Top Wine Picks for 2021 We can all agree 2021 hasn’t been the greatest of years so far, but it hasn’t been all that bad for the wine world. As the French wine industry gets back on its feet after the global pandemic, the wine coming out of the cellars is astounding. Here are Hourlier Wines Top Picks for 2021. Wines from lesser-known wine regions and made of unique varieties....

The Ultimate Guide to French Wine From grape to bottle, all the major French wine regions explained. French wine is without a doubt the most respected and coveted drink on the planet. Vinous traditions go deep in France, and every bottle is a testament to the country’s impressive reputation. Still, French wine might be too much to handle for the inexperienced. There are hundreds of grape varieties and appellations, and...

We currently have a new wine in stock for fans of Sauvignon Blanc who want to try something special. The Fie Gris grape is special because it is not commonly heard of or is often thought of as niche.

Petit Verdot, although originating from the South West, is today predominately used in Bordeaux to bring spice to the wines, but only in small quantities, up to 6% (usually 2 to 3%). The grapes tendency to mature too late and today's demand for earlier maturing/new vintage wine has led to it being discarded by many Chateaux - In the 1960s most of the Petit Verdot vines in Bordeaux were uprooted and...

  Located in the southern Rhone valley, the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC is one of the earliest official wine appellations, established in 1929. Both town and appellation lend their name to it being chosen as the summer residence for the Pope's court during the early 14th century. (Translating roughly as 'The Pope's new castle') Chateauneuf du Pape itself differs from other Rhone appellations in that 13 types of grape are permitted...

We have a NEW Crémant de Bourgogne available at Pierre Hourlier Wines, so we wanted to take the time to compare this to the other Cremants we offer.

Sulfites in wine indicates Sulfur Dioxide has been added to the wine. This has been widely used in winemaking for having antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which helps the wines to stay fresh. This can be seen as a great additive for wines which have great ageing potential.

As we have expanded our French Wine range, we have expanded to wine producers of the Malbec grape and we wanted to find out why this grape is so popular across the world.

Do you know about the accommodation in France, which is a converted wine barrel? This accommodation is owned by one of our suppliers - Château de Bonhoste in Saint Emilion, Bordeaux.