If the French Riviera were a movie, La Croisette would be the opening shot: sweeping, golden, glamourous and impossibly good-looking! This palm-lined promenade in the heart of Cannes stretches seductively along the Mediterranean, flanked by designer boutiques, historic hotels and beach clubs where rosé and champagne are practically on tap!
I’VE embarked on a fair few snowboarding holidays in winters past, and they’ve been either tight-budget affairs or entailed trying to arrange every part of it myself and cutting corners where I could – neither ideal for when you just want to let your hair down and enjoy the slopes of a long weekend.
On this four-day trip to Avoriaz, France, however, my every whim and worry were taken care of from start to finish, and in some style, meaning the bar is now raised forever.
Founded in 1905 by the young Norwegian adventurer Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen, the house has maintained its commitment to producing high-quality cognac for over a century. Thomas began his journey when he left Norway for France, driven by a passion for spirits and a keen entrepreneurial spirit. Joining forces with Peter Anton Rustad, another Norwegian, they acquired the established cognac house A. Edmond Dupuy. This acquisition marked the birth of Bache-Gabrielsen Cognac. I recently spoke with Claire Ronsin from the estate:-
If you're looking for a wine lover's paradise, look no further than the Loire Valley in France. This region is home to some of the most diverse and delicious wines in the world, from crisp whites to fruity reds, from sparkling to sweet. The Loire Valley is also known for its stunning scenery, dotted with majestic castles and charming villages. Here are our top ten vineyards to visit in the Loire Valley, where you can taste the best wines and enjoy the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The realm of alcoholic spirits offers an array of delightful flavours to be savoured, experienced, and enjoyed. On rare occasions, a single spirit can evoke sheer, unfiltered joy, akin to the elation of an 8-year-old at a Disney theme park. While I refrained from bouncing up and down with excitement (out of respect for my fellow writers during our visit to Courvoisier to taste their new 2023 Mizunara Cognac), a beaming smile remained plastered on my face long after I had finished tasting.
Maybe you’ve had to cancel your wedding this year. Maybe you’re feeling the pressure and stress of having to postpone or rearrange. Maybe you’ve decided to change your wedding plans entirely. Right now, there are a lot of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’. And I want to assure you that, whatever shape your wedding takes, whatever changes and adjustments have to be made, know that it will be the most glorious of days, because it’s yours – and that is all you need to make it special.
I’m just going to pause here. Right here, in the courtyard of this 19th century convent, now home to La Fourvière Hotel.
The pace of everyday life is such that a holiday without any pressures in idyllic, uncrowded countryside does not always sustain its promise. Luxury and total relaxation have to be essential ingredients whilst relative isolation and lack of passing interest can soon lose its appeal. However, adding the ingredients of the home of some of the world’s best wine – Burgundy and the most relaxing, eco-friendly and luxurious means of travel – Hotel/Barge through unspoilt countryside is an unbeatable combination.
Bordeaux, oui.
Cognac, oui.
But Angoulême… Still yes?
Unless you’re an avid cartoon fan (I’ll explain more about this later), Angoulême may be somewhat of an enigma. A sign-post flashing past, the “Is it worth us stopping by?” question fleetingly hopscotching through your thoughts.
Well, to save such indecision, I’ll answer your question for you. Yes, indeed it is.
When it comes to madeleines, I must admit, I never really got France’s obsession with the humble, plainly inoffensive little cake. A walnut-sized golden sponge synonymous with writer Marcel Proust. Indeed, for Proust, the powers of the madeleine go far beyond satiating the sweet tooth. In his novel he recalls how, as a child, his aunt gave him small madeleines dipped in tea - decades later, this crumbly delight resurrecting long-forgotten memories. One bite, a sensory trigger, containing the most powerful of ingredients – nostalgia.
