France

Malbec’s Double Life: From French Roots to Argentinian Fame

Malbec’s Double Life: From French Roots to Argentinian Fame

Coffee lovers, wine enthusiasts, tea devotees—here’s a grape that defied its origins to become a global star. Malbec’s story is less about pedigree and more about reinvention. Once a forgotten vine in France, it’s now Argentina’s flagship red, yet its French soul lingers in every glass. The Tasting Challenge—a weekly dive into 34 wines from 12 countries—revealed how geography can rewrite a grape’s destiny. Malbec’s French roots are steeped in obscurity. Once a blending grape in Bordeaux, it struggled with pests and weather, earning a reputation for being unreliable. By the 1860s, though, a French botanist planted it in Mendoza,…
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**Cabernet Franc: The Forgotten Star of the Red Wine Universe**

**Cabernet Franc: The Forgotten Star of the Red Wine Universe**

Consider this your morning briefing: Cabernet Franc is often overshadowed by its more famous siblings, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, but it’s time to give it the spotlight. This week’s tasting challenge? A single-varietal Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley—a region better known for its blockbuster Cabernet Sauvignons. What happens when you pair a grape’s “papa” with the same terroir that birthed its more celebrated offspring? Let’s find out. The wine in question? A bold, medium-ruby pour with aromas of strawberry, cherry, tobacco, and roasted pepper. On the palate, it’s all about structure: tannins that demand decanting, flavors of raspberry and green…
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Guado al Tasso’s Cabernet Franc Revolution: A Masterclass in Bolgheri’s Evolution

Guado al Tasso’s Cabernet Franc Revolution: A Masterclass in Bolgheri’s Evolution

If you’ve ever wondered how a single vineyard can redefine a region’s wine identity, look no further than Guado al Tasso. For four decades, this Tuscan estate has been a battleground for tradition and innovation, now epitomized by a masterclass led by Alessia Antinori and Renzo Cotarella. The session wasn’t just about tasting—it was a lesson in how Bolgheri’s terroir transformed Cabernet Franc from a supporting act into a star. The 2007 vintage marked a turning point. When Cotarella tasted the rich, vibrant Cabernet Franc from that year, he saw an opportunity to recalibrate the estate’s signature Bolgheri Superiore. Previously…
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Europe’s Best Roasters Revealed at the Global Coffee Awards

Europe’s Best Roasters Revealed at the Global Coffee Awards

The Global Coffee Awards (GCA) celebrated European roasting excellence in Bordeaux, France on October 29-30, 2025. The competition honored companies that produce exceptional coffee, bridging a gap in the industry by acknowledging both the roasters and the producers who grow the beans. The GCA invites European roasters of all sizes to submit their best coffees across various categories, with an emphasis on recognizing overall company success rather than individual roaster achievements. The goal is to strengthen brand identity and promote a global approach to quality across the supply chain. Roasters from 25 countries submitted entries for filter, espresso, and milk-based…
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