Bernadette Machard de Gramont

In 2021, Champagne producer Louis Roederer made headlines when it decided to stop making its best-selling nonvintage Brut Premier, replacing it with a new multi-vintage cuvée called “Collection.” It’s the latest producer to announce such a change, following in the footsteps of houses like Jacquesson, which—over 20 years ago—got rid of its nonvintage blend in favor of the Cuvée seven-series.
Besides Jacquesson, a handful of other houses also have multi-vintage offerings: Krug makes its Grand C...

One of my favorite things about Paris is that there’s a place for every taste—you just have to find it. My preferred neighborhood is Saint-Germain-des-Prés on the Left Bank, partially because of its creative, bohemian history (and really good shopping) but mostly because of how central it is to the places and people I usually visit. On this particular trip, I couldn't seem to find a room there, and then discovered French Theory in the adjacent neighborhood, the famous Latin Quarter (home to t...

In the house where I grew up, we had two living rooms: a formal one that we weren’t allowed to sit in, and the other that housed the television and, often, our overflowing toys and books. When my French husband visited my family home for the first time, the dual living room situation confused him: The house isn’t particularly large, and my parents don’t regularly host guests, so the formal living room sat empty most of the time. After some convincing, my parents gave us free rein to rearrange...

A Manhattan is made with three main ingredients, so a good whiskey is the real star of this drink.
The Manhattan is one of several iconic cocktails from the late 19th century with a hazy origin story.
If the classic Manhattan isn't enough, try one of a variation like the Rob Roy that subs in Scotch.
"At its heart, the Manhattan is designed to make a great whiskey shine," says Heather Wibbels, Chair of the Bourbon Women Board of Directors and mixologist-in-chief at Cocktail Contessa. This magi...

The old fashioned is the first American cocktail, and uses whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water.
It was designed to allow bar patrons to better enjoy the poorly-made whiskey of the early 1800s.
Today, the old fashioned is a style of cocktail that can showcase just about any spirit.
If you're into old-timey cocktails, the old fashioned is as classic as it gets. Made up of just sugar, bitters, whiskey, and water, it is believed to be the first American cocktail creation. This "alcohol-forward" co...

Nearly all wines can benefit from being chilled.
The fastest way to chill wine is to spin the bottle in a salted water ice bath.
You can also put the bottle in the freezer for 30 minutes or simply add ice cubes.
If you're a casual wine drinker, there's a good chance you've been taught that white wines need to be chilled while red wines can be served at room temperature.
It's not entirely wrong, but wine pros tend to store their wine — red, white, rosé, sparkling, or still — in already chilled...

Brown butter is simply melted butter that has been gently cooked to a toasty golden brown.
It can be used to add extra depth, richness, and dimension to any dish that calls for butter.
While many chefs and home cooks already extol the virtues of cooking with butter, it can actually be improved upon. We're talking about the toasty and delectable iteration known as brown butter.
"Brown butter is truly a wonder ingredient, and even when used in small amounts can have a huge impact on a dish," sa...

Reverse searing is the method of baking a steak to your desired doneness and then finishing it in a hot skillet.
Use this method to encourage even cooking in thick cuts of steak.
A smoking hot cast iron pan will help you achieve the perfect golden crust.
If you're not a seasoned grill master, cooking a steak might be an intimidating task — especially if you're dealing with a large cut of meat.
The reverse-sear method, where the steak is first cooked at a low temperature in the oven and finish...

Succulents are one of the easiest plants to propagate because they naturally regrow from leaves and stem cuttings.
There are three basic ways to propagate succulents: by leaves, stem cuttings, or offsets.
Propagating in early spring gives new plantings a chance to grow before going dormant in the winter.
For plant lovers, succulents are a popular choice to keep indoors and outside. They're fairly low maintenance and come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures that cater to a myria...

Tequila is produced in one of five Mexican states and made exclusively from the Weber azul agave plant.
The entire agave plant is harvested, trimmed, pressed, and distilled to make the final product.
Tequila can be bottled directly after distilling for a blanco variety or aged for an añejo variety.
Tequila is arguably one of Mexico's greatest national treasures. Made from the heart of the Weber azul agave plant, this spirit has been mass-produced since the 1600s and is one of the first indige...