Flammekueche: history of a french iconic dish
Flammekueche or Tarte Flambee litterally meaning « flame cake » originated in Alsace (East of France) late 18th or early 19th century. It all started as a rural tradition and a practical solution for testing the temperature of the wood-fired ovens used for baking bread.
Map of French vineyards and regions producing wine in France
France, renowned for its cuisine and wine, delights people worldwide with its many wine-growing regions. The country boasts a unique wine heritage, with a mosaic of terroirs with infinite nuances
Burgundy Wines: A Fascinating History and Worldwide Influence
True symphony for senses, Burgundy wine has long been associated with grace and elegance. With roots in antiquity, the region has a fascinating and lengthy history well known for its vines cultivated for centuries on the undulating hills of Burgundy with distinctive terroir, utilizing superior grape varieties and ancestral knowledge.
Francois Villard: How a winemaking star in the Rhone Valley was born
Francois Villard is today an esteemed winemaker from the Northern part of the Rhone Valley. Originally, Francois did not come from a wine makers’ family and started his career as a kitchen Chef and sommelier but his passion for wine pushed him to plant vines in Condrieu in 1989. His first vintage was a tiny production of 400 bottles of Condrieu that he entirely sold to a Michelin-star restaurant nearby. Then, He developed gradually his winery, and based on the quality of his wines and his talent, doors opened quickly.
Are Bubbles all the same?
You probably came across different types of sparkling wines and tasted them. Was it a unique experience bringing each time the same feeling and pleasure? Not necessarily. Bubbles are most of the time associated with happiness and celebration. The pop of the cork and the fizz of the wine announce a great moment. But taste and production methods may bring different levels of satisfaction. What are the main methods to produce bubbles? • Traditional method: the one created by Champagne producers and used by some other wineries to produce excellent sparkling. • The Charmat method or tank method used by Prosecco producers • The ancestral method • The carbonation method • The continuous method What makes the difference between Champagne and sparkling? Champagne is a combination of specific grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir) grown in a particular area (Champagne is located in the East of France), and a traditional production method. Other sparkling, especially those of high quality, follow the same traditional method but the vineyards will not be located in Champagne. Grapes used might be Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, but also different like Chenin Blanc in Loire Valley or Orbois …. The result will also be excellent however different.
Best picks in Secretwines collection
It is difficult to select a few wines for the person who built up the whole range and therefore loves all the wines on the list. Editing a short list moreover depends on the taste of each and every person. If in terms of best quality for the price I would stress on:
How did wine appear? When did that great story start and how?
In China (7000 BC) traces of fermented beverages made from rice, honey, and fruits including wild grapes were found in Jiahu (Henan Province). In Georgia (Caucasus) records of the oldest winemaking site were found (6000 BC). Pottery shards from the Neolithic era were discovered with tartaric acid residues, indicative of grape wine. Qvevris, large earthenware vessels, were used to ferment and store wine, a tradition still alive in Georgian winemaking today.
Tips for Picking a Good Bottle of Wine
Entering into the jungle of wine shops is for some a journey but for many of us an adventure. How to select a bottle of wine that matches your taste or pairs with the food you plan to have for dinner? Bottles
Labels: How to read them and try to understand the information
When coming across large offers of wines, it seems essential to try and understand what labels stuck on bottles mean. But most of the time, far from giving us insights on what we need to decide to buy a bottle, they confuse us more. Legal indications on the origin of the product, content, and producer …are coming in different ways. To understand what is really inside of the bottle, here are some useful clues: