Until the 1970s, Carignan was one of the main grapes of Provence, blended with Grenache and Cinsault to make classic Provençal red and rosé wines. Grenache provided the fruit and sugar, Cinsault the charm and floral notes, Carignan the tannin and acidity. Read the rest of Elizabeth’s post on Provençal …

By Chrissie The wait is over! The first edition of Rivini, the International Wine Festival of the Riviera, takes place this weekend at Villa Eva, just across the border in Latte, conveniently located between Menton and Ventimiglia on the Ligurian coast. Explore this Post Via:: The Riviera Grapevine         

Last week we went on a road trip, down past the Camargue and the coastal towns of Sète and Marseillan, where Provence meets France’s other Mediterranean coast, the Langudoc-Rousillon. As we left the Alpes-Maritimes and crossed through the Var    

Wine is a subject with simply too many choices and far too many variables for me to feel that I have conquered. However, I certainly can appreciate the dedication, passion and hard work that it takes to become a Master of Wine (MW). So, I am thrilled to introduce Elizabeth …

Most of us love the idea of learning more about wine. Even the smallest bit of wine knowledge impresses; it enables party tricks such as tackling a restaurant wine list with confidence or recommending a suitable wine pairing to match to your meal with your friends. The question is, where to …

Château Pesquié is Provencal postcard perfection, with the soaring limestone summit of Mont Ventoux as a backdrop and a leafy canopy of plane trees shading the bastide’s entrance. The Provencal name pesquié is a derivative of the Latin “pescarium” meaning fishpond or basin. This region may be one of the …

Five Tips to Make the Most of It The Acropolis is the place to be this weekend! The Nice Acropolis, to be precise. I’m very excited! One of the region’s best wine events just happens to be on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and is a great way to kick start …

This month I went back to school … to wine school. Now, I have little regrets about my university days, but if I had to name one it would be my lack of involvement in university life. I was busy juggling full-time study with a part-time job, saving for my next …

Serious athletes often push their physical boundaries to new extremes; climbing higher mountains, running longer distances, or entering Navy Seal inspired team-relays on muddy courses… Now, serious wine buffs can compete too! Connoisseurs who are looking to close their personal “wine gap” by moving beyond buying familiar labels and ‘trusted’ …

I’m getting in early with an event to mark in your 2015 diary. The Riviera now has its very own international wine festival, Rivini! The brainchild of Massimo Sacco, Chef Sommelier at the Fairmont Monte Carlo and Bradley Mitton, the Riviera’s New World wine expert, the first edition of Rivini …