Petit Verdot, although originating from the South West, is today predominately used in Bordeaux to bring spice to the wines, but only in small quanities, up to 6% (usually 2 to 3%). The grapes tendency to mature too late and todays demand for earlier maturing/new vintage wine has led to it being discarded by many Chateaux - In the 1960s...
Located at the southern end of the Cap Corse peninsula in Corsica is the small commune of Patrimonio. The commune is home to the Patrimonio AOC, known throughout the isle for the quality of its wine. Red, White and Rose are all produced, with Nielluccio and Vermentino being the most frequently used grapes - Due to the wines popularity with...
Predominately grown in the northern Rhone valley to produce the famous Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage wine, the Marsanne wine grape is more widely used than you would initially think.
Commonly used in blends with its more arguably popular partner Roussanne, Marsanne rarely gets the opportunity to showcase itself as a single-varietal due to the required precision in its...
La ville tranquille, as it is affectionately known by the locals is the glistening ruby in the diverse crown of French wine. It is found on the Mediterranean coastline of the Provence wine region, sheltered between the bustling port towns of Marseille and Toulon, and has been naturally blessed with beautiful environs. From its pine covered...
Located in the southern Rhone valley, the town of Chateauneuf du Pape (translating roughly as 'The Pope's new castle') was chosen as the summer residence for the Pope's court during the early 14th century - The AOC itself is one of the earliest official wine appellations, established in 1929.
Chateauneuf du Pape itself...
© CIVP/F.Millo
Provence is the oldest wine growing region in France (it is thought the Greeks settled in Marseille establishing a vineyard in the 5th century BC), has many exciting producers and is a fantastic place to discovery through it's wine, food and scenery.
The Prunelard grape (alternatively known as Prunelart or 'Red-stemmed Cot') is a forgotten father to todays popular Malbec, and can be very easily mistaken for it. Preserved in the 20th century after nearly being destroyed by disease in the 19th, Prunelard is used primarily in the Gaillac region of South West France, where it is making a...
The Fié Gris Grape (alternatively known as Fié or Fiét elsewhere) is very much an enigma throughout the history of French wine, and is regarded to be the ancestor of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, with some of the oldest vines containing it more than 100 years old. Today it is grown most commonly in small volumes in Touraine, located in the Loire...
The Marselan grape is a relatively new discovery in the field of french wine, first grown in the early 1960s near the town of Marseillan (where the grape takes its name from), on the south coasts of France. The grape is best described as a cross between Grenache and Cabernet-Sauvignon, with the quality of the former and capability of the latter combining to...
Cognac vs. Armagnac: It's all about the VS
One of the most common questions asked when discovering the world of brandy is – What is the difference between Cognac and Armagnac? Granted I myself had only sporadically heard mention of Armagnac brandy before I began this job. It is often the case that people...
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