Languedoc 

Mas de Daumas Gassac wines have long been a favorite of mine. Although the Mas de Daumas Gassac brand is only about 40 years old, it’s a cult favorite for those “in the know” about French wines. I love that it’s cultivated without chemicals or pesticides, maintaining respect and balance for the land.  

Normally I reach for their Rosé Frizant, but this month I got to try their white and regular rosé.

The white wine is made from four unique varieties including viognier, petit manseng, chenin blanc and chardonnay. It’s a delicious wine that I’ll be sure to have on hand during the fall and winter for a classic hostess gift. It’s slightly sweet and fruity which makes it great with light appetizers, but complex enough to pair with a meal.

The Moulin de Gassac Guilhem rosé made from syrah and carignan grapes and fermented in a stainless steel tank (no oak) to retain all its natural freshness and vibrancy. I hadn’t heard of the carignan grape before, but the internet told me “Carignan is a red Spanish/French wine grape variety that is widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean and around the globe.” This will definitely become my new go-to rosé! It has a twist off top which is perfect for outdoor picnics. 

Grown in the South of France, Mas de Daumas Gassac is an animal ran vineyard with hoses and sheep to control the grass, much like how many California farms use goats whenever possible. There is an underground cellar that’s over 1000 years old and the vineyards are hand-harvested.

Bordeaux 

Les Vignobles André Lurton, currently one of the largest wineries in the Bordeaux region, is a family-run company of passionate winegrowers and winemakers who are dedicated to producing exceptional wines from prestigious Bordeaux appellations. I tried two wines from the Château Bonnet brand. Both has twist off tops which make them perfect for taking your festivities outside. 

Château Bonnet White 2016, is a delightful wine blended from sauvignon blanc, sémillon and muscadelle. It’s fresh and fruity and paired perfectly with cheese. I’ll for sure try it again, but next time with fish and vegetables. One of my friends  described it as refreshing and crisp, which I thought was spot on. I hope he doesn’t try to steal my job 😉

Bonnet Red 2014 is a medium bodied blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. I found this wine to be fruity and a touch smoky. Although we had this with a cheese platter, it would go excellent with a homemade roast chicken with roasted potatoes, so I’ll be picking up another bottle to make a recipe with it soon! 

Basque 

In addition to the wine, we tried a cheese called P’tit Basque. Can we talk about how awesome this cheese looks? It’s like having your own mini wheel of cheese at home.

P’tit Basque is a 100% pure sheep’s milk cheese produced in France’s Basque region in the Pyrenees Mountains, the region that spans the border between France and Spain. Traditionally, it was handmade by shepherds from leftover curds set aside from milking their ewes, and is still made by the same methods applied by the local shepherds even today. It’s has a smooth, and slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

It was perfect paired with crackers – you know those ones with raisins in them? They’re my favorite right now. I really think you could use this cheese with anything though. I’ve been putting it on salad. I also think it would be great in a sandwich.

Normandy 

President butter is very popular in the United States for good reason. It’s crafted from cultured cream in the heart of Normandy, the “Grand Cru” among French dairy regions, well known for the outstanding quality of its milk.

President Unsalted Butter Quarters make it easy to measure the right amount. I think butter on crackers or bread with cheese is a perfect comabintation. Sometimes Ill also add ham. When you have high-quality ingredients like this butter you can keep your recipes simple.

I cook and bake more in the fall and winter so I like to keep my fridge stocked with high-quality butter, and President is one of the best. If you are buying butter for baking, make sure you get the unsalted one so you can control the salt level.

Rhône Valley

I named my blog Cocoa & Salt because these are two of my favorite things. When I eat or cook with chocolate it has to be high-quality without any . For me, Valrhona chocolate is perfect. Valrohna was created in 1922 by a pastry chef for pastry chefs and is made in the Rhône Valley.

We tried Valrhona Dulcey Chocolate which is considered the 4th color of chocolate – blond – (after white, milk, and dark chocolate). If you love caramel, you’ll love this creamy chocolate, slightly sweetened from the muscovado sugar. The muscovado sugar also gives the chocolate a rich flavor and beautiful brown color. We had it straight from the bag but it’s perfect for baking. I made a recipe using the President Unsalted Butter Quarters and Valrhona Dulcey Chocolate that I will be sharing soon.

As you are planning your fall and winter celebrations, consider adding these products to your table. You won’t be disappointed!

Most of these products are available throughout the United States at grocery stores and specialty wine shops. To learn more about the brands featured in this story, click below.

Mas de Daumas Gassac

Château Bonnet

P’tit Basque

President Unsalted Butter Quarters

Valrhona Dulcey Chocolate