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Posts Tagged ‘France’

No question: one is the best reason to visit France is the wine. They produce the most. They drink the most. They export the most. You must try their wines if you haven’t drunk yet. Without an endless list we try to suggest to you some great French wines and some pairing advise with fine foods.

Our first stop is Rhone. This region’s Viognier ans Syrah is very fine. A great Syrah is Delas St. Joseph Francois de Tournon (2005). This wine is a deep colored ruby red with delicious aromas such as cassis. It has very good texture with ideal tannic structure, finally it’s silky. Our suggestion is Beef Daube.

Second region which is one of the best known is Languedoc-Roussillon. It is located south-west of the country. The region wine industry is very modern with great wines such as. Tortoise Creek Pinot Noir from 2008. You can feel right now the violet aromas and the sweet red berry in it. This Pinot Noir is characteristic, soft and jammy. Pairing suggestion for this easy drinking wine: Chicken Pancetta.

Oops, we have just arrived to La Noble vineyard at the west of Carcassone. They make real country wines, for example La Noble Merlot (2005). It has very fruity intense purple colored wine. Plum aroma, spice and green pepper are leading to a smooth finish with higher tannin content. Great mix. This is a excellent choice for fishes such as Grilled Tuna Steaks.

We arrived to Medoc at the heart of Bordeaux. Medoc wines are medium colored, elegant and harmonious. We suggest Chateau Lamothe Pontac Medoc from the great year of 2005. This is an intense purple color wine with fruit notes such as cherry, but you will find vanilla in it as well. Finally this wine is quite spicy because cinnamon and other spices are in the bottle. A delicious Roasted Mutton is a fine pairing for this red wine.

Wine making tradition are stronger in Minervois region than at lots of other wineries. Cicero and Pline were among Minervois lovers. Minervois wines are full body red wines. Well structured and elegant when young, quite tannic and silky after 2 or 3 years in a cellar. Chateau Maris Minervois La Touge (2004) a powerful red wine in the style of the region. Concentrated aromas of blackberry and currant harmonize with characteristic bouquet of local wild herb or “garrigue”, smoke and spice. Full-bodied and rich, with dense ripe tannins that are impressive yet not overwhelming or harsh. Nice mix of depth and finesse. Pair with Herb Crusted Lamb Chops.

Here I wanted to tell you selected information about some French wines that you may not have heard of but should give a try.

Enjoy!

Looking to find the best deal on pairings, then visit www.thefoodforwine.com to find the best advice on food and wine matchings for you.

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Before you go to France you should get some previous information about their wines. French people drink the most of it and their export volume is the first as well. Our guide will show you some excellent wine tour tips, shortly to save time for your booking.

For a wine taste and sightseeing the most popular region is Provence:There you can find picturesque medieval villages and vineyards around Chateauneuf du Pape.

In the beautiful town even Van Gogh made some nice picture. Favorite wines here Syrah or Grenache (Garnacha). After tasting them you can enter to the Lavender Museum.

Taste and go on options what Paris offer you in “wine tasting business). These tastings are famous, and you can try wines there from Bordeaux to Lyon.

Oh Bordeaux! Called Red Eye. One of the greatest small city around the region is Saint Emillion with many tasting places. Many cellars are there. It will be your paradise. Buses take travelers to cellars to taste nice wines like Mourverde.

Even better wine tasting and learning opportunities are in Burgundy. Take a tour in this region’s greatest wineries and cellars. Discover the wines of Morey Saint Denis or Chambolle Musigny. Find out how they make wines and how they taste their elderly wines.

Some people call it Vin de Bourgogne. But if you know it as The Burgundy wine, you should know that this is of the best wine in the planet.

Red wines prefer Pinot Noir. But in the White Burgundy you can find Chardonnay. Wine lovers know it as Grand Cru which produces 35 hectoliters per hectare. Even better Premier Cru with its 45 hectoliters. These wines should be consumed within 3-5 years but finest ones can be kept even longer.

If you leave French Riviera, then take a visit around the 27.000 hectares region, St. Tropez.

Find here some Rose wines. But this southwest region is also popular due to Chardonnay or Mourverde.

As you saw world wine known France offers you great opportunities for traveling and tasting in the wine country of Europe.

Have a nice trip!

Want to find out more about wine tours, then visit recommended food and wine pairing site on how to choose the best pairing or even travel tips for your needs.

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Throwing a French theme party is one of those rare occasions you get to poke fun at some of the many French stereotypes at the same time as knocking back wine and eating excellent foodstuff. For some French party ideas, take a peep at the list below.

1. Mail your invitations out on the reverse of small French flags. Failing that you might send them out on cut outs of other French emblems such as the Eiffel Tower, a clove of garlic or a cut out of a French beret.

2. For the costumes, the boys could go a a small number of days without shaving to create the rugged French appearance. Put on a black and white horizontal stripy jumper, French beret, onion necklace and perhaps a moustache.

3. The women can somewhat comically dress in precisely the same way. Other options could maybe be to dress as Marie Antoinette or as a French maid.

4. Think about trying to make your French event venue look like a typical French cafe, if you’ve seen the movie Amelie then you’ll know what i mean. This ought to be an occasion for talking to your friends so get in plenty of wood furniture and chairs.

5. You can also decorate the room with small and large French flags or perhaps a French tricolour on a stick.

6. Play French cafe music in order to provide the ambiance of being in a real French cafe.

7. Mull over employing a real French cook to create fine fare and possibly give a talk on French cheese or wine. This of course will be budget dependant.

8. If you’ve a budget you can appoint a French mime artist. The French are especially fanatical on street performers, you could employ one of those men who paints himself gold and stands still all day long.

You should have a peek at more French Party Ideas in order to help enable yourself to throw the best party achievable. We have a lot of more French Party Ideas you can think about in order to encourage you for your event.

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Throwing a French theme party is one of those rare events you get to poke fun at a number of of the many French stereotypes whilst knocking back wine and eating exceptional provisions. For some French party ideas, have a peek at the list underneath.

1. Send your invites out on the reverse of small French flags. Failing that you could send them out on cut outs of other French emblems such as the Eiffel Tower, a clove of garlic or a cut out of a French beret.

2. For the costumes, the boys could go a a small number of days without shaving in order to make the rugged French appearance. Put on a black and white horizontal striped sweater, French beret, onion necklace and possibly a moustache.

3. The girls might somewhat ludicrously costume in precisely the same way. Other alternatives might maybe be to dress as Marie Antoinette or as a French maid.

4. Think about attempting to make your French party place seem like a usual French cafe, if you have seen the film Amelie then you’ll know what i mean. This ought to be an opportunity intended for chatting to your buddies so get in loads of wood furniture in addition to chairs.

5. You could also adorn the room with little and great French flags or maybe a French tricolour on top of a stick.

6. Play French cafe tunes to provide the ambiance of being in a real French cafe.

7. Consider hiring a real French chef to create lovely fare and maybe give a talk on French cheese or wine. This of course will be budget dependant.

8. If you’ve a budget you could employ a French mime performer. The French are especially keen on street performers, you could employ one of those guys who paints himself gold and stands motionless all day long.

You should have a peep at additional French Party Ideas to help enable yourself to throw the best gathering achievable. We have a lot of more French Party Ideas you can think about in order to inspire you for your occasion.

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Holding a French party theme will be an treat your company will find unique. It the one opportunity you have to costume up as a countries stereotypes and poke fun, whilst enjoying their delicious wine and food. I hope you get pleasure from the organizing process, to help you out here are a quantity of French party theme ideas.

1. First things first, you ought to be innovative with your invites to get everyone in the mood. I recommend you mail out your invitations on small French flags or other celebrated emblems of France like cut outs of the Eiffel Tower or Champs Elysees!

2. One more thought would be to invite your friends using Facebook. Make a group and invite everybody you desire. This way you can as well beautify your page with pictures and answer any inquiries your buddies may have via the wall. Also, as soon as your buddies observe that quite a few will be present it will encourage others to attend.

3. The costumes are an necessary part to any theme party. I recommend you poke soft fun at the French stereotypes by donning a black and white horizontal stripy pullover, an onion necklace and beret. You might go a week without shaving otherwise grow a moustache to accompany the look.

4. The amusing thing is, the women can outfit as exactly the same thing, minus the non shaving part. As an alternative think about Marie Antoinette or a French maid.

5. Play French style cafe songs to generate the ambiance of being in a genuine cafe of France.

6. Employ a French mime artist or street performer if you have a budget.

7. The essence of this type of a party though should be the foodstuff and wine. Obtain plenty of both red and white, with a different glass for each per guests. If you have a superior budget, you might hire a French cook to take care of this part for you.

I hope you take pleasure in holding your French Party Theme and i expect this article has given you some suggestions. I as well suggest you get a peep at extra French Party Theme Ideas to help you throw an incredible party.

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Public holidays in France are many under different categories, namely those falling under the norms of their religion and those that are non-religious in character, declared to celebrate a historic event connected with the country of France.

Public holidays are known as Jours Feries in France and they are celebrated in different ways as according to the nature of the holiday and the region where it is declared. Schools and offices remain closed on public holidays in France along with museums and shops but cinemas and restaurants are kept open.

The French tend to club their holidays and make them a four day unit if a holiday occurs on a Tuesday or a Thursday. They take the in between off before the weekend. This is a peculiar feature of the public holidays in France.

Aside from the whole nation of France celebrating national public holidays, there are regional holidays declared in different regions of France in accordance with the festivals conducted there.

Two main public holidays are celebrated in France throughout the winter time; Christmas and New Years Day, which fall on the 25th December and January 1st respectively. Celebrations for Christmas and New Years Day are much the same to those held in most other countries. Boxing Day, which is on the 26th of December, is not a public holiday in France; still, it is celebrated in the Alsace region of France where almost all businesses stay closed.

Easter is a public holiday in France and it falls during the last week of March or in the first week of April. Many Easter related holidays are declared in the later part of the year. Good Friday is not announced a public holiday in France but it is practically so in Alsace where people tend to take a day off.

Ascension Thursday which occurs precisely 40 days after Easter is celebrated in the end of May and is a public holiday in France. Pentecost and Whit Monday follow Easter and they are celebrated on the 7th Sunday and Monday respectively after Easter and are declared public holidays with religious nature attached to them.

The most wide-known public holiday in France is the Bastille Day or the National Day as it is celebrated in each and every French speaking country with people taking delight on the streets by displaying fireworks at night. It takes place on the 14th of July that marks the act of a public storm into the Bastille Prison in Paris in the year 1789. This consequently laid the foundation for the French Revolution.

November 1st is All Saints Day, a public holiday in France with Catholic roots. November 11th is a public holiday in France as it marks the day Armistice was signed at the end of the First World War.

Public holidays in France occur throughout the year for a variety of reasons. If you want to try the sumptuous French food of Provence click on the hyperlinks.

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Provence has some of the best French regional food in France. Provence, which is situated in the south of France, enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine which in turn works on agriculture in the region and absolutely the food of Provence.

The food items of Provence are made chiefly with the addition of garlic, tomatoes and olive oil in excess. A French menu reading ‘a la provenciale’ indicates that the item has included garlic and seasoned tomato essence.

Aubergine, courgettes and onions as well as squash are the vegetables used in the food items of Provence. These vegetables are available in plenty in Provence.

Ratatouille is certainly one of the most delicious food items from Provence. It is a stew comprising of tomatoes, green herbs, green peppers, eggplant and garlic.

Often the food of Provence is accompanied by a particular regionally prepared sauce called aioli, which is a mix of mayonnaise and freshly crushed garlic spread on vegetables like asparagus as well as eggs and cod fish. Apart from that, people of Provence like to eat their vegetables by dipping them in anchovy paste.

The most commonly preferred food in Provence is the soup known as Bouillabaisse which is culled out of three varieties of fish and which is prepared in an onion-saffron-tomato-herb broth. The herbs used in the preparation are chiefly thyme, sage and bay leaf.

Bouillabaisse is relished as the chief food item although it is a soup in Provence. It is mostly served with toast and spicy sauce known as rouile. Marseille sells the best bouillabaisse in Provence.

Another favourite food of Provence which is supplied as a starter is soupe au pistou. This food consists of vegetables, noodles, beans and basel.

A popular food in Provence eaten during the winter season is beef stew supplied with cold pate. Although not famous for its dairy produce like the regional French food of Normandy, Provence does serve excellent goat’s cheese.

The cuisine of Provence is definitiely one of the more celebrated French regional cuisines. If you want to know how to get there on public transport, check our page on travelling by train in France.

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Holiday traditions in French life do differ from our own in many ways. The French really enjoy and savor the holiday seasons and take time to spend them with loved ones and family.

Easter in France is taken seriously, especially by those who have dedicated Catholic faith. The bells of all French Catholic Churches do no ring for three days leading up to Easter Sunday. They all them chime and people turn to their neighbors and loved ones and hug as the music from the bells ring out.

Instead of little fuzzy bunny that brings the children eggs and candy, the French children believe in the magic of the Flying Bells. They leave three days before the Easter holiday and return on Easter Sunday bringing eggs of chocolate throughout the towns and hiding them in the gardens and households for the kids to find.

The Christmas holiday is a wonderful time in France. They hold on to age old traditions from centuries ago and incorporate those into their own celebrations. Santa Claus is called by a different name here it is Pere Noel. Children leave their shoes by the fireplace with care instead of their stockings dreaming they will be filled with toys and goodies on Christmas morning.

Trees are not decorated as we do here in the states. They are done up in lovely candies and mixed nuts. Dinners are always served on Christmas Eve night after the Christmas Mass is over. The meal can have delicious recipes from chicken, goose, capon, turkey and a white pudding.

There is also another holiday in France that is in commemoration of the Paris prison called the Bastille being attacked by many unhappy townspeople who did not like the things that went on at this horrible place.

Fireworks can be seen all over the towns on Bastille Day and last until late night. People also have dances within the streets and love parades of all kinds to celebrate this day.

Tradition is for the groom to smash the top of a bottle of champagne or wine with a saber made just for such events. Napoleon has some ties to the origination of this.

The troops of Napoleons armies would ask ladies to hold their own bottles skyward and then lop off the necks with their sabers and drink and feast afterwards. What fun they had then. We smartened up quite a bit since then and decided that was not a very safe way of doing it.

French life holds traditions steadfast in all of their celebrations and also incorporate the importance of spending quality time with loved ones and friends to share in the seasons meaning and joy. The french employers allow each person a total of 5 weeks during a one year period off for specifically celebrating the holiday seasons. This gives them time throughout the year to enjoy their families and especially the ones who visit maybe only once every season.

Everybody feels they want have the French Life. If you feel you want to learn a little more about Living in France, you shall see that there are a lot of places where you can get more info.

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France is the world leader in tourism and lots of people would agree that it is a most attractive country. But vacations can be very different from actually residing somewhere. However, although money is still a difficult area for many of us, it doesn’t seem to have stopped people leaving the U.K. to experience living in France.

The English person’s most easily accessible part of “abroad”, France is a truly beautiful country with very varied landscapes and cultures. It’s sometimes referred to as being like the England of the 1950′s, but this isn’t the whole story. It’s now a very modern country with its huge telecommunications industry and wide internet usage.

British educational policies change a lot on language learning, but there are still many who get at least a taster of French at school and it’s a popular university subject. On the whole, however, we have a poor reputation for our language skills in a world where English is widely used as the means of communication.

Some British people think that when you’re living in France you automatically acquire the language. Must be something in the water! Many older French people never studied English at school and so don’t understand our difficulties in learning a second language. They may regard us as rather unintelligent if we can’t communicate effectively and think that we really are not very bright about every other part of life.

It’s vital to make plans to learn to communicate in French. This isn’t about learning verb conjugations or lists of prepositions; it’s about understanding and using everyday vocabulary and phrases. The more you learn of these and some of the “etiquette” of France (such as greetings as you enter a shop, etc), the more confident you’ll become about learning and using others. Confidence is important and enables you to take some risks and to improve constantly. It will certainly get a good reception from the French who applaud attempts to learn their language.

Successful living in France should be certain if you make positive efforts to gain the language.

Try not to be self-conscious when using French. Not necessarily simple to do, but it will make you more confident in your communication and so you’ll learn faster.

French people will be happy to help English speakers who make efforts (via gestures, sketches and other creative methods) and will usually aid them to improve their vocabulary with appropriate words and phrases.

For those who don’t have this self-confidence, it may be a case of forcing yourself on one occasion and then afterwards reflecting on the situation and what you learned from it. You then know whether to repeat the method next time or to slightly change it. It helps if you have an important reason for an exchange in French. When I arrived here my two children had to go to collge and I knew I (who previously on holidays in France had got the children to ask for things in shops) had to force myself for their sakes, to prepare for parents’ nights.

Since the French are only human, there will be times when the response is less than friendly. Just remind yourself that it’s their problem, not yours. You’re the one making great effort which is to your credit, so carry on to the next situation where you’ll hopefully get your just reward.

With your good intentions and willingness to work, what tools are available to help you improve your French?

There are a growing variety of methods; there are numerous tapes and CDs available with written support; there are some good free on-line courses, e.g. the BBC, Radio France Internationale; there are distance learning courses that you pay for; there are telephone teachers who may also use e-mail; there are traditional books.

It’s quite usual to employ a personal teacher to come to your home to help with a subject like French – a good option if you prefer not to start in group classes which are also available in many places.

Do think about the methods with which you feel most comfortable and satisfying. You’ll then have a better chance of quick progress.

It really is down to your own willpower and persistence to benefit in full from the ways you choose to learn French. Having a working knowledge of the language is a great base for living in France.

French Life and the benefits of Life in France have been featured in magazine articles the world over. To get a first hand account of Living in France take a look at Amanda Lawrence’s new blog at www.frenchvie.com. Lots of real life stories and anecdotes from the Quercy. It takes you right there – you’ll never want to leave. Don’t forget to register for her free newsletter. Author of White Stone Black Wine.

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