Wine Sediments

Although cabernet sauvignon certainly comes to mind as one of France’s major grape varieties, it actually only takes fifth place, occupying approximately 50,000 hectares. It is, famously, the dominant grape in Médoc wines, where it can make up 80% of a “Cru classé.”
Cabernet sauvignon is also widely used in the South-West, especially in Bergerac […]

A big question for wine lovers in France and, indeed, all over the world, is whether a bottle is ready to drink, or ‘prête à boire’. Since wine changes with age, some excellent wines may be barely palatable if drunk too young. On the other hand, wait too long and you may find your wine […]

 
 
To AOC or not to AOC? That is the question bedeviling the French wine industry as it fights to keep its place on the world wine stage. For years, the �AOC,� or �Appellation d�Origine Contr�l�e,� symbolized both the quality and the huge variety of French wines. Now that so many other countries are producing high […]

Foodies know that Epicurious is a great place to find recipes. The site, which represents Gourmet and Bon Appétit magazines, boasts some pretty spiffy wine information too. If you’ve confused your cabernets, a quick look at the Wine Lover’s Companion will explain the difference between sauvignon and franc. Although the dictionary is not […]

All over France, supermarkets are finally replacing school supplies with a far more exciting product: wine. Late September brings the traditional Foires aux vins, or wine fairs, to all of Frances supermarket chains. From Auchan to Champion, supermarkets and the even bigger hypermarkets, or superstores, offer an attractive range of wines at reasonable prices. […]

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Betty Carlson has worked, cooked, and raised a family in France for the last 16 years. She currently lives with her French husband and children in Southwest France where she teaches college English.
Her food passions include wine, cheese, local produce, and French regional specialties. Her biggest interest, however, is […]

By Betty Carlson
Cuisine Quotidienne
Competition from New World wines, modifications in the European Union subsidy system, declining wine consumption in France: the French wine industry is already reeling from the changes wrought by modern market forces. But the latest blow to strike the vineyards has nothing to do with trade, consumers — or even wood […]

By Betty Carlson
Cuisine Quotidienne
The announcement that the French government would allow winemakers to use wood chips caused a great stir among wine-lovers in France and abroad. But how did the French press react to the news?
First, a reminder that the recent wood chip decision is only a small part of a set of measures […]