JOIE DE VIVREby

The last month or so of winter is always the toughest. The whimsy and fun of the holiday season has passed us by and all that’s left to do is count down the days until spring. It’s not all bad, though. At the very least, the cold months give us an excuse to enjoy some rustic and warming wines! One of my personal favorite wines in this vein is Sangiovese. This Italian wine is pretty much the quintessential Tuscan varietal and the perfect..

It’s the new year, a time for resolutions and bold proclamations. So in that spirit let’s spend some time looking at a bold and spirited wine from Portugal: Touriga Nacional. This intense tipple is made from grapes mainly grown in the Duoro region of Portugal, however, some are also grown in South Africa, Australia, and the United States. These grapes have until recently only been used in fortified wine blends, however, producers have started to..

High-end vino is wonderful, but sometimes you just want something fun, feisty and easy to drink. If this refrain sounds familiar and you’re on the lookout for an unchallenging tipple, the under-appreciated Argentinian wine Bonarda fits the bill perfectly! This wine is a bit of a hidden gem for those on the lookout for a bright red with few tannins and high acidity.

Before we continue, however, it’s worth pointing out that Argentina Bonarda..

After spending some time getting into the nitty-gritty of Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava it’s time to take an in-depth look at the “other” sparkling wine: Sekt. Sekt is a sweet sparkling wine that is primarily produced in Germany and Austria. The wine is guzzled by the gallon in both countries but its popularity has not yet spread beyond those borders. The reason for this is largely due to history and reputation. Until recently, the grading..

There's no denying that Champagne is great, but it's not exactly cheap. And, while Prosecco is an abundant and affordable alternative, it's not the best choice for those looking for something dry as opposed to sweet.

Fortunately, there is an affordable alternative to dry Champagne for those on a budget: Spanish Cava!

Production

Like most sparkling wines, most Cava is made from a blend of grapes, although some high-end bottles will stick to..

While I love sparkling wine, I’m always a little put off by the high price of Champagne. Don’t get me wrong, Champagne is worth it, but the price tag makes it a drink best reserved only for celebrations. But what if you don’t have cause for celebration and just want to enjoy a bit of bubbly? Well, that’s where Prosecco comes in. This Italian classic is often about half the price of Champagne and just as ubiquitous. Don’t let the low price fool..

Now that we’ve covered the history and geography of Champagne production, it’s time to get into the best part of this bubbly beverage: the taste! While there is a consistent flavor profile to be found in most bottles of champers, there are a number of different styles of this drink available—all with their own unique characteristics.

Types of Champagne

Far from being a uniform product, there are in fact six different types of Champagne...

There are few alcoholic beverages more iconic and more closely associated with prestige and class than Champagne. This fascinating fizzy drink has been around for several hundred years and is still extremely popular. In fact, over 300 million bottles are produced per year and that output seems unlikely to slow down anytime soon.

Despite its appeal, selecting Champagne can be a bit of a daunting prospect. There’s a multitude of options to choose..

Coffee is best when shared. While a good cup of coffee is a great thing in its own right, nothing beats catching up with a friend over a cup of coffee. But what if your bestie, or your significant other, simply doesn’t like the taste of coffee? Well, you could just accept that we’re all wonderfully unique, or you could try and convince them that coffee is the greatest and that they are fools for not drinking it. If you choose the second option,..

Just as with regular wine, the shape of a drinking glass can significantly impact the taste of sparkling wine. The overall shape of the glassware can affect the aroma, flavor, and bubble content of all type of sparkling wine. So, when you’re planning on serving some bubbly to your guests, or just want to get the most out of your chosen bottle, it’s important to pick the right glass for the job.

Flute

The flute is possibly the most commonly used..