Wining & Dining in Sonoma & Napa
February 21st, 2021 by Doni Belau
[caption id="attachment_219934" align="aligncenter" width="668"] by Doni Belau[/caption] I’ll admit I’m a bit of a wine snob. Even though I’ve experienced countless tastings in the US, France, Spain, Italy and South Africa I really don’t know as much as I should know about wine considering how opinionated I can be…
The Best Champagne for New Years Eve
December 31st, 2016 by Doni Belau
Just in time for New Year’s Eve, we visited the Champagne region for several days this past week, en famille. It was a nice chance to get outside of Paris into the French countryside and visit several cellars, sipping some of the world’s best champagne as well as to stay…
French Wines: Françoise Bedel Entre Ciel et Terre Brut Champagne
July 29th, 2014 by Renée Kuo
What French wines best describes you? For me, it’s champagne. It’s not that I have such a sparkling, bubbly personality; rather, I’m always ready to celebrate any occasion but typically disappear before the evening ends. My days of dancing until the wee hours have long gone, especially as my clubbing…
French Wines: Pierre Boniface Apremont 2012 Vin de Savoie
April 21st, 2014 by girlsguidetoparis
I owe the crux of my education in French wines to two men: Guillaume and Laurent, the French Bert and Ernie of an upscale wine and cheese shop in Los Angeles. Guillaume was the wine expert: the shorter of the two, he was insouciantly elegant in a manner Americans might…
French Wines: Château Doisy-Daëne Sauternes 2007
November 3rd, 2014 by Renée Kuo
With the propensity of les Français to pair their wonderful French wines with their delectable cuisine, is the so-called French paradox really a myth? I’m referring to the observation that the rate of coronary heart disease in France is low relative to a diet that is seemingly high in saturated…
French Wines: 2011 Vignoble Réveille Climax Côtes du Roussillon
March 19th, 2014 by Renée Kuo
If ever a Wild West existed for French wines, it would be the Languedoc-Roussillon. Every French wine region has a set of standards to which it must adhere—the French do love their regulations, don’t they?—known as the appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC). AOC rules range in restrictiveness from corset to straitjacket:…
French Wines: Domaine Huet 2010 Clos du Bourg
March 19th, 2013 by Renée Kuo
Domaine Huet 2010 Clos du Bourg Approximate retail price: $30–$35 Available at major retailers such as Zachys and Crush Is it possible to be inspired for $30? This may sound like a snobbish question with regard to French wines, but, as with most of my purchases in adulthood, the quality…
French Wines: Bouchard Père et Fils Réserve Bourgogne Rouge 2011
December 20th, 2013 by Renée Kuo
The holidays are a time for food, family and, of course, French wines. Not surprisingly, during this season of giving I can often find myself a bit cash-strapped. For this month, I therefore wanted to choose a wine that was not only palate pleasing but also wallet friendly: Bouchard Père…
French Wines: 2009 Cuvée Roucaillat, Coteaux du Languedoc
February 15th, 2013 by D.D. Rice
2009 Cuvée Roucaillat, Coteaux du Languedoc Retail cost: approximately $20 Available at Suburban Wines & Spirits Intriguing French Wines from Languedoc’s Laboratory The 2009 Cuvée Roucaillat, from the Languedoc, is an original and playful French wine from an equally original and playful French wine region. The Languedoc is an enormous…
French Wines: Patrick Piuze Terroir de Chablis 2011
April 13th, 2013 by Renée Kuo
Patrick Piuze Terroir de Chablis 2011
Approximate retail price: $22–30 Available at major retailers such as the Wine House and Hi-Time Wine Cellars As we well know, the French are extremely proud of their culture and traditions, especially when it comes to French wines and cuisine and the French language.…
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