Latest news with #Loire
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The best sparkling wines for summer sipping: How to get champagne taste on a prosecco budget - including a new £12 winner at Aldi
Champagne taste on a Prosecco budget? Look to France 's crémant regions – Loire, Alsace, Limoux and more – for traditional-method sparkle without the splurge. Over in Spain, Cava is also well worth exploring - once overlooked, it's seriously upped its game in recent years, with some excellent bottles on shelves from just £8. Further afield, sparkling wines from , Australia and Argentina can offer character, freshness and brilliant value.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Weather tracker: Fierce thunderstorms and big hailstones hit parts of Europe
This week, large parts of Europe have been affected by a series of intense thunderstorms, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, and large hail. Central France was particularly badly affected by the severe weather, as powerful storm systems swept south-westward across the country. The departments of Loire and Puy-de-Dôme were among the hardest hit, experiencing significant damage from a particularly violent supercell thunderstorm that produced hailstones measuring up to 6cm in diameter – larger than ping-pong balls. The storm system also generated flash flooding, strong wind gusts, and reports of a localised 'mini-tornado', leaving widespread damage to infrastructure and vehicles in its wake. The storms were fuelled by warm, saturated air rising from the Mediterranean clashing with cooler air descending from northern Europe. This temperature contrast created significant atmospheric instability. Additionally, the orographic influence of the Vosges and Jura mountain ranges probably contributed to storm intensification by enhancing uplift. The powerful supercell formed under conditions of high wind shear, where changes in wind speed and direction with altitude encouraged the development of a rotating updraft. These intense updrafts lifted raindrops high into the atmosphere, where they froze and coalesced into large hailstones before falling to the ground with destructive force. Meanwhile, southern China has once again experienced heavy rainfall, triggering landslides, emergency evacuations, and widespread disruption to transport networks across the region. In Quanzhou County, approximately 300 cubic metres of debris, including soil and large boulders, tumbled down a hillside, blocking a major roadway and bringing traffic to a standstill. In Guilin's Lingui district, rainfall totals exceeded 207mm on Monday alone, highlighting the severity of the ongoing weather system and its impact on the local infrastructure and communities. Canada is currently battling more than 200 active wildfires, primarily across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with approximately 2.3 million hectares burnt, most within the past week. At least half of these fires are classified as out of control, and have led to widespread evacuations. Thick smoke from the fires has significantly reduced air quality, spreading across a third of the US, and more recently have reached Europe. Hot, dry conditions, intensified by climate change, have been worsening the situation, and are expected to help fuel the fires over the coming days.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Daily Mail
France's most walkable city revealed and it isn't Paris - as the underrated destination boasts 'unique' history and cheap flights from the UK
Tourists with a love of France and urban walking might assume that Paris would top every list going when it comes to beautiful, walkable French cities. However, experts at digital publication The Travel have suggested that there's one French metropolis beats Paris hands down, not least because it comes without the huge crowds and selfie sticks. Coming first in the list of France's ten most walkable cities, Nantes, Brittany's capital, was found to be more pleasing for visitors when it comes to tourist sights, foodie pit-stops and great walking routes. Experts at the digital magazine said the city has 'one of the richest cultures in the country and a fantastic food scene. 'The city offers its unique charm through beautiful strolls along its cobblestone streets and local restaurants and cafes.' On the River Loire, 30 miles inland from the Atlantic, Nantes is France's sixth largest city. Nantes is known as the city of 100 parks, all of which are free to visit including the grounds of the splendid Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne, with its elegant ramparts and gardens. Walkers can explore the labyrinthine, medieval streets of the city centre and admire the grand gothic exterior of the 15th-century cathedral. There's also a mile-long stroll along the Loire and a great way to get a (free) city overview is to take a self-guided tour following a green line marked on pavements in a circular route leading to works of contemporary art and places of architectural interest ( One of its most popular sights remains the highly unusual 'mechanical elephant' at a theme park called Les Machines de L'Ile. Earlier this month, a study from Compare the Market has revealed the world's most walkable destinations and the top-rated city is just a short flight away from the UK. Beating out tough competition from Milan and Paris, Munich was crowned the world's easiest city to explore on foot. According to the researchers, 86 per cent of Munich's population live within 1km of a car-free space. And 85 per cent of residents live within a 1km of healthcare and education facilities. The Bavarian city is also a great destination for tourists to get around on foot with many of its main attractions located within walking distance. The Marienplatz, Munich's large historic square, is the city's top attraction and sits overlooked by the clocktower. Its Rathaus-Glockenspiel mechanical clock is a must-see with characters enacting scenes from the city's history twice a day. From Marienplatz, tourists have just a five-minute walk to reach the city's Frauenkirche, a restored Gothic Catholic church. The church is known for its mysterious 'Devil's Footprint', a large black footprint adorning one of its floor tiles. After admiring the church, tourists face a mere eight-minute walk to reach the Residenz Munich, a historic palace that's another of the city's top attractions. The Residenz houses the Bavarian Crown Jewels and served as Munich's seat of government right up until 1918. Tourists are then just a short stroll from Munich's famous English Garden, the city's largest park. The park spans 375 hectares with visitors able to watch surfers attempt the Eisbach wave on the Eisbachwalle River, or enjoy spectacular views from the Monopteros, a small Greek temple folly at the top of a hill. And after all that walking, visitors can head to one of the city's renowned beer halls or gardens to soak up Munich's iconic beer culture. According to Introducing Munich, the average cost of a beer is just €4/£3.40 in the German city. Meanwhile, a pretzel costs just €1.50/£1.27. Milan was named as the world's second-most walkable city while Warsaw, Helsinki and Paris rounded off the top five. At the other end of the scale, Manila, the capital of the Philippines, was ranked as the least walkable city in the world. Planning to stay in the UK this summer?
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Tennis Whites—Top White Wines To Enjoy While Playing (and Watching) Tennis This Summer
Strawberries and champagne during Wimbledon tournament getty A chilled glass of white wine is the perfect pairing for watching tennis, and now is the time to organize a Grand Slam Watch party. Select white wines to drink with your tennis gatherings that celebrate each slam's location—French whites for Roland Garros, English sparkling (yes, they make amazing bubbles) for Wimbledon and American whites for the US Open. The ideal wine for summer tennis sipping will be crisp and juicy but laced with a bit of decadence, here's a shopping list to get things started: Les Passerelles Sancerre, 2023 The Loire is France's longest river—almost 634 miles to be exact, and it's diverse and varied landscape forms the backbone of this wine region offering everything from exquisitely juicy Sauvignon Blanc to a mineral-driven Chenin Blanc. This Sancerre is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc and brings a balanced style to the palate with loads of juicy grapefruit and citrus zest. $40 The Passerelles collection is the first-ever Loire Valley offering from Jackson Family Wines; the rest of the portfolio includes a Chenin Blanc and a Cabernet Franc. Domaine Jean Defaix Chablis, 2023: A classically styled Chablis with ample juicy fruit layered with citrus zest and a fine wire of minerality for structure. A warm sunny afternoon of tennis can have no more perfect match than this 100% mouthwatering Chardonnay to pair with it. Domaine Pichot Vouvray Sec Coteau de la Biche 2022: Vouvray can be dry or gently sweet and this expression is 100% dry Chenin Blanc crafted with a mix of 90% stainless steel and 10% wooden vats. Ripe pretty aromas of white flowers and juicy peach make it a great option for daytime tennis drinking. $23.99 Moët & Chandon Moët Impérial: A non-vintage expression that is the House's iconic champagne—a universally appealing bubbly offering in just about every situation with its creamy mouthfeel and crisp juicy apple notes laced with a citrusy-floral edge. You'll find plenty on offer at Roland-Garros and the US Open (where they are an official sponsor). Wimbledon—The Celebrating Tradition Slam Nyetimber Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage: This sparkling wine is made the same way as Champagne, but in England. Nyetimber is not actually served at Wimbledon but is the official sparkling wine sponsor of the Lawn Tennis Association which means they are served at the Queen's Championships and regional tournaments. If the Queen approved, then so do we. Cherie Spriggs, Head Winemaker at Nyetimber says, 'Many people don't realise how diverse sparkling wine can be, and the Nyetimber range really does offer something for everyone. Our flagship wine, the Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage is an elegant way to begin the festivities, whilst our Cuvee Chérie Demi-Sec is delicious paired with light desserts, or even scones with jam and cream for a true British summer staple.' The US Open Whites—The 'Anything Goes' Slam Sparkling Pointe Brut Seduction, 2014: Let's talk about even more New York bubbly—this one hails from Long Island's North Fork and is devoted to producing sparkling wines in the traditional Méthode Champenoise. This gem, aged for eight years, has lovely deep golden hues matched by heady aromas of lemon custard, buttered biscuit, ripe apple and baking spices. $70 Cuvaison Estate Sauvignon Blanc, 2023: This special wine is cultivated from vines that have the famed d'Yquem clone—a world-renowned clone cutting whose fruit adds layered complexity to the wine. Aromas of white flowers, fresh cut herbs, grapefruit and ginger dominate the nose and palate. Juicy and delicious—perfect for sipping on a sunny tennis-filled afternoon. $28 Lola Chenin Blanc St Helena Napa Valley, 2023: Lush and savory, with a mouth-watering juiciness this wine is a classic expression of what Chenin Blanc does best—deliver richness with acidity and freshness. It's the perfect wine to sip after or during a match. Demetria Estate Cuvée Papou, 2023: A fun Rhône blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Marsanne, this modest alcohol wine shows off with notes of melon, citrus and a hint of lime sorbet. It will pair well with any tennis spread. $45 Palisades Canyon Chenin Blanc, 2022: The CCOF-certified organic vineyard of Chenin Blanc is the only 100% head-trained vineyard in Napa—a style of cultivation that allows for more uniform ripening and is ideal for hot climates. This satiny Chenin delivers ripe tropical fruit notes that give way to a juicy finish that lingers on the palate. ($75) Trefethen Katie's Acre Chardonnay, 2022: Family-owned for more than five decades, third-generation vintners Lorenzo and Hailey Trefethen are now at the helm of this historic and sustainable winery, which dates to the late 1960s. The palate is layered and complex with tropical fruit and a thread of citrus zest. $60
