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. Olive oil, unsalted bread, wild mushrooms, vegetables, and salt-cured or grilled meats form the base of this cuisine. So what Italian wines pair ...

Italy offers some of the best wines in the world and is also perhaps the world’s most complex wine-producing country. In Italy, there are: 20 major regions, over 400 designated quality appellations (denominazione), and nearly 1,000 important wine grapes. Tuscany has more quality appellations ...

Italy is a country rich with culture, delicious food, and–of course–delicious wine. From Tuscany to Piedmont, there is much to learn about the wines of the country. But where do you start? Here are our most popular posts all about famous Italian wine regions!   Italian Wine: Easy ...

Have you heard of a June event called “Rosé Wine Day”? In our Eastern Shore of Maryland region, there are two wine retailers. Both of them featured rosé wines in their weekend promotions, with tastings. And if you were tasting them for the first time, you were in for a surprise. Some of the ...

Planning a wine tour in France can feel like a part-time job. You have to research your destination, what to do, and what chateaus to visit. Before that, you check and book flights (and connecting flights). Then you find a desirable hotel—and hope that the website is representative of what ...

Do you want our take on which wine movies are best for French wine lovers? Here are a few options, many are popular, and a couple may surprise you. Wine Movies: Start Here Mondovino: This is a great documentary that examines the critics, consultants, and the big guys vs. the little guys. It ...

Do you know that feeling when you want to offer some appetizers but don’t know what to serve beyond chips and dip? Here is an easy gougères recipe (pronounced goo-jairs) that is a real crowd-pleaser. Plus you can make a larger batch to freeze for that last-minute get-together, or even to ...

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 combinations: Brie with red St. Emilion wine  Soft ripened Saint Albray cheese with red ...

Perfect Champagne Pairings For New Years Eve Menus So you have decided to host a festive New Years’ Eve champagne supper. First, choose from a few New Years Eve menus and make sure to pair the food thoughtfully. Then there are still many choices to make, depending on your preference for ...

Have you ever wondered where the French wine regions are located, and how best to get there? First, 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 gauge how far the French wine region is from Paris, or where ...

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. First, the best markets of Provence belong to the local culture. Second, they are ...

When someone tells us they like full-bodied red wines, we first ask them what their idea of a full-bodied wine is.  This allows us to better understand what it is that resonates with their preferences.  Then we can recommend areas in France to better discover what is a full-bodied ...

Do you know what can ruin your French or Italian Wine Country Tour?  A miserable flight experience.  It’s the first and last experience that can overshadow even the best tour experience. Air travel was, at one time, predictable. One could phone a travel agent, book a trip ...

You’re planning a trip to French wine country and are dreaming of seeing fabulous wine estates and beautiful chateaux. Are you confused about how to get to the major French wine regions? Many French wine regions do not have direct flights from the USA or other countries. So there is a ...

Vouvray Pairings for the Main Course: Baked Ham, Chinese or Indian food, Gingered Pork, Butternut squash soup, Peking duck Wine Pairings for Dessert: Goat Cheese, Lemon Meringue Pie, Mince Tarts, Pumpkin Pie It was some years ago–as a member of a group of teenagers bicycling through the ...

Transcript: Carry On Size and How to Travel Well with a Carry-On Have you ever wondered, how can you travel with only a carry-on regardless of the destination or the length of the trip?  Well in this video we’re going to go over the top tips and strategies to help you go from feeling ...