48 posts
behind the cork
Bouvet Excellence Brut Rosé NV ($19.99) Since 1851, Bouvet Ladubay, in the Loire Valley, has been one of France’s greatest producers of méthode traditionnelle (naturally fermented in the bottle) sparkling wine. Founded in 1851 by Etienne Bouvet an...
Read more →
tour of grapes
Merlot 🍷 Merlot (murr-low) originated from the Bordeaux region of France. Its name is derived from merle, the French word for blackbird, likely due to the grape’s deep color. Modern DNA profiling proves Merlot is a natural cross between Cabernet Fr...
Read more →
behind the cork
2025 Château d’Aqueria Tavel Rosé ($25) Château d’Aqueria is the largest estate of Tavel. It has been making wines in Tavel since the end of the 16th century. While Tavel is a specific wine region in France, the region only makes one highly distinc...
Read more →
tour of grapes
Marsanne 🥂 Marsanne (mar-shon) is a white wine grape from France that has its origins in the Northern Rhône Valley. The grape’s cultivation was first recorded in the 16th century. It was formally documented as a distinct varietal in 1781, establish...
Read more →
behind the cork
2025 Chateau La Nerthe Les Cassagnes Rosé ($22.99) The first deed attesting to the existence of Château La Nerthe was signed on November 25, 1590, with its acquisition by the Tulle de Villefranche family. It was then a country house known as the Gra...
Read more →
tour of grapes
Malbec 🍷 Malbec’s roots trace back to southwestern France, where it has been cultivated for over a thousand years. In the rugged Cahors region, it goes by many names — Côt, Auxerrois, or Pressac — and produces famously dark, tannic wines that the lo...
Read more →