Cider Making in Europe
Filed Under Food History, Wines & Spirits France, Spain
It's apple season in many parts of the world, and that means cider! No, we don't mean American apple cider, which is simply unfiltered apple juice. We mean that wonderful alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice. In the U.S. cider (or "hard cider") is ever gaining in popularity, but in Europe it was been a staple for centuries, particularly in Great Britain, northern France, the Spanish Basque country, and… Read
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A Lemon Liqueur in Southern Italy (And We're Not Talking About Limoncello)
Filed Under Food History, Wines & Spirits Italy
The lemon has a long and storied history in the south of Italy, particularly along the Amalfi Coast, but many tourists who visit the gorgeous southern regions of Italy often associate the lemons of the area with limoncello. But that's not the only liqueur that's made with this ancient and healthy fruit. Experience a culinary adventure in Puglia. To discover where the liqueur known as Ambrosia di Limone is made,… Read
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Sparkling Wines and Appetizers on our Culinary Tours
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Travel Tips, Wines & Spirits France, Italy, Spain
It's often said that when in doubt about wine pairing, try a sparkling wine. They are more versatile than one might think, not at all just for toasting a special event. But while they might adapt themselves to a lot of courses, it's true that they are exceptional aperitifs. And what goes better with an aperitif than some hors d'oeuvres? The Venetians have this down to a science. There you… Read
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The Wine Toasting Traditions of Greece
Filed Under Destination Features, Wines & Spirits Greece
Part of every culinary tour with The International Kitchen is the beverages you drink and the traditions surrounding them. And while every country may have a different name for it, and a different way of doing it, but there's no question about it: toasting with wine dates back to the Ancient Greeks. Then again, it wasn't called 'toasting' back then. Rather, the elite men of ancient Greece would gather for… Read
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Pinot-What? The Wines of South Africa
Filed Under Destination Features, Wines & Spirits
Wine making in South Africa, and particularly in the region around Cape Town, has been receiving more and more attention and acclaim, but the history of wine production in the area actually goes back several hundred years. The Dutch are credited with bringing wine production to the region to help prevent scurvy among their sailor population, and one of the first vineyards established, Constantia, still produces wines to this day.… Read
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5 Interesting Facts about Wine
Filed Under Wines & Spirits
Wine, like food, has a history all its own, and its history is endlessly fascinating. Traveling abroad and taking part in a wine tasting during a cooking vacation means not only sipping new wines, but it also often means learning a bit more about the wine itself, from its production to its history. And we all know that when we share a couple glasses of wine together, a few stories… Read
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