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Easy Crème de Cassis Cocktails With Wine or Champagne Crème de Cassis Cocktails: Kir or Kir Royale 1 generous tablespoon of Crème de Cassis 3/4 cup white wine, sparkling wine, or champagne First add the Crème de Cassis, then the wine, for the perfect French apperitif You’ve seen the movie ...

Cognac vs Whiskey: 4 Differences To Help You Choose The Best  When it comes to choosing a spirit to drink, the choices are plenty. Choosing the best one can be a daunting task thanks to the many options available today. Today, the comparison between Cognac vs whiskey dominates a majority of ...

Advanced Wine Tasting Techniques The French have two words for “tasting”: gouter, to taste; or déguster, which means to taste with the goal of identifying the characteristics of a product o judge its quality. In the world of wine, we favor the term déguster. La dégustation of wine ...

Cognac vs Armagnac: Similarities, Differences, and How to Choose Before we delve into the details, here is the main distinction between Cognac vs Armagnac: A main difference between Cognac vs Armagnac is Armagnac is distilled once, while Cognac is twice distilled. For Cognac lovers, that means ...

What is Cognac?  When someone asks you “What is cognac?”  What is the easiest way to differentiate Cognac from brandy or Armagnac, or another spirit? Here is your essential guide to Cognac. Cognac is a brandy, a spirit produced by distilling wine from grapes. Cognac comes from a ...

French Wine Map, Map of French Wine Regions When planning your wine tour to France, it’s best to see where the French wine regions are situated on a French wine map. Then it’s best to gauge how far the French wine region is from Paris or Nice, or where you will arrive initially in ...

What Are the Best Tuscan Wine Pairings with Food? Tuscan cuisine is based on “cucina povera,” a rural style based on seasonal and natural ingredients. These include olive oil, unsalted bread, wild mushrooms, vegetables, and either salt-cured or grilled meats. So what wines do you pair with this ...

The 10 Best Markets of Provence Not to Miss Colorful and lively, the best markets of Provence will take you on a picturesque discovery of flavors, fragrances and local products. Rooted in the French identity, food markets go beyond a tourist attraction. The best markets of Provence belong to ...

A trip to Bordeaux has endless possibilities. You can enjoy tastings at famed estates, try regional dishes at local restaurants, and take in the rich history of some of France’s oldest towns. With all of these options, it can seem impossible to know where to begin! To make your ...

It’s not too late for considering Valentines Day wines. What makes the wine “special,” though, is not just the wine itself. Also bear in mind the person with whom it is shared, and occasions you have enjoyed together. Those shared associations will be more meaningful than a pricey wine bought ...

Northern Rhone Wines That Will Make You Happy I’ve noted to students in my wine tasting courses, many wine regions have produced finer wines over recent years; thus, transforming what is available on the market. That particularly holds true in France. Quality conscious producers are making ...

Pascale Bernasse Celebrates 20 Years in the Travel Industry Twenty years ago, Pascale Bernasse fulfilled a lifelong dream and began a career in the travel industry. Today, that dream remains a reality for her as the co-owner and President of French Wine Explorers.  Bernasse started working in ...

Bordeaux Wine and Cheese Pairings What are the best Bordeaux wine and cheese pairings?  This is a question often asked, and we wanted to offer you an easy guide to help you when hosting a dinner party or luncheon. Easy wine & cheese pairings: Brie with red St. Emilion wine  Soft ripened ...

What Are Natural Wines? Why Should I Care About Them? The idea of “natural” wine originated in France in the 1960s. Winemakers in the Beaujolais region wanted to return to the production methods that their grandparents had used. They wanted to get away from the pesticide and chemical use that ...

New Years Eve Menus With Perfect Champagne Pairings So you have decided to host a festive New Years Eve champagne supper. You’ll want to choose from a few New Year’s Eve menus and make sure to pair the food thoughtfully. There are still many choices to make, depending upon your ...

Easy Guide to French Fall Wines Fall is a time when the grapes in France hang heavy on the vine, surrounded by leaves of ochre and crimson, anticipating the harvest. It is also the perfect time to enjoy some more full-bodied wines after the lighter wines of summer. Here are some recommended ...