Grab a glass and join acclaimed Master of Wine Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan on a fascinating six-lecture tour of the best wines that France has to offer with The Everyday Guide to Wines of France. What makes French wines stand out from their international counterparts? How does the varied landscape of France shape and influence what’s in your wine glass? Why do French wines command such respect from culinary experts and casual drinkers? These intriguing questions and more are answered in a journey packed with interactive wine tastings, food and wine pairing demonstrations, practical tips and suggestions for shopping and gift giving, and more.
The Everyday Guide to Wines of France
Tour one of the all-time greatest wine producing regions with a Master of Wine as your guide.
Overview
About
Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is among a small number of people to have received the highest credentials in the wine and spirits industry. She is one of only a few hundred people in the world to have achieved the Master of Wine (M.W.) title from The Institute of Masters of Wine in London, England-the highest and most difficult title to achieve in the industry. She also has a Professional Certificate in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan has taught courses for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, has trained thousands of professionals in the wine and spirits industry, and has judged international spirits and wine competitions, including the Ultimate Beverage Challenge in 2010 and 2011. She has also hosted seminars with Food Network stars such as Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Mario Batali. In 2008, she won the Wiesbaden Tasting Trophy from The Institute of Masters of Wine. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan is a frequent guest on television programs, including Fox Business, Fox News, and Bloomberg TV. Additionally, she has been featured in publications such as Fortune, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and Wine & Spirits Magazine.
01: French Wines - Quality and Tradition
Discover everything you need to know to understand—and savor—a wine that is exceedingly French and enjoyed on both celebratory and everyday occasions: Champagne. You’ll learn how to open a bottle of Champagne like an expert, how it compares to Prosecco and other sparkling wines from around the world, how the landscape of the Champagne region affects the character of the wine itself, which foods pair best with sweet and dry Champagnes, and more.
38 min
02: Alsace and Loire - Delicate, Racy, and Luscious
Muscadet. Sancerre. Chinon. Alsace Riesling. Sample these and other elegant reds and whites from the Loire and Alsace regions of France. As you taste your way through these treasures, you’ll explore what experts mean when they say wine is “past its peak,” why acidic wine pairs so well with seafood dishes, why a German wine is grown in France, and why a particular form of fungus on grapes can actually be a great thing.
32 min
03: Burgundy - Wines of Sophistication and Elegance
Ms. Simonetti-Bryan takes you on a virtual tour of the tastes and sights of her most favorite wine region: Burgundy. What makes this landscape so important is that it’s the benchmark for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir around the world. You’ll get a chance to find out for yourself why it’s the gold standard through interactive tastings and comparisons of a range of wines, including a Bourgogne Blanc, a Chablis, a Meursault, and a Beaujolais.
34 min
04: Bordeaux - Bold and Rich Wines
Become more familiar with wines from France’s most iconic wine region: Bordeaux. As you taste your way through a variety of unique wines, you’ll also see how winemaking in France compares with winemaking in California (where technological innovations are looked on more favorably) and take a peek at how a wine ages over time. You’ll finish the lecture with a luxurious sampling of a Sauterne, one of the world’s best-known dessert wines.
39 min
05: Rhône Valley - Aromatic Whites and Spicy Reds
Explore the great wines of the northern and southern Rhône Valley, which display a side that’s more flavorful, spicy, and savory. As you use the five S’s of tasting wine to make your way through a red and a white Côtes du Rhone, a Condrieu, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and more, you’ll train yourself to easily pick out the ways in which the landscape of this region shapes how its wines look, smell, and taste.
33 min
06: Southern France - Rising Stars and Secret Gems
Go to the southern coast of France (and other outlying regions) for a look at the rest of the wines this country has to offer: a Vin de Pays d’Oc Chardonnay, a Chablis, a Provence Rosé, a Corbières, a Cahors, and a Madiran. You’ll also learn the pros and cons of screw-capped wine, see how rosés are crafted, and have fun with a final quiz (modeled on a French game) that tests your newfound knowledge of French wines.
36 min
