The Burgundy wineries were also unsettled by the fact that they couldn't anymore blend their Pinot with the Gamay of Chenas, so the AOC let a small window open : the Passetoutgrain, which is maybe the sole Burgundy wine where you blend Pinot with Gamay.

I must admit, that like many, my own early uninspiring experiences of insipid Beaujolais Nouveau did little to spark my interest in the variety. When delving deeper into the more complex crus of the region, however, I got hooked on the grape from...

This is why Champagne goes so well with rich dishes, including fried foods. The texture and, frequently, the acidity of sparkling wines scrub your palate, refreshing it for the next bite. Light-bodied reds are great cross-over wines, suitable for meat,...

Living for twenty years in a Swiss winemaking village, I can attest that at least our locally consumed wines have gotten dramatically better. When we first arrived in this region not far from Beaujolais, the Gamay and Chasselas tasted like something...

Very light ruby garnet color. At first the nose displayed a fair amount of barnyardy earthiness, but with air the earthiness receded and the wine showed off tangy grapey-crisp cherry scents with an earthiness that reminded me of river stones. Barely...

But their nouveau style, sold with great fanfare on the third Thursday in November, is viewed by most as a curiosity, others as a marketing stunt and a few as a joke. So hanging your hat on making Napa Valley Gamay Nouveau was not the best business plan.