Here is an easy Crème de Cassis cocktail, inspired by Casablanca, plus a few more to add interest to the popular cocktail: Kir Kir Royale Kir Berrichon You’ve seen the movie often. It’s 1942, and “Casablanca” is playing. Humphrey Bogart is opening Ric’s Café for an evening’s entertainment. ...

Twenty-four 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 owner and President of French Wine Explorers.  Bernasse started working in the travel industry in 2000 after leaving a corporate ...

The Rhone Valley and Provence have some of the most beautiful vineyards in France. Vines cover the landscape as far as the eye can see in most places, punctuated by olive groves and lavender fields. You’ll find an incredibly rich variety of fascinating sites to discover while enjoying the ...

Ask any local, and their best advice for eating near the most popular Parisian landmarks is not to! Restaurateurs know that tourists coming down from the Eiffel Tower or out of the Louvre Museum starving.  They take advantage of tired legs and “underdeveloped” palates to pawn ...

Picture this: you’re hosting a meal and the main guest loves Bordeaux wines and steak. What is the best wine pairing with steak? In this post, find great tips and tricks for meal planning for Bordeaux wine lovers.  Here’s a preview for an easy, no-fail Bordeaux-themed meal that ...

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 understand better what resonates with their preferences.  Then we can recommend areas in France to discover better what is a full-bodied wine! Winter wines, ...

How many Grand Cru vineyards are there in Burgundy? The Burgundy Grand Crus answer is not as straightforward as you might think. This is France, after all, where complexity rules the day! First, Remington Norman MW (author of Grand Cru: The Great Wines of Burgundy, 2011) and Sylvain Pitiot ...

*Please note: pricing may vary since the release of the article a few years ago! Saint Emilion Wines can be pricey, luckily, you can find great values as well.  Here is our shortlist of Saint Emilion wines to include in your collection: Chateau Pavie-Macquin Chateau Figeac Chateau Canon Chateau ...

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 ...

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, the comparison between French Cognac vs whiskey (from the States) dominates a majority of late-night conversations. The fight between ...

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 ...