Things To Do -- At The Alliance Francaise!

1. The Alliance Francaise is starting up again their monthly wine tastings. If you've never been to these you are missing out. I'll be skipping out this winter/spring, since pregnant women drinking wine is frowned upon in this country. But you should go!

2. If wine isn't your thing, (?!?!) then check out the talks FIAF is having with fashion designers such as Donna Karan and Diane Von Furstenburg.

Bonne chance!

Good Times At The Alliance Francaise

If you like wine and want to learn more about it, your first stop should be the Alliance Francaise. They have all sorts of wine events, and tonight there was a large party in honor of a new crop of Beaujolais. It was crowded and loud and felt a little bit like a frat party for wine. I waited in line for a long time for some cheese. But overall it was a very good time. Stay tuned for the monthly wine tastings in the winter. They're not for the casual bouveuse.

Charlie Rose was a guest of honor (?!?!) and was inducted into some ancient Order of Beaujolais. I kid you not.


I have to offer a grande j'excuse to the ladies at the Trois Petits Couchons table. I know I loitered a lot, but only because the pate was so good! (And again, it was nearly impossible to get to the cheese table.) I am totally ordering some for Thanksgiving.

Also: The big winner in wine tonight was Laboure-Roi, who had a light, but still peppery Beaujolais that I couldn't get enough of. It got to a point where the winery owner knew my name, and gave me a card so I could order a case or so for the house. Methinks he was trying to distract me from emptying the small supply they'd brought to the party.

I have few vices, but one thing I love are French wines. Lucky for me the Alliance Francaise has been hosting monthly wine tastings, in which they tackle a different region of France every month. Last month it was Bordeaux, a few days ago it was the Loire Valley. Next month is Provence, which mean I have some Neuf Du Pape in my futre. June is capped off with Champagne, naturally.

I'm very passionate about wine, but it has to be good wine. I've talked about my frustrations with Yellow Tail already, but I don't understand why, when there's so much good wine out there, why people conitnue to drink the crap? It's like living on a diet of Little Debbie Cakes and YooHoo. Yes, it's cheap and will temporarily sate you, but a banana and a ham and cheese would be a much better experience.

Drink some good wine tonight!

I know I've Reblogged Gary Vaynerchuck's Wine Library episodes before, but today's installment is about 2004 Bordeaux. We all know how much I love Bordeaux -- I was even at a tasting at the Alliance Francaise last week -- and I need to spread the Bordeaux gospel more. If it stops just one person from drinking Yellowtail, my work will be done.

As usual, Gary explains the wine well and why everyone is so ga-ga about it.