Day 933 (Sunday) 29^th December 2019

Last night I had a text from Chadwick with his seating plan for New Year’s Day and it was appalling – he wanted to put all the couples on different tables because he claimed that we spend too much time with our partners. I very firmly refused to go along with this and Huw and I came up with a far better plan and I sent it to him saying that I didn’t want to argue by text and suggested meeting up this morning to discuss it and he agreed after a number of texts going back and fore. Chadwick is a rather arrogant, self-opinionated man who is very used to getting his own way so I was amazed this morning when I got a text saying that he agreed with our plan – success!

It was a bit cloudy this morning so we did the cleaning instead of going up the mountain from Beaulieu because the forecast is much better tomorrow and other than check-ins and outs we have the week off – hooray. The sun came out at around lunchtime and it was lovely and warm again. Huw took one of Iain’s bonsai trees out on the balcony to give it some sun (it lives on top of the fridge freezer to keep it out of harm’s (Badger’s) way. Badger was on to it immediately – I don’t know why he loves it so much but he does.


As we enjoyed a rather lazy day today I thought I’d share this article about French wine with you – enjoy.

The Beginner's Guide to Drinking French Wine

There is a certain mystique surrounding French wine. Long regarded (by the French) as the best in the world, it can also feel somewhat inaccessible, the wines obscure and the labelling opaque. But fear not! We’ve broken it down, from regions to labels, terroir to taste. So if you’re a beginner, a buyer, or just want to impress your friends, we give you the short and sweet guide to drinking French wine!

Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée/Protégée

French wine is subject to one of the strictest quality control systems in the world. The highest quality classification is Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée or Protégée, which is government-regulated and indicates that the wine was created under strict conditions (using specific grapes, in a designated area, and adhering to traditional methods). This designation is awarded rarely, and generally indicates a top quality product. AOC/AOP labels are applied to a variety of food items, including cheeses; for wine this is marked directly on the label and includes a bright green tag on top of the cork.

Common wines and wine producing regions

Understanding regions is the key to understanding French wine. In France, wine is viewed as an expression of where it was created rather than just the grapes used—wine is consequently organised not by grape, but by region and producer. Here is a quick breakdown of the major wine-producing regions in France, and what to loosely expect from each of them:

Bordeaux

This is one of the largest wine-producing regions in the country, (home to 10,000 producers!) and the wines here are typically medium-bodied and fruity reds. A cheap Bordeaux is often a solid bet, but more upscale bottles can cost several thousand euros!

Look out for: Médoc, Pauillac, Saint Émilion, Pomerol

Burgundy (Bourgogne)

Expensive and highly prized, a good bottle of Burgundy is tricky to find but often subtle, complex and extremely rewarding. Wines here are usually soft, earthy and medium-bodied. These wines age well, and some can be kept for 20 or 30 years.

Look out for: Cote d’Or, Beaujolais (drink it young), Chablis

Loire Valley

Spanning over 1,000 kilometres along the river Loire, this is one of the most diverse wine-growing regions in France (most vineyards here are family-owned) and is home to 87 appellations. The Loire is famous for producing every kind of wine, but its fresh and airy whites are particularly special. It’s also the second-greatest sparkling wine producer behind Champagne!

Look out for: Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Chenin Blanc, Chinon

Rhône

Located in southeastern France, this region is known for robust and spicy reds. You can often pick up a delicious bottle of Rhône for a song.

Look out for: Côtes du Rhône, Hermitage, Côte Rotie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Alsace

This northerly borderland is very famous of its white wines, which are a mix of French and German grapes (reflecting the region’s Franco-German heritage). Wines produced here tend to be drier, crispier and more mineral than their German cousins, which are known for their rich sweetness.

Look out for: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat

Languedoc-Roussillon

This warm region sits on the Mediterranean coast, and produces full-bodied, fruity reds and rosés.

Look out for: Corbières, Limoux (France’s oldest sparkling wine)

Provence

This sun-drenched, lavender-cloaked land is famous for its refreshing rosés.

Look out for: Côtes de Provence, Côteaux d’Aix

Champagne

World-renowned for its sparkling wines, which date back as early as the 12th century. The double-fermentation method can be attributed to the region’s northerly climate: the first fermentation would be halted by cold winter temperatures, but the thaw of spring would galvanize a second fermentation and a subsequent release of carbon dioxide… hence the bubbles! Today’s process, however, is a little different.

Only wines made in the Champagne region can be labelled champagne, making the name synonymous with quality but also priciness. Sparkling wines produced elsewhere are called crémant, and are often delicious and substantially cheaper.

Terroir

The terroir refers to the wine’s place of origin (each with its unique climate, topography, soil, altitude, and local traditions) that gives each wine its distinct character. As a country France is carved out into regions (such as the Loire), which are then broken down into smaller sub-regions (such as Sancerre), which are dotted by villages, which in turn are home to chateaux or wine estates. Generally, the smaller and more specific the terroir on the label, the better the wine.

Cru: Premier Cru, Grand Cru, Grand Vin and Réserve

French wine labels will also indicate cru, meaning growth—this refers to the vineyard, estate or village where the wine was produced. The line between terroir and cru can feel a bit blurry, but here’s a good way of thinking about it: terroir is where a wine is grown; cru is how a wine is handled (nature vs. nurture). Estates that consistently craft quality wine have a higher cru designation, so there’s some useful information to be gleaned here.

Grand Cru: this vineyard has been designated the highest quality vineyard in the region.

Premier Cru: less prestigious than Grand Cru, but still considered a top vineyard in the area.

Grand Vin: what the winery considers their best wine.

Réserve: this term is unregulated, so don’t let it fool you into thinking it means quality!

Mis en Bouteille

This refers to where the wine was bottled, which also tells you were they got the grapes.

Mis en Bouteille au Château / à la propriété / au domaine—the wine is made from the grapes specific to the vineyard, property or local terroir.

By contrast, négociants (wine merchants) will source grapes and wine from a variety of locations across the region, and bottle them elsewhere. Again the rule of thumb with French wine is: the more specific the location, the better the quality.

Score great deals at the wine salons

Paris hosts numerous wine fairs, including the Salon Nature et Vins, La Revue du Vin de France, and le Grand Tasting. For the simple cost of entry, visitors gain access to wine tasting events, have direct access to the producers (and their wisdom), and are able to purchase delicious regional wines directly and at a low cost. It’s also an extremely fun way of spending a day (take it from us—three hours is not enough)!

Trust your taste

Recent studies suggest that even wine connoisseurs don’t know what they’re talking about. Academics, critics, judges, journalists, sommeliers and other “experts” are all beholden to their own personal sense of taste. These sages can only guide you so far—when it comes to what you should drink, follow your own senses. Try a lot of different things and don’t worry too much about the details, just drink what you enjoy! After all… it’s all grape juice in the end!

Finally, remember this: the classifications explained above are not quality guarantees, but instead indications of potential. The finest of wines can be made in the humblest of cellars.