Fortress Marienberg overlooking the Main River and the famous Würzburger Stein Vineyard Last Fall, I returned to a wine region I once called home, Franken (Franconia in English). I lived in Würzburg, the heart of the Franken wine-growing region. Here, steep hillside vineyards overlook the Main River. It is in Franken that my appreciation and love of wine began. Franken wines left a lasting impression on my wine-drinking palate. The wines produced here are primarily dry whites; Silvaner is the flagship variety, along with Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, White Pinot varieties, Bacchus, and Scheureb ..read more

Close your eyes and image it is August and you are in Provence. What do you see, smell, taste, and hear? I see fields of sunflowers, groves of olive trees, vineyards, and overflowing stands of vegetables at farmer’s markets. I smell fragrant aromas of thyme, rosemary, lavender and the salty air of the Mediterranean Sea. I taste refreshing bright Provence Rosés, just picked tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, olives, olive oil, and fresh goat cheese. And I hear cheerful voices that are relaxing and enjoying summer in Provence. This month the French Winophiles are dreaming of summer in Provence. Lind ..read more

Sometimes, but not always, I lean more toward drinking white wine. Lately, a glass of white wine is in my hand. Maybe it’s the sweltering temperatures many of us are coming off of from the month of July. When Robin of Crushed Grape Chronicles challenged the Wine Pairing Weekend group of writers to create “Unexpected White Wine Pairings,” I was ready to mix up my go-to white wine and food pairings with something more unexpected. Curry Lamb paired with Viognier makes perfect sense as a food and wine pairing. At first thought, lamb would suggest a red wine pairing—something like a Syrah. A ..read more

Nicolas-Jay is the collaboration between two friends who love Pinot Noir. Jean-Nicolas Méo, owner and winemaker of Méo-Camuzet in the Côte D ‘Or, and Jay Boberg, music entrepreneur, and passionate oenophile, are cofounders of Nicolas-Jay. Their mutual interest in Oregon Pinot Noirs would eventually lead them to a partnership in the Nicolas-Jay Estate with the acquisition of Bishop Creek Vineyard in Willamette Valley in 2014. This month the French Winophiles are exploring “French Wine Producers and Their New World Endeavors.” Cathie from Side Hustle Wino is our host. Scroll down for more arti ..read more

If you like wines that express a sense of place, purity of fruit, minerality, elegance, character, and are food-friendly and reasonably priced – Alsace wines should be in your glass. Alsace wines are always on my radar for all these reasons. Recently I discovered the wines of Domaine Mélanie Pfister under the helm of the 8th generation Mélanie Pfister. Domaine Mélanie Pfister Domaine Mélanie Pfister is located in Dahlenheim, just west of Strasbourg, in the northern part of Alsace in the Bas Rhin department (meaning lower Rhine River – the Rhine River flows north to the Baltic). Wine Map of A ..read more

You know, those dinners, everything is perfect; the food, wine, company, and atmosphere. You wish it could go on; you want to linger longer and enjoy this moment. Channel your inner French and pour a few after-dinner sips and maybe a few nibbles to pair alongside. Macvin du Jura and Vin de France Passerille are two after-dinner wines worth seeking. And those pairing nibbles, a Pain d’ Epices (French Spice Loaf), Macvin Pears, and Roquefort will keep the night’s memories alive. This month the French Winophiles are pouring wines from the French Jura, a mountainous wine-growing region located i ..read more

When you think of wine from the Rhône Valley, red wine probably comes to mind first; after all, approximately 86% of the wine production is red. But the Rhône Valley also produces white, rosé, sparkling, late harvest, and sweet fortified wines. One Rhône Valley AOC is dedicated solely to making rosé.  The Tavel AOC, one of nine crus located in the Southern Rhône, is 100% rosé. This month the French Winophiles are exploring the diversity found in France’s Rhône Valley. Check out more articles at the bottom of this post and join our Twitter chat on Saturday, January 21st, at 11:00 AM ET ..read more

Why not Champagne? It’s that time of year when Champagne corks are popping to celebrate the holidays while gathering with family and friends. Champagne literally marks an occasion with sparkle, aka streaming bubbles, to tickle and delight your palate. Whether you are sipping on a Grand Marque (like Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, or Bollinger), a Grower Champagne (like Pierre Péters or Tarlant), or a Coopérateur (like R.H. Coutier) there is so much Champagne to discover. Where to start? Let me tease you with Bollinger Special Cuvée NV paired with Roasted Oysters with Bacon and Leeks. “T ..read more

It’s that time of year again when Merlot takes center stage. The Wine Pairing Weekend group of writers is celebrating our 8th annual #MerlotMe. Join us for our Twitter chat Saturday, October 8th, 2022, at 11:00 AM ET. We will be talking about all things Merlot, from different styles, food pairings, and sustainable farming practices.  I’ll share my tasting notes and fall food pairings of four Merlots to try. Check out this year’s invitation post at FoodWineClick for a summary of the past seven years of Wine Pairing Weekend #MerlotMe articles. 3 Wineries Producing Exceptional Merlot L’Eco ..read more

There's no easy way to say this. Read more ..read more