Category: French Wines

  • Pouring Champagne

    Sparkling Wines Beyond Champagne and Prosecco

    When it comes to celebratory beverages, sparkling wines often take center stage. Whether you're enjoying a glass at a wedding, serving up some drinks at a party, or popping a bottle to celebrate New Years - sparkling wines are always the accepted go-to.

    The effervescent bubbles, crisp acidity, and refreshing taste make them a perfect choice for special occasions, or simply for indulging in a glass of bubbly on a sunny afternoon to make it a bit more of a special day. While Champagne and Prosecco are without doubt both the most well-known, and most widely consumed, sparkling wines, there is a whole world of sparkling wines beyond these two iconic regions.  Continue reading

  • Freshly aerated Cabernet Sauvignon

    What is the best Cabernet Sauvignon?

    Cabernet Sauvignon is the world's most popular red wine grape, formed as a cross from Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc, both native originally to France. But when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon, what is the best?

    A simple question, with a complex answer, for one very simple reason - price! To help you find the best option, we've broken down some different Cabernet Sauvignon bottles at an array of price points, so you'll be able to find one which perfectly fits your price range. Continue reading

  • Monsigny Champagne No III

    Monsigny Champagne No III Brut (Aldi) Review

    When we heard Aldi were releasing more of the Monsigny Champagne, we had to get a bottle and see if it still lives up to the hype. Aldi have a reputation of selecting wonderful cheap, and very affordable, champagnes. Around holiday periods, they'll often put a lot of thought into finding a good champagne for bulk purchase, so when they went for Monsigny Champagne again, we decided we had to get a crate in the FineWineMaster office and see if it still lives up to the hype. Continue reading

  • French vineyard

    French Red Wines for Absolute Beginners

    France is arguably the home of wine on the world stage. With hundreds of famous vineyards, and a rich history of viniculture, it's hard to find somewhere more synonymous with the world of wine than France.

    Here, we introduce you to the most common red wine varieties in France - their history, their origins, their tastes. Read ahead! Continue reading

  • Merlot Grapes

    Merlot Wine Guide – All you need to know

    Merlot is a black-skinned berry that is as fleshy as it is juicy, and that gives delicious red wine. Fun is always guaranteed with Merlot, no matter who is throwing the party. There are five noble grape varieties in Bordeaux, and Merlot is one of them.

    Currently, Merlot is grown on virtually all continents where there are vineyards. Winemakers often like to blend Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon to balance out Cabernet's mouth-drying tannins. Continue reading

  • Champagne Glasses

    Introductory Guide to Sparkling Wines from Around the World

    It’s easy to follow your habits and choose Champagne whenever searching for some bubbles. It is a tried-and-true choice that never goes out of fashion, at least not until the present time.

    Champagne is admired all over the world, and for a good reason. However, Champagne doesn't hold a monopoly over sparkling wines. So yes, it is the most popular choice, but there are so many fantastic sparkling wines out there! Continue reading

  • Charles de Courance Brut Rose Thumbnail

    Chateau Champagnes – Charles de Courance Brut Rosé

    Next up in our Chateau Champagnes review series, we're going to be tasting the Rosé version of the Charles de Courance Brut Champagne we've previously tried. Like the standard Brut, at under €20, it's also on the cheaper side, but since we're trying these in France we'll allow a healthy discount on international prices... Continue reading

  • Mendoza vineyards

    History of Malbec Wine

    Malbec wasn’t a known name until some two decades ago when Argentina introduced it to the world. It was in the late 1990s when affordable Argentinian Malbec showed on the European and North American markets. Until then, the Australian Shiraz was the undisputed king of inexpensive, yet very popular, easy-drinking red wines.

    Malbec was an immediate game-changer and soon started making an impact on that part of the wine market. Its sudden rise was attributed to the fact that many wine lovers have already tried French versions labeled as Cahors or Bordeaux. Continue reading