A case (6 count in Languedoc) of V de Ventenac 2014 from the local cave in Ventenac-en-Minervois. Retail price at €16 each. Credit: Jill Barth
Before our tastes tended toward the eclectic, my husband and I employed a house wine. A very affordable bottle, a Southern Rhône blend, that we relied upon for nearly any occasion. When recent guests (my cousin and lifelong friend and her husband) came to visit, they asked for recommendations. I shared that lately I’d been asked my several people about the most expensive wine I’d had the pleasure to enjoy – but I found myself going on an on about much more affordable stuff. These are the wines with house wine potential, on-point in the pocket, delicious, generally unique (so it can be yours), easy to purchase and pair-able with whatever is on the table. These wines have value and taste, well-made and memorable. These are seriously the wines that deserve the headline: the wine you need to drink now. Why not, right?
I’m not the only one with a mile-long list of price-tag treasures in the cellar. This month our French Winophiles group turns our normally specific focus to the generally large topic of affordable french wine. We set out to taste and pair wines costing around $20/~€17~£15 (conversions at the moment). Look for posts from the authors below and plan to join our twitter chat (always fun) at 10:00 am central time on Saturday, August 19th, 2017. Look for our hashtag #Winophiles and please join in. I promise that you will walk away with a list of recommendations so bring a notebook. This is going to be very cool.
Here is the slate:
Cooking to the Wine: Casa Rossa Rosé with Sardine & Roasted Zucchini Penne by Nicole at Somm’s Table
An Affordable Red and Tapenade, Languedoc-Style by Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Navigating the Languedoc with Domaine Magellan by Lauren at The Swirling Dervish
4 French Wine Finds $20 and under with Croque Monsieur and Monte Cristo from Gwen from Wine Predator
Each day should be a celebration by Wendy from A Day In the Life on the Farm
Surprisingly Affordable Wine Region: Bordeaux! by Jeff at FoodWineClick!
My Favorite Under $20 Pet Nat; Patrice Colin “Les Perles Gris” by Martin at ENOFLYZ
Affordable French Wines Paired with Simple Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner by Jane at Always Ravenous
Two Bargains from Bordeaux and Bergerac by Lynn at Savor the Harvest
Mapping France in Wine Bottles: Where to Get Affordable French Wine is our topic here on L’occasion
L'OCCASION 