Bring a little French apéro culture to your next gathering. Inspired by time spent in Bordeaux, Grace Hafner explores the art of unwinding with friends, good wine, and plenty of snacks, plus a collection of refreshing wine cocktails to try. From the Hafner 82 and Rosé Lemonade to an Aperol Rosé Spritz, these easy recipes are made for lingering over a glass or two.
Wine tasting should be about enjoyment, not intimidation. Whether we are conducting professional sessions at the winery or sharing a bottle at home, we believe that every opinion is matters and that the best pairings involve good food and great company. In this post, Grace Hafner shares a look at a recent "Pizza and Pinot" blind tasting, along with simple tips for hosting your own low-pressure event using newspaper-wrapped bottles and a lighthearted ranking system. Discover how to take the mystery out of the glass and keep the focus on fun.
I have been living in Bordeaux studying for my Masters in Vineyard and Winery Management. While I'm here, I have had the opportunity to see a number of our former interns. Some of them are working in the wine industry, while others visit Bordeaux for vacation. I've enjoyed dinners with them, worked for one and even run into another on the streets. Alexander Valley can feel far away, but anytime I see one of them, I feel instantly at home. It's been very fun to continue the friendships with them - some for over two decades.
As you may know, I moved to Bordeaux last September, and while I moved here to get my Masters, I I’ve put together an itinerary of my favorite things to do in the city, but really, you can’t go wrong here. 
At the start of September, I moved to Bordeaux to study Vineyard and Winery Management through Bordeaux Science Agro’s Master of Business and Science program. One of the things that I was most excited about my move, in addition to the copious amounts of cheese I was going to eat, was the family of interns that I would get to see. Since 1985, Hafner Vineyard has had a French intern from a university in Toulouse to help with harvest. The young man lives with my parents (and me when I was younger!) and usually is between 19 and 21 years old. Growing up, our interns were always big brothers to me. Soon after arriving in Bordeaux, I started meeting up with them, and so far, I’ve checked seven off the list.
