Wine Blog

Welcome to the Joie de Vin wine blog. Here we take you on a journey of wine discovery – wine tasting – visits to wine areas and wineries – trade tastings – pairing the perfect wine and food – dining and party wine reviews. Happy to have you along for the ride!

Beaujolais Nouveau is Coming

What To Drink Now

About to appear prominently in wine shops across America is the annual allotment of a wine called Beaujolais Nouveau. Retailing for $8 - $12 per bottle, these wines are released annually on the 3rd Thursday of November – national Beaujolais Nouveau Day in France. ...

Gruet Winery

Wine Travel

Visit to Gruet Winery, Albuquerque, NM Gilbert Gruet, founder of Gruet Winery, was born in Bethon, France in 1931 and founded the Union Vinicole des Coteaux de Bethon in 1952, to follow his dream to produce fine quality Champagne. In 1983, the Gruet Family traveled...

Germany-Late Harvest Wines

History of Wine

Late Harvest Wines by Accident Some of the very finest Riesling wines produced in Germany are labeled ‘Spätlese’ (meaning late harvest) which, as in many cases of wine making styles, happened by accident. In 1775 the first vintage of Spätlese occurred when the...

Gamay the Illegal Grape

Wine Grapes

Originating in the town of Gamay, located in the Cote d’Or, Burgundy, the Gamay grape is a cross between Pinot Noir and the little known white grape Gouais that dates back to around 1360. Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy issued the edict of 1395 banning that most...

Try a Cremant

What To Drink Now

Do you like Champagne but find it a bit pricey? Sparkling wines labeled as ‘Cremant’ are made in AOC/AOP quality French wine regions outside of Champagne using the ‘Champagne method’ of production (meaning the bubble formed during secondary fermentation must take...

Drink Wine Like the French

Wine Travel

Drink Wine Like the French We American ‘Francophiles’ tend to believe that we emulate the French by drinking mainly French wine. But do we really consume wine like the French? Here are some steadfast rules: The French - Drink wine everyday Mostly drink wine made in...