French Vinaigriers

Where before wine there are grapes, after wine there's vinegar. A lot of people don't think much when they pick up a bottle of red wine vinegar at the grocery store, but the truth is that it's kind of interesting. Turning wine into vinegar is a complicated process - arguably as difficult and necessary of finesse as creating a fine wine. And for the number of French regions, vineyards and vintners out there, there's a surprisingly small number of vinaigriers in the country.

According to an article on TheAge.com titled Acid Trips, "France has but a handful of artisan vinaigriers producing vinegar from wine by the traditional method. It's an indication of the poor public image of this pantry essential, says Nathalie Herre, who since 1999 has been making a unique range of vinegars in the Roussillon region of southern France."

If you're looking to take your wine-related trivia knowledge to the next level, this article's a good place to start. Follow the link for the full details.