Katie | French Wine Tutor

Home to a diverse mix of celebrities, old-school French families, and a melting pot of Europeans from across the continent, Nice is unlike any other place in France I've ever visited. From its glittering beach clubs to its beautiful old town and quiet residential neighborhoods, it has a real, authentic culture all its own. While there, I kind of dubbed it the French San Diego: beachy, relaxed, full of history, and littered with yachts. It serves as the perfect starting or ending point for a trip to the French Riviera or even Provence thanks to the availability of train lines and flights within both France and abroad. Here's how to spend the perfect three days in the jewel of the south.

My husband and I knew that New Zealand was our dream destination for our honeymoon: extraordinarily remote, dazzlingly beautiful, and full of great wineries, the potential for an epic road trip, and magnificent hikes. For the second half of our trip, we made Queenstown our home base and were delighted to find it is just minutes away from one of the world's most underrated wine regions: Central Otago. While we didn’t plan our whole trip around visits through Central Otago, it quickly became one of the highlights. We were blown away by the wine culture, ecological commitment, passion from the winemaking teams, overall sense of hospitality, and exceptional quality of the wines. Read on for our wine country adventures – I hope they inspire you to plan your own visit to Aotearoa.

For Germans and Brits, Mallorca’s a top travel destination and has been since the 1950s. But it’s only been fairly recently that North Americans have caught onto the trend – and business is booming. Over 7.3 million people visited Mallorca in the first half of 2023. The island is super English and German-friendly, plus it’s pretty easy to get around. Between that and access to some incredible produce, wine, and seafood, it’s also home to several Michelin-starred restaurants and chefs so you definitely won’t go hungry. Check out my tips to visiting beautiful Mallorca below – and have an amazing time!

Known around the world as the playground for the rich, Geneva (or Genève as it’s known in French) might at first glance seem like a sleepy (expensive) Swiss town – but don’t be fooled. This little area of the world has something for everyone. From great restaurants and wine bars to day trips out to vineyards and beyond, it’s hard not to have a good time while there. See below for the full travel guide if you’ve only got 72 hours to spare.

This month, I’m highlighting just a few of my favorite French wines made by women or in domaines where women are proprietors and cheffes d’exploitation. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and it’s one that I hope to update in consequent series and blog posts throughout the year. Having met many of these women in person, I’ll say this: women in French wine are alive and well, and many of them cannot wait to welcome you to their wineries.

If you can't book a trip to France, the next best thing is to transform little corners of your home to make you feel like you're there. Check out my essentials below for products I love to splurge on that make life a little prettier.

My husband and I have called Jersey City home for several years now, so we're always looking for something to do, eat, or drink. Read on for some of our favorite romantic spots in JC to serve as inspiration for your next night out!

A lot of people think that we wine bloggers get all our wine for free – as samples, at events, or for partnerships. And while I do get quite a few bottles this way, I’ve painstakingly purchased and built the majority of my collection myself. Having lived in the New York City metro area for over five years now, there are a handful of wine shops that really stand out. Read on to discover my favorites.

Check out the below list of places I've enjoyed on my recent trips to Paris - especially if you're a foodie!

It’s a capital of French gastronomy. It’s uniquely and ideally located between two stunning wine regions: Beaujolais and the Rhône. That would certainly be enough for me to visit, but on top of that, Lyon has a unique industrial history that makes it worth exploring – at least on a stopover trip. I loved visiting in June, when it was super sunny and perfect weather – the best time to stroll along the Rhône and Saône rivers! Read on for everything I did while there so you can plan your own weekend getaway.

I’ll go ahead and say it: Strasbourg is one of the most underrated cities to visit in France. Everyone goes for the Christmas markets, and while I’m sure they’re fabulous, there is something to be said for visiting this beautiful European capital in the spring. I fell in love with its charm, history, and cross-cultural experiences, and I was only there for three days. Here’s my guide for all the things you should do if you only have a few days yourself.

If there’s one thing you should take away from this post, it’s that you should probably, at some point in your lifetime, spend much more than 48 hours in Champagne, but given that its capital city of Reims is only a 40 minute train from Paris, getting away for the weekend is extraordinarily easy. From great restaurants and museums to quite literally thousands of wine producers all within a few kilometers, you’d be remiss not to spend some time in Champagne on your next trip to France. Read on to discover my itinerary to plan your own visit.

Beaujolais is France’s best kept tourism secret. Known locally as “la petite Toscane” – “little Tuscany” – it is an absolutely magnificent region with incredible people, wine, food, and views for days. And it’s rebounding. After decades of being overshadowed by Burgundy, Beaujolais has finally revived its reputation for making stunning, age-worthy reds as well as easy-drinking wines for everyday. If you’re choosing to go to Beaujolais, you won’t be disappointed.

I first explored Bordeaux a decade ago as an English language teaching assistant. I vaguely remembered its stunning Miroir d’Eau, proximity to the beautiful medieval town of Saint-Emilion, and the way the wine trade was woven into the very fabric of the place itself. Beyond that, I couldn’t remember much. So when Barton + Guestier invited me to attend their 300th Anniversary Gala at the Palais de la Bourse, I seized the opportunity and returned to a French city that felt both familiar and completely brand new. What resulted was twelve days of unforgettable adventures, some of my new favorite wines, and renewed hope for an industry a lot of naysayers claim has no future. Here’s everything I recommend checking out on your next trip to Bordeaux.