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Tour France: 5 Tips for Holiday Wine & Cheeses Combos
5 Special French Wine & Cheese Pairings for the Holidays
There are so many great French cheeses, and so many great French wines. It's almost too much to contemplate. However, we decided to profile the ones you are less likely to know about, and which, not coincidentally, go best with our favorite wines --those wines being Burgundy whites and reds, Provencal roses, Chateauneuf du Pape reds (and whites), and Champagne....(The pairings also have a seasonal element to them. The first and second pairing are ones we prefer over the holidays, while the 3rd is a fall favorite. The fourth reminds us of Provence in the spring and summer. And the 5th is a fall and winter treat to have anywhere!)1. Chaource: Chaource is a creamy cow's milk cheese with a bloomy rind that is made in both Champagne and Burgundy. This cheese has been made since the 14th century. When ripe it gets extra creamy and almost liquid. It's a great cheese for those who like creamy cow's milk cheeses and want something with a rich, balanced flavor. Pair it with Champagne --which is a wonderful combination --the creamy rich cheese and the sparkling wine. Or pair it with a Chablis. The ideal way to have this cheese is after a wonderful roasted Turbot with beurre blanc. Drink with Champagne --preferably in Champagne or Paris , in nice chilly weather over the holidays!2. Comte: Comte is a pressed cooked cow's milk cheese. The young ones are fruity with a softer, pliant texture. The older ones are crystalized and have a stronger more sharp flavor. And if you find one that has been properly aged, it's an unbelievably delicious cheese. The flavor of a great Comte is quite complex and hits you in different places on your palate. We have been lucky enough to find a cheese monger in Paris, who, over the holidays, carries a 48 month old "holiday" Comte that is truly remarkable with a full and deep complex flavor and crystallization that adds crunch and interest. It's a remarkable find. This wine goes well with either a very light red (Beaujolais) or a very rich white (a full, rich, oak, Burgundy) in my opinion.
3. Epoisses: Is a stinky (really) raw cow's milk cheese that has been washed while aging in a Marc de Bourgogne (a form of brandy from Burgundy). It is amazing. Because it is a raw milk cheese, you can only buy it in the US if aged more than 60 days. Thus, the best Epoisses is still found in Burgundy. Many people will tell you to pair this cheese with a red wine, since it is strong. However, I think the best pairing for this cheese is a white Burgundy. A full, round, buttery one. Try a Meursault Les Charmes, 1ere cru. Or for more minerality, a Puligny Montrachet. And, do try it in France if you can! Every time we go to Burgundy, I make sure to have this cheese with a wine that fits this profile. We are never disappointed by this combination.4. Banon: This is our absolute favorite Provencal cheese! It is primarily made of goat's milk which is washed in a marc (from Provence) and then wrapped in Chestnut leaves that are tied with raffia. Legend has it that it has been made since the first century A.D. This goes nicely with the scenery in Provence, which is also that old! When it is younger it has a creamy, slightly crumbly texture and a mild flavor. As it ages, it becomes creamier and runny. Both versions are delicious. This cheese pairs nicely (bien sur) with a Provencal rose. Also, though a crisp, slightly sweet white works. This cheese is best served with fruit before dessert, but is also good on a green salad as a starter or light lunch. We have a special cheesemonger we go to in one of the area markets who sells Banon "bien fait" (well aged and runny) and "moins fait" (creamy and younger) --at an astoundingly reasonable price. People line up 10-20 deep at the market just for her cheeses. They are Bliss!
5. Roquefort: Is a sheep's milk cheese aged in caves with a strong flavor profile. It can be paired with a variety of wines. I like it with a Chateauneuf du Pape or other Rhone red. The full bodied reds compliment and stand up to the cheese. Of course, you can also have this with a port or other slightly sweet drink at the finish of a meal. Think about Roquefort served with roasted pears or figs --or even a fig confit -- slightly sweet fruit breads or oat crackers and port. Yum. Wonderful varieties of Roquefort can be found in the U.S. Pair it as we did below, with a Chateauneuf du Pape, Beaurenard 2007! Wow.
Have a Blissful Holiday Season!A Bientot,Wendy
Tour France with a "friend" Not on a Bus!
Tour France with a group of friends, not on a bus. Bus trips and people with banners and schedules really don't give you a feel for a place --nor do they give you a good time and a relaxing but informative experience.Look at the below. Tell me what you think!
A Perfect Day in Provence with "Insider Access"
Her private work space!
A special meal was prepared for everyone. Some had a duck confit. Some had orange and fennel salad with a fish wrapped in parchment.
Our fabulous host came to see us off!
Wine & Cheese Pairing: 2 Spots Left!
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7 Chocolate and French Wine Pairings for Valentines!
Chocolate and Wine....Much like wine, chocolate is harvested, fermented, liquified and "made" into the final product. The "terroir" and the "maker" bring much to the final product.Cocoa grows near the equator, and the heat and type of plant (like wine) create distinct flavor profiles. Cocoa beans are harvested and then fermented. They are dried and processed and eventually ground, roasted and broken down. Finally, they go through a process called "conching", which is akin to constant kneading--and determines the texture of the chocolate. At this point the chocolate is then used as a raw product for artisans and large manufacturers to make their bars, ganaches, clusters and other candies.
Each manufacturer adds his/her own special mixture of ingredients --vanilla, sugar, cream, spice, nuts. Different cultures tend to produce similarly styled chocolates. American chocolates tend to be sweeter, less pure (i.e. milk v. dark) and larger. Belgian and French tend to use much less sugar, rely on thinner more delicate shells for their filled chocolates, use pure creams in the centers (not 'creamy' sugar fillings), and produce higher percentages of purer (i.e. more dark and less milk) chocolate.This blog is going to focus on Pairing French Wine and Belgian or French Chocolate, of course!Here are 7 tips and pairing suggestions to sweeten your Valentine's Day at home or abroad. 1. Pair Champagne with chocolates. Especially with lighter less rich chocolates, or fresh filled Neuhaus creams. Also, this pairs well with chocolate fruit combinations.
2. Pair a French Burgundy (Pinot Noir) with mild, but rich dark chocolates, and dark chocolates with mild spice, roasted nuts or ripe berry fruits. So, consider chocolates with cardamom, hazelnut or dark cherries for these wines.
3. Pair Rhone wines, such as a Chateauneuf du Pape (and other Grenache heavy wines) or wines with rich spicy flavor and high tannins with highly spiced complex chocolates that can match the power of the wine. So, consider chocolate and chili pepper or chocolate with pink peppercorns or strong tea flavors and spice mixtures as good combinations.
4. For purists, wanting to experience the depth of one flavor, use a single origin chocolate with a single grape wine. You can focus on the subtly of each more easily.5. Pair a dessert wine, we prefer a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, with a salted chocolate or salted caramel chocolate. Make sure you use a rich full flavored deep chocolate. Not a milk chocolate.6. Have a Cognac with a chocolate --either complement it with a cognac flavored truffle or find a very low sugar, almost pure, dark chocolate.
7. Come with Bliss Travels where we do custom pairings and tastings of these things all over France, and in Brussels! At all the best spots! That's why we call it Bliss!
Burgundy Wine Trip Updates
We are planning our twice annual, super exclusive, insider, trip to Burgundy for April and September. What could be better than Spring and Harvest? We note that Burgundy wines are red hot right now, flying off the shelves. So, if you like Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, this is the region for you!Here's a taste of Bliss in Burgundy:Below is the private lounge we use for our breakfasts, and an afternoon aperitif. There are only 4 rooms in this stunning private property.
Below is the living area for one of the 4 rooms (2 of which are suites)
One of the baths:
And one of the 2 non suite rooms. Notice the original antiques and art!
After you've relaxed, we visit vineyards and taste wines. The tastings are private and custom.Visit the centuries old cellars of a winemaker for a private barrel tasting.
Have a private wine tasting of premier cru and grand cru Burgundy wines by candle light
Visit the famous villages, markets and winemaker's of the region.
Then, finish in Paris, the City of Lights for fine dining, custom menus and special experiences
Contact us now to be part of this very small, special trip. wendy@blisstravels.comA Bientôt,Wendy JaegerOwner, Bliss Travels609 462 6213
Springtime in Provence, Paris, and Burgundy Too!
Some photos from last April and May. Our trips to Burgundy, Paris and Provence...A picture is worth 1000 words...or maybe more! I know it was Bliss!
We visited a beautiful farm to pick herbs, have a cooking lesson (Provencal cuisine of course) and photograph everything that was in bloom!
- Anthony Bianciella, our amazing photographer, makes the trip even more fun!
Except...luxurious original appointments in our private Burgundy property. Only 4 rooms --and our 7 guests adored being spoiled, thoroughly!Murano chandeliers, original antiques...
- and specially arranged private wine tours. This was a happy group!
- No lines. No buses. We did it all custom and private!
A bientôt! See you all soon....And again! It was Bliss!
Fall...Along the Mediterranean
Yes, jousting is still possible to watch. Bet you wanted to know how popular this Medeival sport really was. We were pretty surprised to see this. But, it does fit with the mood along the coast, where there are games and performances, no matter what the season.
Wine tasting in our favorite "cave". Trying the local whites.
Dinner in a private room, overlooking the Mediterranean cliffs at sunset.
Some of the dining choices...Mussels along the Med are often paired with wonderful sauces. This had a tomato, onion, and a touch of cream.
Rascasse -- a fish found only in the Mediterreanean.
A nice walk after a satisfying dinner.
calm and quiet after the summer high season.
cafe lounging before our walk around the cliffs.
It was a beautiful, fall day...wind was blowing, but that made the sky very blue and the temperatures cool enough to walk all afternoon.
Wine Tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape
Our first day was in Chateauneuf du Pape, where it's all about Grenache! That's the grape that is used the most in wines from Chateauneuf du Pape. (Though it's possible to use up to 13 grapes in the wine.) We tried pure grenache as well as wines with various combinations....And tasted them it in an ancient cave (with Roman ruins) and a beautiful chateau.
Photography was hard to resist!
Now for three days in the Luberon! It's simply the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
A private "welcome" dinner prepared just for us. And off to bed for a restful night in a Medieval village.
7 "Musts" for the Ultimate Wine Tasting in Burgundy
Want to have the "ultimate" experience in Burgundy, tasting wines and visiting vineyards? Who doesn't! Here are some tried and true tips for ensuring your trip is over the top fabulous!
1. Location, Location, Location! Experience the "terroir". Find someone to take you around and "introduce you" to the various parcels of land. You know that fabulous Chardonnay you love? The one from "Les Charmes" (perhaps). Well, visit that plot. See where it's grown. It's all about real estate. 
2. Think Small! Some of the best vineyards, and best wine production in Burgundy is from small parcels of land. Just cause it's tiny and just cause you haven't heard of it means nothing. Good things often come from small packages!3. Timing is everything! Yep, that's right. The year's very important. And not just because it might be a "good" or a "bad" year. It's more complicated than that. A wine from one year might be fabulous and open immediately. A wine from another year might be fabulous (and open) 10 years later. Knowing the year of your wine and when to open that wine, is very important.4. Talk to the winemaker. You must find a wine maker to take you through his or her cellars and discuss their philosophy and methods. Nothing (and I mean nothing) beats that! If you don't have any personal connections (and let's face it, most of us don't) then find someone who does. Do you have a friend in the business? Can you join someone who's already doing this? Whatever it takes, as the saying goes, "just do it"!
5. It's all about You! Trust yourself. Often people are bamboozled by the expert or the name. You're the one drinking the wine. So, you are the one who has to like it. Do a blind tasting so that you're not overly influenced by extraneous factors. You'll be surprised by how much you know and how consistent your taste really is.
6. Learn to Read a Label. It's more than art. Each word has a reason, and helps you identify the wine. It includes things like vineyard, ranking, year, winemaker etc. Can you imagine how you might choose a wine if there was no label? Well, that's what you're doing when you don't know how to read the label! Information is power!
7. Relax. Everyone is just too intense about wine. It's meant to be enjoyed. So, enjoy yourselfWant to learn more about our photos or a trip to Burgundy visit www.blisstravels.com. Or contact wendy@blisstravels.com.
7 Easy Steps to a Bliss-ful Vacation in France!
1. Pack Light! It's hard to be adventurous when you're bogged down. Plus, everything's smaller in France (elevators, car trunks, closets...). And, the walks are longer. You can't catch a train on the fly if you're lugging around everything you own!
2.Think local! Sure, you should read some guide books or talk to a travel pro about what to see, but don't miss out on the "real" sites by keeping your head in the book. Look up! Get off the main arteries and find local haunts and authentic experiences.3. Talk it up! Find someone who has actually (and recently) been to France. Ask them where they went and what they liked and why!4. Eat authentically! Before picking a restaurant, walk the area. Don't go before 8pm (the start of the French dinner hour). Look and listen. Read menus. Avoid menus with long lists of dishes and translations into many languages. Those places are for tourists. Look for small menus, specialty places and market fresh blackboard specials. Then listen to the patrons (if there aren't any patrons, keep walking). Are many of the diners speaking French or are they tourists? The best food and the best deals are found in places that specialize in market fresh meals designed for locals.
5. Drink local wines! Don't order a bottle just because you recognize the name. Once upon a time, food was local, as was wine. They matched perfectly because of this. Order what's local to match your market fresh meal. That might mean ordering a carafe of local wine or a bottle from a nearby vineyard.6. Travel "off the beaten track"! Find towns and villages that aren't on the major tour routes. Spend some time wandering through their streets, sipping a drink at the local cafe, or watching the locals play "boules". Really soak in the experience of being in France.
7.Slow Down! Some Americans arrive wanting to go, go, go! They want to grab a quick sandwich at lunch so they can visit more sites, or they want to start each day at 7am so they can pack it all in. But life in France has a different rhythm. Many businesses don't open until 9-10am (especially in the countryside), and most businesses close for a couple hours during lunch. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time in France. Linger over your meals. Take an aimless stroll after lunch. And try to mimic the rhythm of a real French day. After all, you traveled many thousands of miles to be there!For a great selection of French travel off the beaten track trips, visit www.blisstravels.com or send me an email at wendy@blisstravels.com.