France Archives * Strong Coffee to Red Wine

Roussillon & Jura: Bottle and Background

Published January 11, 2019

Two Lesser Known Wine Regions in France One of the things that I love about wine blogging is that it forces me outside of my familiar. Before writing Strong Coffee, I drank pretty much just one varietal. I would drink that varietal from different countries and different regions, but it was always the same grape. In the last two years, I have opened my eyes to wines of every color (I tried a blue wine once. Yes, blue, real blue; it did not go well.), and style. From countries that I had no idea made such great wines. And the…

#WIYG – Rombauer, Luna, Allemand, & More

Published July 20, 2018

If you are a wine enthusiast (eh-hem Steven) and you are on Instagram, you will be very familiar with #wiyg. It stands for “what’s in your glass” which is frequently posited on that social media platform along with your post of a glass or bottle of wine. Hopefully, your “peeps” will respond, and your Instagram engagement goes through the roof. So what’s in my glass? I am so glad you asked. Luna Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Luna Vineyards was one of the wineries that Gary and I visited when we were in Napa last May. It…

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Felix Cocktails et Cuisine

Published February 7, 2018

Thursday Evening: Part Deux (two) Rarely does the ambiance and interiors of a restaurant transport you to the place of inspiration as much as the proprietor desires. That is not the case at Felix Cocktails et Cuisine on upper King St. While it is nondescript on the outside, it is perfectly French on the inside from the art and decor to the tables, the music and the uniform for the staff. Oh yeah, and then there is the food which completes the journey. The only thing that could make it more authentic is a staff with French accents, but that just…

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Two Amazing Wines: Out of the Park!

Two Amazing Wines: Out of the Park!

Published July 24, 2017

It was on Friday evening at “happy hour” when Gary, Eve and I drank the wines I am sharing with you today. First, a bit about my friend Eve. We have worked together for years in the wedding business and became fast friends. Known for its high-stress situations and perhaps a Bridezilla as well, weddings have a way of bringing vendors together, as we bond over the craziness of that day. She and I have been on opposite schedules for months, so we needed some private time to do some serious catching up. So on this night, we talked and we…

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Obscure Wine, Surprising Wine – Updated!

Published June 14, 2017

I do hate to admit it, but I am lusting for an obscure wine. To satisfy my craving, I joined the Paris Wine Club. I found this club when refining my search looking for that La Galoche Beaujolais Blanc back in May. That search turned me on to so many great wine opportunities connecting me with McCarus Beverage Co. here in Charleston and Paris Wine Company in Northern California. In addition to being an importer and distributor, Paris Wine Company has a club that features small winemakers throughout France that produce lower volume, classic French wines that do not usually see the light of…

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Alsace to South Africa

Published May 31, 2017

Different Wines, Distant Lands, Different Palates Alsace to South Africa It’s HOT! Hardly a cloud in the sky and 91 but feels like 96. Crap, I think summer is here to stay until October. As much as I want to drink red, I am going to at least have to wait until the sun goes down. Or I could just set the thermostat on 65, put on a sweater and be good to go! But I did not do that. Instead, I picked up this Alsace Blanc for Gary and me, hoping Gary would like it as much as I suspected…

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Pink Bubbles from Mas de Daumas Gassac

Pink Bubbles from Mas de Daumas Gassac

Published May 17, 2017

In the summer of 2015, Gary and I met up with our with friends Bryan & Craig to spend ten days in France. We spent a week in the Provence area using Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (a bedroom community next to Avignon) as our home base while exploring the south of France and then back up north for three days in Paris before heading home. On this trip, we pre-arranged two winery tours whose wines we drink on a regular basis. This post involves one wine from one of the wineries we visited that summer. Mas de Daumas Gassac At Mas de Daumas Gassac located…

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France in Charleston: Christophe Artisan Chocolatier-Pâtissier

Published April 25, 2017

The other day I got an email from Ancestry.com about a new hint in my family tree. Next thing I know hours have passed and I have no idea where the the day has gone. What caught my eye was a hint from the des Marets family line on my mother’s side. I have traced that line back to the mid 1500s in northern France and when I get a hint from that part of my family, I get so excited I can’t contain myself. But talking about my ancestry experience is for another day. Today it is about this amazing French Pastry…

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French Wine… Why can’t I find a “merlot”?

French Wine… Why can’t I find a “merlot”?

Published March 31, 2017

French versus American wine bottle labeling Today I thought I would share some information about wine labels. Specifically the differences for French wine versus American wine (and most other regions). I know many people who shy away from French wines because they are unfamiliar and when they search for something recognizable they strike out. To fix that the first obstacle is understanding the labels on the bottle. So let’s break this down first before we go any deeper. The American Label In the US the winery name is usually the most prominent on the label. Then the grape varietal used…

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Tag: France