Brigid Kennedy shares her passion for Rhône wines and the deep ties between place, food and wine. Photo / Brigid Kennedy
Brigid Kennedy shares her passion for Rhône wines and the deep ties between place, food and wine. Photo / Brigid Kennedy
Wine educator, French Wine Scholar and expert tour leader at Renaissance Tours, Brigid Kennedy chats to Herald Travel about living in France, the one quality wine experts have and a popular wine-tasting myth.
What first sparked your love for French wine?
My love for French wine began unexpectedly –running an Australian restaurant in Paris in the mid-90s. We served modern Australian food with mostly Australian wines. Locals were curious about the food, but sceptical about the wine. “Australia makes wine?” they asked. But mostly, after tasting we’d get a “pas mal!” (“not bad!”).
What struck me was how naturally wine was part of everyday life in France. You could buy a bottle in a bakery. I once picked up a Sancerre with a quiche for a garden picnic – it was delicious, light, mineral and completely different from the aromatic Sauvignon Blancs I knew. That’s when I realised: in France, wine is about place, not just the grape.
Living there, I saw how food and wine were deeply connected to the seasons, land and culture. The butcher would ask what you were cooking, how many people, the occasion – and recommend a cut of meat, a preparation method and, of course, a wine. Even the cheesemonger asked what you were drinking. It wasn’t just about matching flavours – it was about a shared culture.
Rhône and Provence are more than wine regions – they’re places where wine and life connect. Photo / Shutterstock
You’re leading a tour of Rhône Valley and Provence. What makes this region so special for wine lovers?
If you love wine, you will love the Rhône Valley! It isn’t just the wine itself, though it’s excellent, but the deep sense of place. The landscape, grape varieties, and winemaking styles shift as you move along the river – from peppery, structured Syrahs of the north to the sunny grenache blends of the south.
You can stand in a vineyard in Côte-Rôtie and look out over 2000 years of winemaking history etched into the hillsides. Or walk through Châteauneuf-du-Pape and understand, with a sip of Grenache, why this region was once the papal seat of wine.
Rhône Valley wines range from peppery Syrah to sunny Grenache blends. Photo / Shutterstock
Food and wine go hand in hand – what are some regional dishes in Provence or the Rhône you love sharing with travellers?
In Lyon, I love the bouchons – local bistros serving hearty dishes like quenelles and terrines with a carafe of Côtes du Rhône.
Further south, where we lived in the Southern Rhône, meals get sunnier: slow-cooked lamb with herbes de Provence, ratatouille, tomato and olives, and potatoes cooked in olive oil.
Provence lightens the mood with Mediterranean flavours: seafood, tomatoes, herbs and elegant, bone-dry rosé. If the Rhône offers depth and richness, Provence brings freshness and sunshine.
What do you really need to know to enjoy wine? A lot less than you think, says Brigid Kennedy. Photo / Shutterstock
What’s one wine-tasting tip or myth you love to debunk?
That you need to name a dozen aromas to appreciate wine. You really don’t. What matters is: what do you smell, taste, feel? Wine is personal. If you’ve never smelt violets, you won’t detect them – but if rosemary or thyme grows in your garden, you might recognise those in a southern Rhône red. There’s no right answer, just your honest response. That’s what makes it fun.
Grenache in Chateauneuf du Pape. Photo / Shutterstock
How do you help guests feel confident exploring and appreciating wines?
I show guests how grape variety, regions and terroir all connect. Once you understand how the same grape can taste completely different depending on where it’s grown, wine becomes easier – and more fun – to explore. Curiosity builds, confidence follows and expertise comes more naturally.
Can you share a favourite memory from a past tour or tasting that captures the magic of wine travel?
At Domaine du Tunnel, built into an old railway tunnel in Cornas, the wine was incredible, but the winemaker stole the show. He didn’t speak English, so he kept nudging our guide to translate his jokes. She finally said, “He insists I tell you this because he thinks it’s funny – it’s not, but please laugh!” We did. Unforgettable.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. Photo / Shutterstock
Do you have a favourite New Zealand wine?
I’m a big fan, especially your Pinot Noir from Central Otago. I visited the Hawke’s Bay region and was really impressed by the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the special Gimblett Gravel soils. Like with rugby, New Zealand wine punches well above its weight!
What keeps you coming back to the Rhône and Provence?
The Rhône is where wine came to life for me. Living there, I saw how wine, food and place all belong together. The wines are full of character, and so are the people and the landscapes.
I hope guests leave with a strong connection to the region and a clearer sense of what they enjoy in a wine, and its connection to a place. That’s where it gets exciting.
DETAILS
Brigid will lead the upcoming Renaissance Tours ‘Wines of the Rhône Valley and Provence’ tour this September.
