A Featured Wine Flavors Article

HOUSE HUNTING IN WINE COUNTRY - FITOU

Fitou wine is well-established, particularly in the UK - most people know the name, can pronounce it easily, and may even have tried a bottle or two. But ask them where Fitou is and the chances are they'll look at you blankly. So here's your chance to shine at your next dinner party: serve a few bottles of full-bodied, feisty red Fitou and regale your guests with a little background.



First and foremost, a couple of facts. Fitou is the oldest appellation in the Languedoc-Roussillon region (and not a lot people know that). It is divided into two zones that border Corbi?res, with the smaller zone lying around the coastal town of Fitou itself, and the larger zone's vineyards dominating the land between Villeneuve-les-Corbi?res and Tuchan. Although the communes here can produce golden-hued Rivesaltes vins doux naturels, most of the wines are reds, made mainly from the Carignan grape variety blended with Grenache, Mourv?dre and Syrah. Good Fitou vintages tend to be herb-flavoured with a wild, spicy character; think simple, medium- to full-bodied, rustic reds.



Next up, the place itself. Fitou is small but lively winemaking village in the south of France, in the Aude d?partement of the Languedoc region. It's about 10 minutes drive from the beaches of the Mediterranean, an hour and a half from ski resorts in the Pyrenees, and you can even do a day trip to Spain from Fitou. A number of expats (mainly British, Dutch and Germans) have chosen to make their homes here; Fitou appeals to families with young children as it's quiet enough to feel very safe while providing all the necessary services and amenities to make life comfortable year-round, including a primary school, bar, several restaurants, a boulangerie, a supermarket, launderette, a snack bar - and of course, lots of wine (which can be bought direct from the producers). It's a popular village with foreign visitors as it is still largely unspoilt, but it's hardly an expat enclave, and everyone is well integrated; it's a very small, friendly community.



Properties range from small village houses (maison de village) through to modern villas and apartments in the Domaine de Capitelles, a new development situated up on the hills surrounding the village. Cheaper properties tend to change hands quickly, especially if they have an outside area, as gardens are hard to come by. The Fitou area is considered to be a good place to look for older property to renovate; lower-priced village houses invariably need modernization or at least decoration, and by renovating an older property it is possible to create a home that is exactly to your tastes while saving money.



Fans of modern building styles will need to look elsewhere. Occasionally, recently-built villas come onto the market but they are far and few between, and there are very few plots of building land left; you'd need to look a little further afield to be able to build your own home from scratch. House prices in and around Fitou have boomed since the Millennium, but have now become relatively stable. As an example, in the nearby village of Paziols, a two-bedroom village house renovated in a modern style is currently on the market for ?104,500, while a pretty, three-bed village house with original features (wooden beams, open fireplaces and a period staircase) and plenty of charm is selling for ?129,600. For more details of these and other properties, visit www.viboimmobilier.com.

About the Author

Louise has lived in France, in the city of Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon for the past 5 years.

Louise writes for a number of French life magazines and was asked to write a number of articles on life and experiences in France by French real estate agents Vibo Immobilier (http://www.viboimmobilier.com), based in the wine village of Fitou.

Short Review on Wine Flavors

HOUSE HUNTING IN WINE COUNTRY - FITOU


Fitou wine is well-established, particularly in the UK - most people know the name, can pronounce it easily, and may even have tried a bottle or two. ...


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A Housewarming Wine Artilce for Your Viewing

Red Wine... White Wine..... Nothing But Paradise

If you love red wines, enjoy French cuisine, like taking a relaxing stroll through the countryside and appreciate meeting lots of friendly locals; Southern France is for you!



Languedoc, in the southern end of France is where you will find calm rolling meadows and lush hillsides and is also the largest wine growing region in the world. One vineyard there, Ch?teau Bousquette is a 50 acre estate where you will find organically grown wine at its finest. This simple family estate, nestled amongst the pines with scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme is refreshing in itself but once you taste the wine produced here you know why it's the finest in the world. The view is breathtaking as you overlook the miles of vineyards, stretching all the way to the foot of the C?vennes mountains. Get wine online from this French vineyard at French Wine Online.



Languedoc is Wine Country: Home to Some of Frances' Top Red Wines



Languedoc is recognized as one of the three largest AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contr?l?e: the top grade of French quality wine) zones in France, sharing this distinction with the likes of Bordeaux and C?tes du Rh?ne. This famous French wine country will awe you with its series of gentle hills and valleys covered in vineyards, fields and forests. Little towns with history and character greet you from around many hills and valleys. Peaceful walking paths take you through vineyards and hills; expansive views replenish the soul while you take a drink of the great red wines produced here. The rich, fertile soil yields the famous wines you have always heard about organically and of course the fine grapes being organically grown produce robust and aromatic wines you can taste for yourself even without traveling there by visiting French Wine Online.


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You'll discover a wonderful hierarchy of red wines from robust to elegant like Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Les Baux de Provence, Jacques Frelin C?tes du Ventoux, Crozes Hermitage, Merlot Domaine de Bajac, Merlot, Domaine de Savignac and Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape.


Winery visits can range from the famous to the not yet famous, from the big to small so you get a real feel for the culture and people behind the wines. Very hospitable winery owners love telling you all about their wines, as you drink them together.

Experiences like these are as rich as the red wine, as highly sought after as the French countryside and they are waiting for you in Southern France. Bring home stories, photos, knowledge of a different culture and without question some of the finest wines in the world. You can also order these same organically grown French wines online right now at FrenchWineOnline.com.

About the Author

Chris Maley is the publisher of a consumer information on the wine industry and wine retailers like Organic Wine Company which has a quality selection of Organic French Red Wines

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California Wineries For Your Reading Pleasure

Wine Racks: The Solution for Practical Wine Storage

In order to get the best benefits out of good wines, they first need to sufficiently mature. Wines only get better with time. They must be stored properly during this period of maturing, as factors such as humidity, temperature, and proper lighting play an imperative role. The easiest and most effective way to store wine is to use a wine rack. Wine racks are to be selected carefully, keeping in mind which size of rack that you will require.

There are many choices of wine racks. However, the horizontal types of racks are normally preferred to those that are vertical, especially for wines that will be stored for a long period of time. Vertical racks do tend to dry the cork, which will end up spoiling the wine, just as many tilted racks do. Horizontal racks won?t dry up the cork and allow any unnecessary air contact, leaving your wine which is stored in a horizontal rack to be totally absent of sediment when it is poured. Another benefit is that it is also inexpensive to maintain.

The very wide range of wine racks are normally made of either wood or metal, that can be kept sitting on the floor, or they can be suspended from the ceiling.

A wooden wine rack has an advantage over a metal rack, as it can provide much needed extra storage space. They are strong and hard, and are aesthetically pleasing, mainly because they are made of cedar, maple, and mahogany. The wide range of these wine racks includes Diamond Bin, Rectangular Bin, and the Curved Corner Rack. If none of these are appealing to your creative nature, then you can purchase your own wooden kit which is all ready to make up with all the tools needed, making it very easy to install. This will allow you to create your own design for a rack that you want.

Wine racks which are smaller in size are suitable for homes and personal collections, but larger businesses will usually require larger racks to store larger quantities and varieties. Wine racks are very affordable, with prices that can range anywhere from $20 to $1000. For most home uses of racks, you can look to spend in the neighborhood of $35-$300, which all depends on the style and size of what you are looking for. There is a wine rack for all your needs, it is up to you to find that rack and begin storage.

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