Photo of Jean-Marc taken in 2008, after his first year of making wine in the Rhone Valley. Seven years and two vineyards later, he is in his element here in Bandol, where his natural rosé will be released in 2016! TODAY'S WORD: levure : yeast la levure chimique = baking powder, chemical leaveningla levure de bière = brewer's yeastla levure sèche = dry … Continue reading Yeast in French… and in wine + next Bandol winetastings
Join us tomorrow at 3:30 pm for a winetasting. Jean-Marc and I are happy to welcome you here (near Bandol). Confirm at jm.espinasse@gmail.com More tasting dates: October 3rd and October 19. Email the address above, for more info. TODAY'S WORD: la câpre : caper le câprier = caper plant ECOUTEZ/LISTENListen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words:Download MP3 or Wav Il y a longtemps on trouvait … Continue reading Join us here at home + A Santorini Caper
We would be so happy to see you at our winetasting this Saturday, September 26th at 3pm. RSVP to jm.espinasse@gmail.com (Photo taken for our 20th wedding anniversary, here at home last year. We celebrate 21 years tomorrow!) WORD OF THE DAY: Dépaysement : change of scene, disorientation, culture shock => dépaysement is often used in a positive sense, for "a change of scenery" … Continue reading Depaysement: A Change of Scenery unlocks inspiration
A clue as to where I really want to be these days: back in this ape triporteur with strawberries and avocados from my French garden in the truck bed and my dog by my side! If you are new to this list, a warm and hearty bienvenue! When French Word-A-Day began in 2002 it ran 7 days a week–then 5, then 3, then 2. Now we … Continue reading N’importe quoi: Deported from France, Kristin dusts herself off and imagines the ideal career.
Olive trees, sunflowers and more grape vines on the way! Thanks for reading today's story, below. TODAY'S WORD: Tractopelle : digger, backhoe ECOUTE / LISTENHear Jean-Marc pronouce today's word and example sentenceDownload MP3 or Wav Pour préparer le terrain de mes futures vignes, j'utilise un tractopelle qui enlève les souches des arbres et permet de niveler le terrain. To prepare the field for my future … Continue reading Tractopelle and Goings on Around here
The photo Jean-Marc took of our daughter, before she momentarily disappeared. The illusion of calm attracts swimmers. However, when great waves diminish, they (swimmers) are taken far away from the beach. When they try to swim against the current, they tire, weaken, and end up drowning. (See French translation below). Today's Word: contre-courant : ripcurrent, pull of tide, undertow Download MP3 or Wav L'illusion de calme attire les … Continue reading The Secret Revealed: word for rip current or undertow in French
Smokey's Excellent Vacation - We just returned from the Ile d'Oléron with all four–make that five!–members of our family. From a nightly game of Yam (Yahtzee) to regular forays to the ocean, we had a restful and memorable time together. See all the pictures right here. (And did you spot Mr. Sacks in the photo above?) MILLE MERCISThank you for your thoughful responses to the previous story, … Continue reading Devoiler: The Secret My Husband Kept from me
Readers call him anything from "Hunk of Burning Love" to "Chief Grape" (and some other things, read on…). Here is my husband in his vines, at this morning's unofficial harvest. More pictures will be posted, soon, at Instagram (see here). A SERIOUS WARNING:Today's story includes sensitive material (and the F word). Please do not be offended or sign off for this transgression. And if I … Continue reading Vendange + Hostile? (Please don’t sign off after reading this!)
Just discovered another photo of Jean-Marc and his side-kick Mr. Sacks, in Italy. Don't miss the collection of Mr Sacks photos! JEAN-MARC IN WINE SPECTATOR – Please read about Jean-Marc in this week's online edition of Wine Spectator! The story is called Parched in Provence. TODAY'S WORD: le glaçon : ice cube French definition of ice cubes from Wikipedia: Les glaçons domestiques … Continue reading Glaçon: A Wife’s Revenge + Ratatouillaisse recipe
This deliciousness you are seeing, above, is French artist and friend Yvon Kergal's recipe for caramelized "Ratatouillasse" (apparently a valid scrabble word, though no other definition found…) It's the most delicious hamburger-ratatouille combo ever, find the recipe here! TODAY'S WORD: une carte de séjour : residence permit AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc:Download MP3 or Download Wav file Pour obtenir ma carte de séjour, je dois faire … Continue reading Illegal Alien, Moi? Sans papiers? Carte de sejour & Lettre de motivation + Ratatouilasse recipe (ratatouille + hamburger)
