wine | A French Collection

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Saint-Émilion Grape Harvest Festival

Saint-Émilion is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Southwestern France. It's in a region of wine hills steeped in wine making history that is still relevant today. Saint-Émilion is one of those stunning medieval cities that France is well known for and it's conveniently located at the crossroads of Bordeaux, Saintonge and Périgord. I mean, how more perfect could the town's location be for those of us that like to explore the very best of France! Saint-Émilion is also a UNESCO World Heritage.

Today we're sharing some information about Saint-Émilion and its famous grape harvest festival, Fête des Vendanges, which is currently on right now.

Cointreau – French Orange Liqueur

Do you like Cointreau? Is the French orange flavoured triple-sec liqueur something that you know much about? Created during the Belle Époque era and sold in easily recognisable square bottles, it represents the heady days of glamorous fashion, new elegant building styles and lavish entertaining.

Created and perfected by Édouard Cointreau in 1875, the orange liqueur is now known worldwide and loved by millions.

Annette Charlton

Annette lives with her family between their homes in France and Australia. She’s been featured in International magazines including French Property News, on numerous blogs and travel websites and appeared on ABC National Radio. You can connect on Instagram or Facebook.

www.afrenchcollection.com

Beaune – What to See and Do

Beaune - What to See and Do

The Burgundy Town with a Rich Wine Heritage

Lying in the hills of the Côte-d’Or department, Beaune is a thriving old walled town that is considered to be the capital of Burgundy wines. It's in the heart of Burgundy's famous vineyards Pommard, Corton-Charlemagne, Romanée-Conti, Meursault, Santenay and Savigny-les-Beaune and the town has a rich wine heritage of its own.

The area was settled by the powerful rulers, the Dukes of Burgundy. It was them that founded the Hospices de Beaune around 600 years ago. Beaune is a charming town that attracts lots of visitors and in this post I share the best of what to see and do.

Kir Royale Recipe & Emily in Paris

Kir Royale Recipe and Emily in Paris

Are you a fan of the Netflix show Emily in Paris? Set in Paris and causing a stir with each new season, viewers seem to either love the fun quirky show set in Paris or on the other hand, think it's a rather lame portrayal of life in Paris. Either way it's hugely popular, and even many Parisians love the way it showcases their beautiful city. I've had taxi drivers gush over the series to me, professional photographers show me film locations and hotel staff suggest places I could visit that are in the series.

"The perfect drink to sip and do nothing..." - Luc, Emily in Paris - Season 3

Julie Child in Paris – Following in the Footsteps of America’s French Chef

Julia Child in Paris

Want to follow in the footsteps of the famous American French Chef Julia Child? Well, when you spend a lot of time in Paris you will undoubtably visit many of the places that Julia also frequented during her life in Paris.

Julia Child has been described as America's French chef and is famous for her cooking, her books and as host of her acclaimed television show, The French Chef. Let's go find Julia Child's Paris together.

A party without cake is just a meeting. - Julia Child

Le Dîner en Blanc – French White Dinner

An intimate French inspired picnic with guests all dressed in white meeting at a secret location for an evening of dining, music and dancing is the Le Dîner en Blanc. Le Dîner en Blanc started in Paris by François Pasquier in 1988 and has taken the world by storm for those that love to meet new dinner guests, dine under soft candlelight and dance into the night at a public location in a place that is kept secret until the very last minute.

Beaujolais Nouveau Féte – New Beaujolais Festival

France is a country that loves celebrating all things good that can be eaten or drunk. Dedicated festivals, national occasions and celebrations keep traditions alive in France, just like the Beaujolais Nouveau Féte (New Beaujolais Festival).

The New Beaujolais Festival is celebrated throughout France on the third Thursday in November every year, the date when wine-making finishes and the new wine can be sold. This fruity new wine is eagerly awaited by wine-lovers across France, with gatherings at local stores and vineyards and when the cry goes out le beaujolais nouveau est arrivé! (the new Beaujolais has arrived) it is a happy scene at the bottle shop.

Annette Charlton