15.11 - Introducing a French wine "Whisperer" + A visit to Bormes-les-Mimosas, Côte d'Azur
In this FREE le Bulletin we head to The Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, southeastern France to visit one of the "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'" Then we dive into wine and bubbles!
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll meet a new Contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine, and you’ll find her first article about delicious French bubbles. She is very well qualified to help us better understand Champagne… Learn new tricks and hacks!
Next, we’ll head south to visit one of the “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France”, the last of a four-part series of those villages most recently added to this brand.
Watch out for the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin this weekend: “15.11.a - How I live after moving to France: Brittany and a Small Southern Seaside Village” It’s not too late to subscribe←
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À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 15.3.2025
1. Let’s explore & read the new articles in My FrenchLife Magazine
Did you know there are many articles in MyFrenchLife Magazine where savvy francophiles love to immerse themselves and indulge in all things French beyond the cliché? You can join them…
→ Here you’ll find the most recently published articles:
Thank you to all the talented Contributors to MyFrenchLife magazine. I love that your articles take us from one end of France to another and constantly remind us of the rich culture of this wonderful and diverse country.
Merci.
Judy.
a) →Les Plus Beaux Villages de France: Bormes-les-Mimosas—Part 4/4
by Betty Carlson←
Bormes-les-Mimosas – a beautiful town with a beautiful name
Originally called “Bormes,” the city council added “-les-Mimosas” in 1968 as a nod to the 90+ varieties of mimosa plants found there—and in hopes of attracting more tourists.
Not just a village, Bormes-les-Mimosas is actually a small yet sprawling town of 8,361 inhabitants. The city limits cover 97.32 square kilometers, just a bit under Paris’s 105.4!…” writes Betty Carlson.
2.→Introducing a new Contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine, Eveline Chartier—
Bienvenue Eveline!
I have real pleasure in introducing Eveline Chartier, who has joined the team to help us understand and enjoy French wine.
Understanding and better enjoying French wine sits perfectly with the global community of MyFrenchLife as we discover, better understand, and experience France beyond the cliché!
Eveline introduces herself as follows:
Raised in a French-Canadian home, I found my passion for wine. After 20 years in energy engineering, I pursued that passion, earning my WSET Diploma in 2023 after studying in Austria & Italy. Now, I help others explore & enjoy wine more fully. You'll find me here: https://www.shadesofgrape.ca/
I joke that I am a wine-whisperer, a “gift” allowing me to identify wines my customers love. As a wine consultant, I work for individuals or companies / groups (i.e. Cork Fine Wine, restaurants, special events, clubs etc.) by conducting wine tastings, curating wines, and offering training sessions.
Working at Cork I tell my customers: “The wine world allows us to travel the world except a little piece of the world actually comes to us,” she says in an interview with Heather Martin on Tumbleweed.
I’m now thrilled to introduce you to a new series by Eveline; each is a deep dive into a particular theme, and comprises three articles.
b) →Les Bulles aka French Bubbles
by Eveline Chartier ←
LES BULLES aka FRENCH BUBBLES!
French bubbly wines have not always been as we know them today, but they are very much an appreciated part of what makes France, France. Read about how to enjoy sparkling wines as well as their different styles.
Why Bubbles Matter – Les bulles sont importantes!
Learn the tricks of the trade – by respecting the bubbles! The key to enjoying sparkling wines is preserving their bubbles, from cold bottles to seal tops. Contrary to the belief that a bottle must be finished once opened, sparkling wines can be kept for several days! Here are some rules to live by!
Champagne – Truly Special
Dive into the history of Champagne, touching on its early mishaps and the breakthrough discoveries that shaped its production and developed its distinctive styles. The Champagne region grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier grapes, each contributing to unique flavors and characteristics. Explore this iconic sparkling wine!
Crémant de Bourgogne
In past articles, I have been less than kind to Prosecco. I’m extending an olive branch to Prosecco fans by exploring a traditional method sparkling wine that could appeal to Prosecco lovers too. Medium-dry traditional method sparklings pair perfectly with seafood dishes like crab cakes and tempura shrimp with a spicy sauce. Dive into this sparkling experience!
1. Why Bubbles Matter: "Bursting" Sparkling Wine Myths (Plus Hacks You Need to Know)
- and yes, wine IS a solution!
In my Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay article I touched on sparkling wines. Now, let's dive deeper into the practical aspects of these wines.
I don’t buy sparkling wine because once open I must finish it all.
In fact, this is not the case. You can keep a sparkling wine open for several days if you …
Rule # 1 – Respect the bubbles.
This is the mother of all sparkling wine rules because it all comes back to respecting the bubbles. Bubbles are what makes the wine a sparkling wine, afterall!
The trick is keeping the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in solution.
Nerd.
The bubbles are a result of the CO2 produced during fermentation, which is done in a closed vessel (tank or bottle). Since the gas cannot escape, it becomes part of the wine. In other words, the CO2 gas is ‘in solution’. The solution being the wine.
THEY say drinking wine is not a solution.
Ha ha!
Rule #2 - Start with a very cold bottle
Open the bottle very cold - refrigerator cold, which is 4 to 5 degrees Celsius. Bubbles will stay in solution longer at lower temperatures.
So either cool the bottle in the refrigerator or in an ice bucket. The ice bucket should be about 50% ice and 50% water. The water helps conduct temperature better – so don’t leave that step out." writes Eveline Chartier.
2. Bubbles, Blunders and Brilliance - How Science Saved Champagne
Choosing the right Champagne style for you - inside the world of Champagne blends - Drappier's 200-year legacy
You are finally doing it!
Finally writing about Champagne! [...]
Yes, I was putting it off and writing about other sparklings as I do try to focus on value wines … and well … Champagne is not a value wine! But my hope is to give you an appreciation of why it is a special wine!
Champagne. It is an acquired taste. Not everyone likes it. Here, we will explore different Champagne styles. My wish is to help you find a style that is right for you should you care to explore!
Let’s start with its history and origins.
The Champagne region, 145 km northeast of Paris, is the first region to make sparkling wine in any quantity. As the wine world has grown, Champagne is now responsible for only about 8% of total global sparkling wine production. However, Champagne is the model that many sparkling regions globally aim to emulate, often with the same grapes.
Interestingly, the Champagne region’s wines were not initially bubbly..." writes Eveline Chartier
3. Crémant de Bourgogne, Prosecco, and a Confession
– Theory on Prosecco lovers' appreciation of a touch of sweetness
From past posts, a lot of you know my strong opinion on Prosecco. 😊
You also know that I respect that you are you, and I encourage you to do you! (if you don’t know, check here)
But today I extend an olive branch to the Prosecco camp as a bridge … rather than a sign of peace, as this is not a war of the sparklings, but an exploration of the palates!
I am hoping that we can test things a little.
My theory is that people who like Prosecco..." writes Eveline Chartier.
Are you a Champagne, Prosecco, or Cremant drinker? What is your preference? Please share in the comments.
Read the new series and entire article in MyFrenchLife Magazine←
Thank you Eveline Chartier - a wonderful comprehensive start to this four-part series. We look forward to the remainder.
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter” Judy MacMahon
Mes chers amis (my dear friends),
I must confess, yesterday I returned to my sanctuary by the sea—seeking gentle healing waves after saying goodbye to my beloved 97-year-old Mother. Have you ever felt your heart and mind simply need to pause and reconnect? The past weeks have wrapped me in emotional exhaustion, leaving my thoughts scattered like shells along the shoreline.
So here I am—swimming in the healing waters, floating beneath the vast sky, and allowing the rhythm of the waves to restore my spirit. There's something about the sea that whispers exactly what we need to hear, don't you think?
I'm curious—how do you find restoration when life becomes overwhelming? Your wisdom and experiences always bring me such comfort.
Avec gratitude et le son des vagues (With gratitude and the sound of waves), Judy
I hope to see you here again next week
Judy MacMahon
Fondatrice
MyFrenchLife.org
You can always email me at info@myfrenchlife.org. I’d love to hear from you.
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Dear Judy, I’m so sorry to learn about your mother’s passing. My heart goes out to you. I dread the day that this will happen to my own mother. She is seriously ill in hospital at the moment. I feel overwhelmed too but I just keep writing, no matter how few read what I write. It stills me in my anxiety.
But what a superb age at 97. Be kind to yourself Judy. Bisous.
Fab article as usual Betty. The doors, window frames and arches are delightful.