Tagged with "Loire valley"

I first learnt about sparkling wine in the 1980’s. Vintage fizz was from a single year and non-vintage was from several years.

It seems pertinent (as we countdown to Beaujolais Nouveau) to talk a bit about Gamay. It’s famous in Beaujolais but also grown in the Loire.

A short localised hail storm can wipe out a year’s harvest in 15 minutes. As the hailstones batter the vines, the foliage is stripped off.

Who doesn’t love a rich, smooth chocolate mousse? This vegan recipe really hits the spot with everyone and it’s incredibly simple to make.

You walk into a winery and the sound of fermentation fills your ears as the barrels bubble away turning ripe grape juice into wine.

Yesterday we went to see Arnaud Herivault of Domaine d’Orfeuilles in the Vouvray appellation. He was preparing preparation 501.

Walk into any cellar in the Loire valley during harvest time and the chances are you’ll see wooden barrels with lots of chalk scribbles on the side.

We’re particularly fond of soft cheeses. The smellier the better for us. Soumaintrain certainly ticks all the boxes.

Hail damage is ghastly. It’s random, localised and destructive and can wipe out a crop in minutes. That’s what happened here last week.

Goat’s cheeses are at their best at the moment and this little cheese that we bought yesterday at France Fromages in Tours is wonderful.

Can you believe it? Once again the temperatures dipped below zero in the early hours of this morning around Vouvray.

Did you know that freshly grated coconut freezes brilliantly? I’ve had a bag lurking in the back of the freezer for ages.