Latest news with #Rhône
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
The best red wines to enjoy with your barbecue foods this summer, from £10
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more We're deep into barbecue season and, while I reach for rosé or a chillable red during the day, in the evening I like something with a bit more depth and body. Grilled meat brings out all those smoky notes that demand a red with oomph – think mature Rioja, a plush Bordeaux blend, Rhône red or a Cabernet Franc; wines striking that delicious balance between fruit and savoury and hold their own beside the flames. Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Les Traverses Ventoux 2023 (14%), £10.95, I'm a longtime fan of this blend from Mont Ventoux (the brutal Tour de France climb) with notes of wild berry fruit and herbs. £10.95 Shop
Times
5 days ago
- Times
Why we're still in love with French wines
French wine has always been popular on these shores and we are prepared to pay a lot more for it — upwards of £9 a bottle. Compare that to the pathetic average we pay for a bottle of Italy's best, just £6.53, while Australia's not much better at £6.62. It's all down to centuries of French natural selection: planting the right grapes in the right patch of dirt on the right slope and then, care of endless trial and error, vinifying the results to get the very best from the vines. It's this sacred notion of terroir, or sense of place, enshrined in the appellation laws of France, that has kept the country ahead of its competitors. The familiarity our nearest wine-producing neighbour's wines, styles and grapes is another big draw. At the top end, most wine drinkers know what they can expect from the classic French regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône. Indeed, with more great wines made in France than anywhere else in the world, there will always be drinkers for whom no other country's wines will do. Equally, down at the everyday drinking level, most of us know what a simple yet sparky French sauvignon should taste like, or a plump Gallic merlot, or citrussy chardonnay. Alongside rejuvenating old vineyards and planting new ones, a more polished, restrained yet experimental era of French wines has begun, still with flavour but with oak used as seasoning, rather than centre stage, adding up to the sort of understated Gallic elegance that makes you want to not just reach for a second glass but drain the whole bottle. • Read more reviews from our wine experts Given the variety and diversity of today's French wines, it would take several lifetimes to taste the lot and, frankly, you'd never get bored. Of all the French wine styles in vogue, it's sales of crémant, the next best thing to champagne, that are rocketing. Crémant de Limoux from the Languedoc makes an intriguing change to those of Burgundy and the Loire. Helpfully, Waitrose has knocked £4 off its Cremant de Limoux, Cuvée Royale. Now £10, it's a bold, fresh brown bread-scented chardonnay-led version that needs to be served cold, is best drunk with food and will still be too punchy for some. From the other end of the country, the Loire's delicious, crunchy, red berry-fruited cabernet francs make perfect chilled reds. Nab the 2023 Lulu l'Alouette Chinon, a herby, organic, red berry charmer from Majestic at £13.50 a bottle. It's Burgundy, though, where ancient and modern Gallic expertise shines. Take your pick from the rich, nutty yet minerally charge of Asda's classy 2023 Brocard Premier Cru Chablis (£22.92) and the smoky, mature, truffle elegance of Domaine Lécheneaut's 2021 Côtes de Nuits Villages, Le Clos de Magny ( £35). • 2025 wine trends: swap pricey classics for unusual finds 2023 La Chevalière Syrah, Patrick Jasmin, France12 per cent, £19.95This seriously good Collines Rhodaniennes syrah punches well above its weight with lavender and tangy red cherry. 2022 Santenay 1er Beauregard, Fornerot, France13.5 per cent, £32Jérôme Fornerot's white St Aubin rocks but this leafy, floral star shows he makes tasty red burgundy too. 2023 Finest Chablis, France12.5 per cent, Tesco, £15Nowt beats this lively, steely, saline-edged La Chablisienne co-op chablis with seafood — try it. Crémant de Loire Rosé, France12 per cent, Asda, £9.36Can't afford champagne? Plump for a pretty, blush pink, rose petal-scented cabernet franc crémant instead. • The best summer wines — the critic's picks from £5 2023 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Orange, US11.5 per cent, Tesco, £13 down from £15.25More than £2 cheaper than it was last month, this strong, smoky, tea-leaf orange wine loves big food. 2024 Irresistible Assyrtiko, Greece13 per cent, Co-op, £9 down from £10Plumped up with a dab of viognier, dive into this seductive, dry, summery, samphire and basil-licked assyrtiko. 2024 Deluxe South African Fairtrade Chenin Blanc13.5 per cent, Lidl, £6.99One of the best whites on show at a recent Lidl tasting, with delicious, buttery chenin fruit and a tickle of spice. 2024 Found Marzemino, Italy11.5 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £8Unoaked, ripe, yet earthy, red, made exclusively from the marzemino grape, with easy-drinking, plummy fruit.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How One Luxury Brand Is Designing The Future Of Immersive Travel
Luxury used to be about the big and the bold. Today, it's about the intimate, the thoughtful, and the highly curated. No brand embodies that shift better than Tauck, a family-owned luxury travel company that's quietly shaped the high-end group travel experience for the past century. I recently sat down with Jennifer Tombaugh, Tauck's CEO, who brings a deep well of perspective—and passion—for how luxury travelers are evolving. The conversation was rich with insight about everything from solo travel to river cruising, to how group experiences are being reimagined to feel deeply personal. From Pause to Passion: A New Era for Luxury Travel As Jennifer shared, 'We've gone from pause to passion.' In the wake of global lockdowns, travelers aren't just returning to the world—they're returning with urgency, purpose, and increasingly, a desire to travel better, not just more. Tauck is having its best year ever celebrating its 100th anniversary with double-digit growth, sold-out Christmas market cruises in 2025 and on pace to do the same in 2026, and the upcoming christening of new river ships on the Rhône and Seine. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens when a brand listens carefully and adapts boldly. Acropolis at sunset. Small Is the New Big Jennifer explained a simple yet powerful idea that sits at the heart of Tauck's strategy: 'Small is big.' On Tauck's European river cruises, for example, ships max out at 130 guests. On Portugal's Douro, that number is even smaller. The focus isn't just on comfort—it's on immersion. The rivers of Europe were once its highways of commerce, philosophy, and art. Tauck brings that cultural history to life, often docking right in the heart of town, where guests can step off the ship and into living history—be it a local tavern, cathedral, or seasonal celebration. And this isn't just a river cruise renaissance. The brand has seen a 140% increase in demand for small group land journeys since 2018. In response, Tauck recently launched even smaller groups—just 15 guests per departure in some cases. 'People are willing to pay more to travel with fewer people,' Jennifer noted. 'It's about intimacy, access, and connection.' The Rise of the Wellness-Luxury Hybrid One of the most important luxury travel trends Tauck is responding to? Wellness. That doesn't mean green juice and hot yoga on a Danube deck (though those options exist). It means flexibility, choice, and a conscious design for how travelers feel throughout the journey. On Tauck's new ships, 'The Retreat' area includes spa treatments and expanded fitness spaces. Travelers can bike at port stops or opt for leisurely museum visits. 'We're seeing more demand for movement and agency,' Jennifer said. 'People want to maintain their wellness routines but not feel like they're on a regimented retreat.' Luxury That Flexes With You One of the quiet innovations Jennifer highlighted is 'personalized group travel.' That may sound contradictory, but Tauck is threading the needle. Travelers move together through an itinerary, but each day offers choices—bike or hike, guided museum tour or free afternoon, history lecture or wine tasting. It's all designed to make you feel like an individual within a group. 'We've worked really hard so that people don't feel like part of a herd,' Jennifer said. 'No name tags. No flag-waving guides. Just seamless, curated moments that adapt to the guest.' The Solo Luxe Boom and the End of the Supplement Another macro trend Jennifer sees. Solo luxury travel—especially among women. From Tauck's Christmas market cruises to land journeys in Europe and Japan, solo travelers—many of them women over 60—are becoming a bigger slice of the customer base. So Tauck is responding in kind. On their newest ships, Category One cabins are now designed specifically for solo travelers—with no single supplement. 'That's a huge shift,' Jennifer said. 'We're seeing solo travelers not just welcome but celebrated.' Cold Is Hot: The Rise of Arctic Luxe Tauck's fastest-selling product for 2026? A Northern Lights voyage through the Arctic Circle. 'That itinerary sold out before we had even priced it,' Jennifer shared, still a bit amazed. 'Destinations like Tromsø and Hammerfest are suddenly in demand.' She's not alone in observing that trend. Cold-weather destinations like Iceland, Norway, and Finland are becoming coveted luxury escapes—where scarcity, spectacle, and serenity collide. The Resilience of Luxury Amid Uncertainty Despite headlines of macroeconomic volatility, Jennifer is bullish on luxury travel. 'In our space—front of the plane, premium accommodations, experience-first demand is thriving,' she said. 'Luxury travelers tend to be more insulated from market noise, and they're eager to explore now, not wait.' Indeed, Tauck's Japan product has become one of its top sellers. Greece is trending upward. And the company's family-focused 'Bridges' line is growing as multigenerational travel continues to surge. Luxury as a Conduit for Human Connection Jennifer left me with a simple yet profound insight: the most important luxury may not be a suite or a sommelier—it may be belonging. 'In this age of digital overload and social disconnection, people are craving human connection,' she said. 'That's what group travel offers—not in spite of its structure, but because of it.' And if Tauck's next 100 years look anything like the last, luxury travel won't just be about where you go. It'll be about how you feel—and who you become—along the way.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Eat And Drink Like The French At Home
With a little effort, you can create a truly authentic and enjoyable French dining experience right at your own table. If you're longing for the elegance and richness of French culture but can't make a trip anytime soon, you can still experience the essence of French dining right in your own home. By embracing the art of French cooking and wine selection, you can create an authentic French atmosphere that brings the flavors of France to your table. To begin your French culinary journey at home, consider starting with a lunch, as lunch is a cornerstone of traditional French dining. 'Lunch is still the bedrock of traditional French eating,' Florent Latour, CEO at Maison Louis Latour in Burgundy, France, said in a Zoom interview. The wine producer has been family-run for over 200 years. 'It's a time to savor food and enjoy a thoughtfully selected wine that complements the flavors of the meal.' When selecting wines, it's essential to follow the French approach, which Latour describes as 'methodical.' The French see wine as an integral part of the meal, chosen with care to highlight and enhance the dish. 'To create a true dining experience, it will start by treating your guests (or just yourself) to a selection of wines available at any moment,' said Christophe Tassan, a Rhône native and wine director and sommelier at The Battery, San Francisco, suggesting to accumulate a personal collection on-hand of several white wines, several reds, a couple of rosés and a sparkling to celebrate a special occasion. 'So when the menu is decided, the pleasure will be to choose the wines for it or having the guests choose from,' Tassan said. Tassan notes this doesn't mean having an expensive cellar, reminding that there are many French wineries producing good bottles under $20. Visiting your local wine shop is always a great first step for guidance. Customers can certainly rely on the retail shop staff and their recommendations. There are plenty of wine professionals available to assist, which is a key component in helping wine enthusiasts find their way to their preferences. 'I am not sure if this is specific to France, but great quality is surely a factor across its wine producing regions,' said Tassan. 'You can easily find a wine that is made for immediate enjoyment, and the ones that are worth cellaring for future enjoyment, from the 'Vin de Pays' to the AOC classifications.' Latour emphasizes the importance of understanding the "wine trajectory" in French dining. He explains, 'You start with some bubbly for apéritif, then move on to one white wine and one red wine. The timing of wines is defined by the host and is mostly driven by food pairings.' For example, a guest shouldn't request red wine at the beginning of the meal, even if it's their preference. The experience of drinking French wine isn't about quantity but about savoring small servings and moving up in wine quality as the meal progresses. Also, it cannot be overlooked that one of the defining characteristics of French wines is the concept of terroir, which Latour describes as 'the unique combination of soil, climate and vineyard location that gives each wine its distinctive character.' He stresses that understanding terroir is crucial for anyone looking to appreciate French wines fully. Labels on French wines often emphasize the place of production over grape variety, reflecting the significance of terroir. 'It's more about the sense of place than the grape itself,' Latour said. 'For example, the flavors of a Burgundy pinot noir are deeply influenced by where it's grown.' What is a French lunch without a glass of wine? To bring the full experience of French dining to your home, Latour recommends pairing wines with classic French dishes that can easily be prepared at home. Coq au Vin, for example, pairs well with a marsannay or santenay, while Beef Bourguignon is complemented by a robust pinot noir from the Côte de Nuits, a French wine region located in the northern part of the Côte d'Or, the limestone ridge at the heart of the Burgundy wine region. Quiche Lorraine–a savory tart with bacon, cheese and eggs—is ideally matched with a white Burgundy like chardonnay from the Côte de Beaune, such as meursault or Puligny-Montrachet, to balance the richness of eggs properly. And vegetarian favorite Ratatouille goes well with a chardonnay from Mâconnais or Chablis for its crispness. You could also try a pinot noir from Côte de Beaune for its bright red fruit. Latour also suggests more unconventional pairings, such as enjoying a Pouilly-Fuissé white wine with sushi or a Pernand-Vergelesses red wine with a chicken sandwich for a surprising but delightful experience. The French wine classification is based on the production area. Tassan acknowledges this 'is certainly complicated,' citing the Burgundy region being the greatest example of that classification. but it is the a good way to "organize" your preferences. 'Leading to the utmost perfection for the quality rating, based on the finished wine quality and exceptionally refined character, I believe that a wine has a quality when it can not be duplicated somewhere else,' Tassan said. 'The Terroir, the grape and its environment—including the human factor—are what make a wine unique. So my advice is be curious and try wines from all of the regions, and find the wine you like.' For those new to French wines, Latour offers some accessible and affordable options that provide a good introduction to the variety and richness of French viticulture. He recommends Maison Louis Latour's Bourgogne pinot noir, describing it as 'a standout choice for those new to Burgundy, featuring vibrant red fruit flavors, spices and subtle earthy notes at a reasonable price.' Another excellent option is the Pouilly-Fuissé, which Latour highlights for its 'elegant notes of ripe fruit, acacia, honeysuckle and minerality.' By following these guidelines and embracing the French way of dining and wine pairing, you can transport yourself to the heart of France without leaving your home. As Latour puts it, 'The magic of French wine lies in its diversity and the centuries of tradition that have perfected these pairings.'
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Our wine expert reveals the best red wines to serve chilled this spring, including a £7 supermarket pick
It's not just light Beaujolais or Pinot Noir wines that benefit from a gentle chill – many reds come alive with a short stint in the fridge. It brightens fruit, lifts floral notes and brings balance. For medium to full-bodied styles give it 20 minutes, double that for lighter reds. As summer nears, freshness is key; cloying reds lose their charm. Be mindful when chilling robust reds with high tannins, as this can accentuate their bitterness. Specially Selected Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023(14%), £7.49, Aldi. Here's a superbly priced Côtes du Rhône Villages, with dark cherry and savoury, meaty notes, all wrapped in an enveloping, smooth texture. A BBQ banger. £7.49 Shop
