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Birthplace of the Venus de Milo—the perfect setting for fabulous rosé & delicious mezedes
A visit to the island of Milos, a cultural and geologic treasure
Last weekend, we ventured out of our beloved Languedoc-Roussillon to visit the Cyclades Islands of Greece. But don't worry, our traveling companion was a lovely Languedoc rosé, Clos d'Elle 😍.
After a 2 1/2 hour drive to Barcelona and a 2 1/2 hour flight, we reached Athens then sailed out of Alimos marina toward the island of Milos in the Aegean Sea.
In this video, we are lucky to be sipping Clos d’Elle rosé on the Aegean Sea with a variety of delicious mezedes:
The gorgeous Clos d'Elle rosé featured in the video will arrive with our newest shipment of outstanding Languedoc and Roussillon wines in mid-July.
We're excited that Clos d'Elle has joined our Princess and Bear family! At a recent tasting of eight rosés, everyone, including a professional taster, picked Clos d'Elle as the most delicious rosé!
The Sarakiniko cliffs of Milos
The rosé, the mezedes, and the beautiful cliffs of Milos, sculpted by wind, sea, and sun!! It doesn’t get much better than this!!
We were reminded of another famous Milos sculpture, though she was shaped by human hands—the Venus de Milo, now displayed at the Louvre Museum.
Jun 28, 2019 at 9:33 AM
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Morel Mushrooms pair perfectly with this white wine...[Recipe Inside]
The Princess, Carol Bailey, indulging in one of her great loves
June wine and food pairing
Winemaker Pierre Urbain of Domaine Mas Nuy is passionate about everything he does! (We have asked him to slow down on his big boy motorcycle!) While in surgical training 25+ years ago in Brussels, he was introduced to what became a lifelong love of wine and winemaking.
Pierre completed his oenological studies and, in 2005, found his piece of heaven in the Languedoc. He purchased vineyards high on the south-facing hills of Faugères: perfect schist soil, perfect sun, and perfect vineyards for catching the drying winds of both the mountains and Mediterranean Sea.
He uses all-natural fertilizers and, if needed, organic compounds to combat mildew. He harvests his grapes at night and in the very early morning, hand selects grapes, and uses simple winemaking techniques (which are actually the most sophisticated) to create fabulous wines expressive of the famous Faugères terroir.
This month we've paired Pierre's top white cuvée, 2015 La Catieda, with Jura Style Chicken and Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce. La Catieda is slightly oxidized from time in the world-famous Stockinger barrels. It pairs beautifully with cream sauces and the earthy morel mushroom which, even today, is harvested only in the wild.
Bon Appétit!
Featured Recipe
Jura Style Chicken
with Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce
Get the Recipe
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Featured Wine
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La Catieda starts with pineapple and banana and is followed by lightly grilled citrus. A lovely mouth feel precedes a long, memorable finish.
This wine is aged in beautiful Stockinger oak barrels making it a "special" lightly oxidized wine and not adaptable to all foods. It is lovely with grilled fish, blanquette de veau, and hard cheeses.
Jun 20, 2019 at 10:04 AM
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Liberté d’expression? It's what makes our wines so special
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression for winemakers in France? Really? Yes!! You'll find it in the Languedoc-Roussillon and it’s what makes our wines so unique. What's behind all this liberté? The designation—Pays d’Oc IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée).
Most appellations require strict adherence to traditional winemaking rules which include use of very limited grape varieties. But the Pays d’Oc IGP allows winemakers to choose from 58 grape varieties adapted to his or her own special terroir!!
Relaxing blending rules, allowing single varietal wines, and granting other forms of freedom for winemakers unleashes creativity, experimentation, and FABULOUS results in the wines!!
The Languedoc-Roussillon region is full of mavericks, artists, cowgirls and cowboys, who are unbound by tradition but grounded in over 3,000 years of winemaking wisdom in the region.
Glacial soils (elevation 1,500 ft.) are ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
This freedom, plus the Mediterranean climate, variations in altitude, and different soil types, results in a rich selection of unique and delicious wines that express a strong sense of "terroir," the land where the grapes are grown.
In fact, when comparing wines from the same varietal grape but from different areas, you can clearly distinguish the terroir of each. This makes tasting these wines especially fun and interesting!
The domaine Les Terrasses De Gabrielle is owned by two Languedoc winemakers who exemplify this freedom of expression and exceptional quality. We are proud to carry their wines!
Les Terrasses de Gabrielle
Winemakers Olivier Pascal and Fabienne Los Huertos of Les Terrasses De Gabrielle
Olivier Pascal comes from generations of winemakers. He and his delightful, hardworking wife, Fabienne Los Huertos, tend the vineyards her family has owned for generations and work their creative magic in the cave where their small batch wines come to life.
In addition to the traditional Languedoc grape varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan for reds and Vermentino and Viognier for whites, in 2009 they planted Counoise and Sangiovese grapes. More recently, they are experimenting with Greek Assyrtiko grapes, as global warming creeps into the Languedoc weather patterns.
Jun 14, 2019 at 3:37 PM
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Recipe Suggestions for Fathers Day [Wine Pairings Included!]
Father's Day is just around the corner and we know you want to make Dad feel special! But before you buy him that 10 CD collection of Dixieland Jazz, we invite you to kick back and consider something simpler and sweeter.
One of the things we most appreciate about the Languedoc-Roussillon is the value people place on slowing down, coming together, and sharing a meal.
This Father's Day, why not create that joyful experience for Dad? You can still give him the CDs. But what he'll probably love most is being with you.
Below you'll find three delicious recipes for a special Father's Day meal.
Bon Appétit!
Recipe Suggestions for Fathers Day
Beef Chestnut Stew with Potato Scallion Purée
Wine Pairing:
A rich (even spicy!) red like
2016 La Jasse
Baked Chicken with Cheese & Lemon Custard
Wine Pairing:
A full-bodied white like
2014 Cuvée Sixtine
Duck Rillettes Salad with Orange-Ginger Vinaigrette
Wine Pairing:
A silky, smooth red like
2016 La Dame
Join Our Wine Club
For an experience Dad can enjoy throughout the year, treat him to a Princess and Bear Wine Club Membership. With each quarterly shipment, he'll explore a rich variety of wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon, an area critics have called "the most exciting wine region of the whole of France."
Many of these vignerons have embraced organic, biodynamic, and chemical-free viticulture.
These wines are so unique, they're only available in the US through The Princess and The Bear.
Choose from our Amphora, Cathar, or Mediterranean collections.
Member benefits include:
- Quarterly curated shipments of hard-to-find artisanal wines
- Live video Q&A events with winemakers, chefs, and sommeliers
- Food pairing recipes and tasting notes from a Languedoc expert
- Option of all red or all white available upon request
- Free shipping and 15% off individual bottles from our shop — anytime
Memberships start at $29/month
(billed quarterly)
Jun 9, 2019 at 7:23 AM
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