French

The Blind Tasting That Turned Beijing into a Wine Lab

Feb

Wine Factsacidity, Burgundy, Chinese, Father, French

The Blind Tasting That Turned Beijing into a Wine Lab

If you’ve ever wondered how a city’s soul reveals itself through wine, Beijing’s latest blind tasting event offered a masterclass. Four tasters, six bottles, and a room buzzing with the tension of guessing origins—this wasn’t just a tasting. It was a collision of terroir, expectation, and the quiet rebellion of blind tasting. The lineup? A mix of Burgundy, Chinese vintages, Southern French blends, and Italian appassimento. The results? A mix of elegance, surprise, and a few moments of quiet confusion. The Domaine Chanson bottling from Burgundy was the textbook example of restraint. Sour cherry and raspberry on the nose, with…

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Coffee FactsEthiopian, Father, French, Post, This

Why That Roast Flattened in the Cup

The verdict is in: a roast that shone in cupping can vanish in the cup. This week, a Guji Ethiopian roast—roasted to 20% with a drop temp of 212°C—delivered bold blueberry and milk chocolate notes in the cupping, only to fade into blandness when brewed as a French press. The mystery? A perfect storm of timing, technique, and chemistry. Roasting is just the first act. Post-roast, beans need time to degas, releasing CO2 trapped during the process. If you brew too soon, the gas escapes during extraction, leaving a flat, underdeveloped cup. This roast was cupped Tuesday, brewed Wednesday—just a…

How to Keep Your Coffee Gear Spotless Without Rinsing Grounds Down the Drain

Jan

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Coffee FactsAeropress, Father, French

How to Keep Your Coffee Gear Spotless Without Rinsing Grounds Down the Drain

If you’ve ever stared down a moka pot or French Press, you know how stubborn coffee residue can be. The truth is, some brewing gear demands more than a quick rinse—especially if you want to avoid clogging drains and wasting water. Let’s cut through the fluff: cleaning coffee equipment isn’t just about getting it shiny; it’s about preserving the integrity of your brew and protecting your plumbing. Pour-over and drip machines are the easiest to manage because you can simply discard the filter and grounds together. But when it comes to the Aeropress, the process feels like a balancing act.…

France’s Coffee Scene Is Undergoing a Quiet Revolution

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Coffee FactsBut, Father, France, French, Specialty

France’s Coffee Scene Is Undergoing a Quiet Revolution

France’s coffee scene is undergoing a quiet revolution. For centuries, cafés have been the heartbeat of French life—places where conversations linger, newspapers are read, and the ritual of coffee is as important as the drink itself. But today, a new wave of specialty coffee is creeping into this tradition, redefining what it means to sip a cup in Paris or Lyon. While classic bistros still dominate, the rise of minimalist cafés, Nordic-inspired brews, and a growing appetite for quality are reshaping the landscape. This shift isn’t just about better beans—it’s about reimagining how coffee fits into French culture. The transformation…

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

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine FactsArgentina, Father, France, French, Malbec

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,…

Shiraz vs. Syrah: The Aussie Twist on a French Classic

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine FactsAustralia, Father, French, Shiraz, Syrah

Shiraz vs. Syrah: The Aussie Twist on a French Classic

Here’s what you need to know: The Tasting Challenge isn’t just about wine—it’s about unlocking the story behind every glass. Today’s pick? A Shiraz from Australia that’s rewriting the rules of its French cousin, Syrah. This isn’t just a name change; it’s a full-blown evolution of flavor, shaped by sun-soaked vineyards and a culture that’s unapologetically bold. Australia’s Shiraz is the antithesis of its Rhône Valley counterpart. While French Syrah leans into earthy, peppery notes with a medium body, Australian Shiraz thrives in warmth, delivering dense fruit-forward profiles that feel like a hug from a bottle. The Victoria region’s Shiraz…

The Oak-Infused Heart of Rioja: Why Tempranillo Rules

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine FactsFather, French, Reserva, Rioja, Tempranillo

The Oak-Infused Heart of Rioja: Why Tempranillo Rules

The verdict is in: Oak aging isn’t the villain—it’s the secret weapon in Spain’s Tempranillo revolution. For years, critics have mocked over-oaked wines as syrupy and heavy, but the truth is, oak can elevate a grape to greatness. Spain’s Rioja region proves it, turning Tempranillo into a dark red titan with depth, complexity, and a price tag that won’t break the bank. This week’s Tasting Challenge? A Rioja Reserva that’s everything you want in a bold red—and nothing you don’t. Rioja’s magic lies in its obsession with oak. The region’s classification system hinges on aging: longer time in barrels means…

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine Factsacidity, California, Father, French, Roussanne

California’s Roussanne Revolution

If you’ve ever wondered how a grape can reinvent itself across continents, look no further than Roussanne. This white varietal, once overshadowed by its French counterparts, is now rewriting the script in California’s sun-drenched valleys. The verdict? A bold, terroir-driven shift that’s turning skeptics into fans. Roussanne has always been a wildcard. In France, it’s a blending grape—often tucked into Rhône blends with Marsanne or Viognier—its presence subtle, its challenges steep. Fungus and mold thrive where it grows, making it a reluctant star. But in California’s Central Coast, where warmth and oak aging meet, it’s breaking free. The Ballard Canyon…

The Revival of French Viognier: A Springtime Sensation

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine FactsBenefits, Condrieu, Father, French, Viognier

The Revival of French Viognier: A Springtime Sensation

Viognier’s survival story is a lesson in resilience—and a celebration of spring. Once on the brink of extinction, this floral white wine now commands reverence for its boldness and complexity. The Rhône Valley’s Condrieu appellation, in particular, has become its spiritual home, crafting wines that feel like a sun-drenched garden in a glass. This week’s Tasting Challenge zeroes in on French Viognier, a grape that defied near-erasure to become one of the most thrilling wines of the season. The stakes were high in the 1960s. With fewer than 30 acres of Viognier planted globally, growers had largely abandoned it. The…

Alsace’s Secret Weapon: The Gewürztraminer That Smells Like Summer

Dec

By ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

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Wine FactsAlsace, Father, French, German, Germany

Alsace’s Secret Weapon: The Gewürztraminer That Smells Like Summer

Imagine a French wine that smells like a tropical market in the middle of winter. That’s Gewürztraminer from Alsace—where German grapes meet French terroir in a sensory explosion. This white wine isn’t just a regional curiosity; it’s a paradox of aromas that defy geography. With notes of lychee, roses, and honeyed pineapple, it feels like a summer day bottled in a place that’s technically part of France but culturally closer to Germany. The Alsace region, bordering Germany, has mastered this grape, turning it into a global aromatic standout. What makes Gewürztraminer so unforgettable? Its perfume is almost otherworldly—think of a…