the Year” by the International Wine Challenge after winning 46 awards and three trophies for its wines.
With 10,000 wines from around the world tasted by the jury of experts the International Wine Challenge is one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world.
We are really honored to dedicate this Trophy to you (Gérard Bertrand is at 5’20″).
www.gerard-bertrand.com
by Paige Donner
[First Published on Technorati]
Just released is the new 2012 Saint-Emilion Classification which ranks 82 of the most respected chateaux and wineries of Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux. Four made it into the Premier Grand Cru Classé A rank: Château Angélus, Château Pavie, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone. This rank was awarded based on the wines’ exceptional ageing potential and their celebrated reputations. The two newcomers to the A rank for 2012 are, of course, Châteaux Pavie and Angelus.
by Paige Donner
There are two new exciting developments at Gosset Champagne. The first is its “new” cellars and the second is its brand new eco-friendly bottle labels.
Gosset Champagne Epernay Cellars
For the “oldest wine house” (est. 1584) in Champagne to expand much of their operations to Epernay from Aÿ, is no small feat. It’s also not as if there are exquisite champagne cellars up for sale every day in Epernay. Most of the cellars in this quaint little Capitale du Champagne have been inhabited for centuries and mostly by the really big boys, you know the ones, the household name champagnes. Continue reading
Join the California Wine Institute and Girl Meets Grape at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills on Thursday, September 6th from 6-9 pm and taste your way around the state (70+ wineries! – see below) as we kick off California Wine Month 2012.
More Info:
http://discovercaliforniawines.com/californiawinemonth
Valet parking is included with ticket price and tickets are extremely limited. Do not miss this opportunity to celebrate California wine without leaving LA!
Heitz – Ovid – Baldacci – Trefethen – Viader – Kenefick Ranch – Kenwood Vineyards – Wrath – Bernardus – Pianetta – J. Lohr – Noble Vines – Ventana Vineyards – McCay Cellars – Machhia – Borra Vineyards – Talley – Saucelito Canyon – Laetitia – Ancient Peaks – Tangent – Zocker – Santa Cruz Mountain – Cooper-Garrod – Bargetto – Beauregard Vineyards – Silver Mountain – Woodside – Villa Creek – Adelaida – Eberle – Hope Family – Justin – Tablas Creek – Villa Creek – Brewer-Clifton – Foxen – Margerum – Buttonwood Farm – Grassini Family – Riverbench Vineyard & Winery – Balletto – Davis Bynum – Alexander Valley Vineyards – Chateau St Jean – Landmark – Quivara – Etude – J Vineyards and Winery – The Lucas Winery – Heritage Oak Winery – Michael David Winery – St. Amant Winery – Joel Gott – Rosa d’Oro – Six Sigma – The Steven Kent Winery – Mitchell Katz – Wente – Cedar Mountain – Concannon Winery – Fenestra Winery – Baily – Palumbo Family – Monte de Oro – Robert Renzoni – South Coast – Wilson Creek – Bonterra – Beringer Vineyards – Robert Mondavi Winery
by Paige Donner
The J. De Telmont House of Champagne located in Damery, France counts itself among the major twenty champagne houses of the region. Considering the players who are on that team, this is no small accomplishment for a family-owned and still family-run Champagne House.
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by Paige Donner
Article first published as Route du Champagne on Technorati.Every year for a weekend in summer, champagne houses along the Côte des Bar open their doors and welcome visitors for champagne tastings, cellar visits, art exhibits and live music acts.
The catch? Get this – not only is there NO catch, but to drink your fill of fine French champagne straight from the vineyards costs you a whopping 15 Euros – TOTAL.
by Paige Donner
First published as Philipponnat Champagne’s Clos des Goisses on Technorati.
Very few families, even in France’s historic Champagne region, can date their ancestral roots in the region as far back as 500 years. The family of Philipponnat, namesake of the champagne, is one of these rarities. Not only are they still in the region where their ancestors settled in 1522, they are still in the small village of Mareuil-sur-Ay. It’s also how they came up with their prestige cuvées name “1522.” A few vinification traditions this house respects that have great bearing on their champagnes:
Full Picture Gallery ON ♥Chérie Du Vin – You will LOVE my wine picks!
By Paige Donner
Article first published as Champagne Mignon And Billionaires Row on Technorati.
Nestled in the sleepy, gentile hillsides of Épernay, France you will find the House of Champagne Charles Mignon. One of the last remaining fully family-owned and run champagne houses in France, this medium-sized producer issues about 100,000 cases or approximately 1.2 million bottles a year. The house, now in its 3rd generation of family ownership/stewardship, has been a member of the Union des Maisons de Champagne since 2003. Its wines have been listed in the Guide Hachette since 1999.
In other words, Champagne Charles Mignon is one of the purest types of champagne money can buy and even its philosophy of winemaking, of not aging the juice in wood because, “like a beautiful woman, it doesn’t need any make up,” is a philosophy of purity and elegance. Continue reading
