Category: Food & Wine
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Why France’s Most Exciting Wine Isn’t Made in Bordeaux or Burgundy
France’s most talked-about wines don’t come from grand châteaux. Discover the natural wine movement reshaping how France drinks — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Inside a French School Lunch: Four Courses and No Ketchup
Inside the French school canteen: four courses every day, cheese as standard, and the food rules that shape a nation’s relationship with eating — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Armagnac: The Ancient French Brandy That Refuses to Be Famous
Armagnac is France’s oldest brandy, distilled in the Gers since 1310 — 150 years before Cognac. Discover this forgotten Gascon spirit and how it’s made — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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Why France Has More Cheeses Than Days in the Year — and What That Means
France produces over 1,200 named cheeses — each one shaped by the land it comes from. Here’s why that matters, how the French eat them, and where to find the real thing — plus get weekly France stories free in our newsletter.
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What Happens in a Bordeaux Wine Village When the Harvest Begins
Every September, the villages around Bordeaux transform as the grape harvest begins. Discover the vendange culture — from the long communal lunch to the village fête — and how to experience it yourself.
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The French Hour That Has No English Name — and Cannot Be Rushed
Every evening across France, the hour before dinner transforms into something the English language has no word for. Here is what l’apéro actually means — and why tourists nearly always miss it.
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Why French Families Still Spend Three Hours at the Sunday Table
The French long Sunday lunch is a ritual of family, food and slow conversation — spanning three hours and multiple courses. Here is what it looks like.
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The Forgotten Deal That Gave Every Burgundy Village a Second Name
In the 1800s, Burgundy’s village councils filed court petitions to attach their greatest vineyard names to their own. A practical deal that turned small villages into globally famous wine addresses.
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Why Every French Family Has a Secret Forest Spot They Never Share
Spring sends French families into the forest to forage wild mushrooms. Discover their secret spots, ancient traditions, and the pharmacist who keeps it all safe.
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The Night the Whole World Toasts France With the Same Young Wine
Every third Thursday of November, at exactly midnight, something happens in wine shops across dozens of countries. A young bottle of French red wine arrives. This is the story of Beaujolais Nouveau — and why France turned a harvest toast into a global tradition.