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Tasting Room: Red Grapes of the Jura

Where to Watch You can watch this tasting video in our community space here Summary Poulsard, Pinot Noir and Trousseau make up the trio responsible for the best red wines of the Jura. One of those is probably familiar to you, but the other two are firmly off the beaten track!

Tasting Room: What Makes a Great Wine?

Watch Here You can find this recording in our community space here Summary In this month’s Icon tasting, I get to try one of the Northern Rhone superstars, Domaine JP Jamet’s Cote-Rotie from 2011. It got me thinking about what it takes to elevate a
photo credit: Domaine Arretxea

Ten Fascinating Wines to Look Out for from South West France

What is France’s greatest undiscovered wine region? Where do you find the greatest value for money in French wine? Where would you look around France to find potential fine-wine quality at affordable wine prices? Three questions … and from me the same answer to each: South West France.
Sunlit patchwork of Beaujolais vineyard slopes and villages, showing rolling hills that define the crus’ granite-rich terroir
© Beaujolais Wines/Etienne Ramousse

The 10 Crus of Beaujolais: What Do They Share? How Do They Differ?

Over the past 20 years, the restoration of Beaujolais has been one of the great success stories in French wine. For decades it was best known for simple Beaujolais Nouveau, rushed out for consumption on the third Thursday of November every year, but the hullaballoo around this marketing stunt is now dissipating as the potential quality of its cru wines draws the spotlight.

The 2021 Vintage in France by Andrew Jefford

The vintage chart and harvest report provided by the Wine Scholar Guild give you the ranking for every French wine region and vintage from 2000 to today. The most recent vintage report is published two years following the vintage, i.e. the 2021 vintage report was published in 2023. Andrew Jefford gives us his insight about the 2021 vintage in France. Andrew is an award-winning author and columnist of Decanter and World of Fine Wine, Co-Chair of Decanter World Wine Awards; Vice-Chair of Decanter Asia Wine Awards, gives us 

The 2022 Vintage in France by Andrew Jefford

The 2022 vintage was, in general, a great year for France. Weirdly. Look at the data. It shouldn’t have been: the gauges for both drought and heat were often flashing red. What happened?

The Châtillonnais: Bourgogne’s Last Frontier?

Summary: The Châtillonnais is a small, lesser known wine region, located at the most northern end of the ‘département’ of the Côte d’Or and just south of the Côte des Bar, the most southern section of Champagne. Due to its proximity to Champagne and its isolation from other Burgundian regions, its history and wine styles are far more linked to its more northerly neighbor. This is a region where its
Winemaker carefully inspecting a bottle in a dimly lit Jura wine cellar, symbolizing precision and tradition in French winemaking

The Heart of a Sommelier: Passion, Precision and the Pursuit of Emotion 

In the world of wine, the sommelier holds a position of both reverence and responsibility. More than just a connoisseur, a sommelier is an interpreter of terroir, a storyteller of vintages and above all a master of human connection. Philippe, a world-renowned sommelier from France's Jura region, spoke with WSG’s Founder and President Julien Camus recently, with rare authenticity about what defines excellence in this noble craft. 
Snow-dusted vineyards of Domaine Saint Germain in Savoie, French Alps, reflecting the alpine terroir of the wine region
Winter in Domaine Saint Germain. Laurent Fabry

The Heights of Wine: Discovering Savoie’s Alpine Offerings

Despite its location in the French Alps, Savoie has long been overshadowed by its more famous neighbors. Yet with its distinct grape varieties, alpine terroir and rich viticultural heritage, this niche French region—bordering Switzerland and Italy—offers a taste of all that makes wine captivating.

The Value of Wine Education and the Rise of Online Learning for French, Italian and Spanish Wines

In a world where wine has evolved from a drink to a culture, understanding what’s in your glass goes beyond mere taste—it’s about appreciating the stories, landscapes and craftsmanship behind each label.

White Bordeaux

Summary: It's time to shine a light on the dry white wines of Bordeaux. Often overshadowed by the region’s famous reds, these wines deserve more attention. From the polished, subtly oaked Sémillon and Sauvignon blends of Graves to the fresh and vibrant Sauvignon Blancs of Entre-Deux-Mers - and beyond - there is so much to discover.  French Programs Director

Wine Trends in 2020: Alsace by the Numbers

In the second part of our three-part series, acclaimed wine writer and critic Andrew Jefford surveys the latest wine trends in Alsace. From larger vineyards to the prospect of Premier Crus — not to mention the impacts of climate change on the region’s bevy of varieties — let’s take a look at Alsace’s recent history and where the region as a whole is headed.

Wine Trends in 2020: Bordeaux by the Numbers

Author of Inside Bordeaux, a book that has been described as the 'bible' by Le Figaro newspaper and a 'category buster' by Jamie Goode, Jane Anson has lived in Bordeaux since 2003. Here she takes a look at the wine trends that are shaping the region, its economy, its climate, the industry and its winemakers.

Wine Trends in 2020: Burgundy by the Numbers

As a wine region, Burgundy embodies both the past and the future. On the one hand, Grands Crus that have been celebrated for centuries remain in the hands of multi-generational family domaines. On the other hand, outside investment, adjustments to the appellation system, and the realities of climate change (which have necessitated adaptations in viticulture and winemaking) have all combined to bring about change in recent years. This duality lies at the heart of modern Burgundy, and here to sort much of it out for us is acclaimed wine writer and critic Andrew Jefford. Below, he takes a look at the numbers that have shaped Burgundy’s recent history, and what that means for its future.

Wine Trends in 2020: Champagne by the Numbers

As an accomplished wine writer Andrew Jefford has decades of experience watching the French wine industry evolve. Here, he takes a look at the wine trends that are shaping the Champagne region, its landscape, its climate, the industry and ultimately, how winemakers are adapting in the cellar.

Winemaking: Choices in the cellar

Join us as we explore some of the key winemaking choices thatimpact wine quality and character. Can you ferment for flavor, boost aroma, or build structure? What decisions are made as great grapes transition into great wine? Explore red, dry white, and sweet white winemaking variables while pulling yeasts and aromatics into sharp focus.  

Women in the History of Champagne

Summary Women have played a key role throughout the history of le champagne (the wine) and la Champagne (the region). The cheeky courtesans were enthusiastic consumers during the 18th century. The widows were innovative producers during the 19th century. The mothers and wives kept the champagne ship afloat during two World Wars during the 20th century. And like a champagne bubble, the women are moving onwards and upwards during the 21st century.

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