Vin de France is the most basic level of quality for wines from France. These are generally uncomplicated everyday drinks - most often blends, but perhaps also Varietal wines based on a well-known Grape variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Wines from France are those that do not meet the criteria stipulated by the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) laws (see information on French wine labels). This may be because the vineyards are outside the delimited production areas or because the grape varieties or winemaking techniques used do not conform to the rules of the local appellations.
Although there are some notable exceptions to the rule, most Vin de France wines are produced from high-yielding vines in the South of France (particularly Languedoc-Roussillon), most often from widely planted traditional grape varieties such as Carignan or Merlot. These are light, Fruity wines, intended for early consumption. Many of the wines of France are "bag-in-box" or "box wine" wines, as the economies of scale of cheaper packaging are an attractive option for producers and consumers. There are, however, wines from France of exceptional interest and quality.
Earlier this month, The House Of Angostura (well known for its ubiquitous brand of cocktail bitters) unveiled Zenith, the latest in a line of ultra premium rums in its Private Cask Collection series. The release brings together different rum styles from two of Trinidad and Tobago’s most distinguished distilleries: both the namesake Angostura distillery and the now legendary Caroni distillery, which closed its doors forever in 2003. Aged in charred American ex-bourbon oak casks, Zenith comprises ...
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking up at some terraced vineyards in St-Joseph with an Australian friend. He remarked that he’d never seen a steep vineyard like this in his home country. Who could afford to rip out the trees, build the access roads, construct the terraces, and plant the vines, without being certain beforehand that the resulting wine could be sold at prices high enough to recoup the investment? It might not be the most romantic way of looking at it. But that’s the modern reality ...
Only 3,600 bottles of Tobermory 24 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish will be available, following last year’s release of a 23-year-old Hebridean Series single malt from the same batch. Bottled at 52.5% abv, Tobermory 24 has spent the last nine years in Oloroso Sherry casks sourced from González Byass. The series is part of a new focus on aged Tobermory releases under Brendan McCarron, master distiller for parent company Distell, master blender Julieann Fernandez and Tobermory manager Cara Gilbert, 28 ...