Fitou and Picpoul: a red and white couple from the Languedoc

On the evening before the recent international (well, slightly international as most of the producers there were French) wine fair held in Paris and called Wine Paris, of which this was the inaugural edition, I went to a tasting organised by two Languedoc appellations, one devoted to red wines, and the other to white wines. …

Good cooperative wineries (2): Les Vignerons du Brulhois, South-West France

General map of France's southwestern appellations to show the position of the small Brulhois appellation concerned by this article. Following my first article 2 weeks ago, this second article in what will be an intermittant series dedicated to good cooperatives in France concerns a small cooperative winery near the Garonne river in south-west France. Brulhois …

Good cooperative wineries (1): Cellier des Chartreux, Rhône

Most people are quite unaware of the fact that 50% of French wines are produced by cooperative wineries of variable sizes. Yet some people still persist in turning up their noses when you mention the fact that you have liked the wines (all or some) from such and such a cooperative. There is also our …

Wines from Moldavia, a quick look and a disappointing tasting

Production and some context According to the OIV and the year 2017 (which are the latest figures available) the wine production of this small country located on the north-west corner of the Black Sea, surrounded by Romania and Ukraine, place it in 20th place amongst the world's wine producers in volume terms. These figures of …

Not particularly seasonal miscellanae

1). Wine brochures should always be read with a critical eye Naturally various documents, such as brochures, flyers, catalogues etc, that are conceived by wine producers or retailers to accompany or present their wines are designed to place their products under the most favourable light. But is that a sufficient reason for them to be, …

Marmande, where and what?

  The south-west of France contains a fair number of widely (for France) spread wine appellations, many of them quite small and little-known outside the country, and even within it for many inhabitants of this country. It also harbours, by virtue of this fact and its viticultural history, quite a few unusual and rare grape …

Georgian wines and travels

As promised last week, I am writing a few comments and reflexions about the wines of this country that I have just left after a week's stay to teach about wine in general, although not about Georgian wines as I am almost a complete beginner here. This article therefore makes no pretention at anything like …