From Grape to Glass

One of my favourite places to ride is on small roads through the vineyards. Last Sunday we spent an enjoyable morning  cycling through the small towns and the beautifully groomed vineyards around St. Emilion. 

the groomed vineyards of St Emilion

The ride was up and down the slopes around Montagne, Lussac Castillon, St Georges, St Christophe and Puisseguin ( to mention just a few). 







All were densely planted with carefully tended vines heavy with purple fruit.

We had lunch in busy St Emilion before heading 2km. downhill to our B&B in St Laurent des Combes.

 

the bell tower of St Emilion

a street in St Emilion

Throughout this trip we have have been told by more than one restaurant owner that it was time that the Grand Cru classifications of St Emilion wines were re-assessed as we were paying for the name when the wine had not kept up with its reputation.

vines just outside St Emilion

vines far from St Emilion

But when you compare the care they take with the vineyards of St. Emilion compared to the "laissez-faire" attitude of other 'vignobles' then perhaps you do want to pay the big prices. 

Most of the grapes grown outside of the St Emilion Grand  Cru chateaux, in these  vineyards you see, are sold to large wine consortiums in Bordeaux and then labelled as  Bordeaux wines. However, there are some small winemakers around St Emilion who are making, marketing and selling their own wines. When our B&B host can sell me a bottle of local wine for the grand total of five euros that he, himself, has sourced and it tastes great, then you know that when you pay the big bucks then you are paying for the name. 

So buy the wines of St Emilion that have another village name attached---Lussac, Montagne, Cotes de Castillon and you will probably be getting your money's worth. Just so that you believe me... here is an ad from a grocery store with award winning wines from the small towns around St Emilion. And the prices don't break the bank either.

  And if you ever find the rose named Cuvée Constance, then buy a case for me. Because if he sold it to me for five then he probably bought it from the winery for two. And it was delicious.

As we went a little further from St Emilion, we were offered Bergerac wines with our dinners. They are excellent and a much better value of course. We are especially enamoured with the  Pecharmont wines, of which the best is 'Chemin d'Orient'. When we ate at the "Le Citronnier" in Riberac it went very well with Minas' duck and the lamb that I chose. 

So I cycle on and I hope when we get to the wine region of Cahors that it might be time for the harvest - " la vendange" and I might have a few more things to learn about wine. 

Until then , we appreciate and look forward  to our wine each evening. 

Until next time..... Sante from France
Minas and Catherine