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Rated 4 out of 5 by DaGeek from Good quick survey of French wines This is a great, quick survey of French wines that I enjoyed very much. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan is obviously very passionate and knowledgeable about wines, and this comes across like a full bodied Bordeaux. Obviously in six lectures you cannot get into depth, but she did touch on each of the major wine regions of France and wine varietals. I came away with a better understanding of the various regions and styles… and with a desire to explore French wines more deeply. Enjoyable and I would recommend this course.

Date published: 2023-08-31

Rated 5 out of 5 by Rover78 from Wonderful variety of subjects I am retired and always wanted to find the time to explore various new areas of interest. I have purchased courses on astronomy, great paintings, wine tasting, French and Italian languages, and chess. All have been wonderful experiences; I highly recommend The Great Courses.

Date published: 2021-11-18

Rated 5 out of 5 by Gigi70 from Purpose Clearly Stated Such an enjoyable presentation of French wines! We will watch it again and again, rewinding to clarify certain bits. Have already tried 3 of the wines suggested and are quite pleased. The speaker is expert in presenting rich, interesting details without being overwhelming.

Date published: 2020-05-25

Rated 5 out of 5 by Wine Lover from If you like drinking good wine If you like drinking good wine this course is for you. It was very informative and entertaining. I will have more confidence in the wine shops now when looking for French wines which I happen to love.

Date published: 2020-04-23

Rated 5 out of 5 by Danny F from Wines of France Guide to French wines is well done. Good simple education

Date published: 2020-03-06

Rated 5 out of 5 by Nestor from Mission Accomplished Ms. Simonetti-Bryan sets a high bar because she has chosen to tackle the very corner of the world wine market that is most prized to many who are informed of such things and most recognized even to those who are not. I note that some reviews suggest that Ms. Simonetti-Bryan's general wine course may be the best starting point, and I chose to start with wines of France, so I cannot make a judgment on this point. However, I find the strong point of this course is that I was not patronized by the presentation and was actually forced to pay attention to some of her finer tasting points. Wine jargon can be annoying and we did get our share here (I may never understand "minerality"). Moreover, it is unlikely, in my view, that the typical Great Courses consumer will prepare for each lecture by making the recommended purchases. Still, I believe that some of the timeworn mystique of the iconic wines of France has been debunked. The bottom line is that my modest knowledge of the wines of France has been materially enhanced. This is a worthwhile purchase.

Date published: 2019-12-28

Rated 2 out of 5 by Giulia R from Some okay information, but embarrassing. Some okay information and good selection of wines from the regions, but for a Wine Master (and part of her name is Italian!!) Jennifer's pronunciation is horrifying! "Grigio" in Pinot Grigio, which is used in almost every tasting is "GREE joe", not "GREE GEEE OHHH". Sangiovese, Moscato d'Asti, and others were said incorrectly. Same with the mispronunciation of wine areas and towns such as Adige, Liguria and Assisi. Even the proverbs and toasts were like listening to nails on a chalkboard. If she is presenting Italian wines, regions and proverbs please say them correctly so that those taking the course will say them correctly!!! Also, some of her pairings were strange. A northeastern region wine paired with a pasta dish from Rome? Spaghetti Bolognese?? . . . There is no such thing in Italy. She seemed to have textbook and surface knowledge of Italy, but did not bring the real essence of Italy. I would update this course and have an Italian as the instructor. (also, in posting this review some of the Italian wine names I had to leave out as Great Courses marked them as profane - even the lecturer's name of Simon___ was dubbed profane!)

Date published: 2018-07-02

Rated 5 out of 5 by dcar from Well done! These lectures are so packed full of information we'll be watching them several more times, I'm sure. In fact, the instructor is delivering so much information, we were very glad we had already watch the more general (and longer) course, The Everyday Guide to Wine. It gave us a solid foundation for watching these more specific lessons. In my review of the more general Everyday Guide to Wine course I complained that Great Courses had done a disservice to this instructor by their clumsy use of the teleprompter, but in the Everyday Guide to Wines of France that problem has been resolved. The instructor has an excellent delivery. We really enjoyed the brisk pace of the lectures and the variety of visuals (even the ones that were a little bit hokey), and we recommend it highly. Our next stop: The Wines of California.

Date published: 2018-04-07

Overview

Grab a glass and join acclaimed Master of Wine Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan on a fascinating six-lecture tour of the best wines that France has to offer with The Everyday Guide to Wines of France. What makes French wines stand out from their international counterparts? How does the varied landscape of France shape and influence what’s in your wine glass? Why do French wines command such respect from culinary experts and casual drinkers? These intriguing questions and more are answered in a journey packed with interactive wine tastings, food and wine pairing demonstrations, practical tips and suggestions for shopping and gift giving, and more.

About

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan

Working on each of The Great Courses series has been one of most enjoyable and fulfilling projects in my career. While an easy process, the content, video, filming, and editing teams are some of the most professional I've worked with, they are a complete joy to work with.

INSTITUTION

Institute of Masters of Wine

Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is among a small number of people to have received the highest credentials in the wine and spirits industry. She is one of only a few hundred people in the world to have achieved the Master of Wine (M.W.) title from The Institute of Masters of Wine in London, England-the highest and most difficult title to achieve in the industry. She also has a Professional Certificate in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan has taught courses for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, has trained thousands of professionals in the wine and spirits industry, and has judged international spirits and wine competitions, including the Ultimate Beverage Challenge in 2010 and 2011. She has also hosted seminars with Food Network stars such as Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay, and Mario Batali. In 2008, she won the Wiesbaden Tasting Trophy from The Institute of Masters of Wine. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan is a frequent guest on television programs, including Fox Business, Fox News, and Bloomberg TV. Additionally, she has been featured in publications such as Fortune, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and Wine & Spirits Magazine.

By This Professor

The Everyday Guide to Wines of California

The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails: Tastes and Traditions

01: French Wines - Quality and Tradition

Discover everything you need to know to understand—and savor—a wine that is exceedingly French and enjoyed on both celebratory and everyday occasions: Champagne. You’ll learn how to open a bottle of Champagne like an expert, how it compares to Prosecco and other sparkling wines from around the world, how the landscape of the Champagne region affects the character of the wine itself, which foods pair best with sweet and dry Champagnes, and more.

38 min

02: Alsace and Loire - Delicate, Racy, and Luscious

Muscadet. Sancerre. Chinon. Alsace Riesling. Sample these and other elegant reds and whites from the Loire and Alsace regions of France. As you taste your way through these treasures, you’ll explore what experts mean when they say wine is “past its peak,” why acidic wine pairs so well with seafood dishes, why a German wine is grown in France, and why a particular form of fungus on grapes can actually be a great thing.

32 min

03: Burgundy - Wines of Sophistication and Elegance

Ms. Simonetti-Bryan takes you on a virtual tour of the tastes and sights of her most favorite wine region: Burgundy. What makes this landscape so important is that it’s the benchmark for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir around the world. You’ll get a chance to find out for yourself why it’s the gold standard through interactive tastings and comparisons of a range of wines, including a Bourgogne Blanc, a Chablis, a Meursault, and a Beaujolais.

34 min

04: Bordeaux - Bold and Rich Wines

Become more familiar with wines from France’s most iconic wine region: Bordeaux. As you taste your way through a variety of unique wines, you’ll also see how winemaking in France compares with winemaking in California (where technological innovations are looked on more favorably) and take a peek at how a wine ages over time. You’ll finish the lecture with a luxurious sampling of a Sauterne, one of the world’s best-known dessert wines.

39 min

05: Rhône Valley - Aromatic Whites and Spicy Reds

Explore the great wines of the northern and southern Rhône Valley, which display a side that’s more flavorful, spicy, and savory. As you use the five S’s of tasting wine to make your way through a red and a white Côtes du Rhone, a Condrieu, a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and more, you’ll train yourself to easily pick out the ways in which the landscape of this region shapes how its wines look, smell, and taste.

33 min

06: Southern France - Rising Stars and Secret Gems

Go to the southern coast of France (and other outlying regions) for a look at the rest of the wines this country has to offer: a Vin de Pays d’Oc Chardonnay, a Chablis, a Provence Rosé, a Corbières, a Cahors, and a Madiran. You’ll also learn the pros and cons of screw-capped wine, see how rosés are crafted, and have fun with a final quiz (modeled on a French game) that tests your newfound knowledge of French wines.

36 min