Val de Loire:
What a week! We have had so much fun together in only five days. Thanks to Anthony and Coralie (our French friends) for their hospitality and the trouble they have gone through to organise such a great week....
...in the Loire.
There was wine tasting and wine tasting and then some more wine tasting. We tasted it all. We tasted a wine from 1928! We tasted 1959, 1964, 1974, 1979, 1982.....and the list of old vintages goes on. It was fantastic. I know that it has been an opportunity that not very many people have in their lifetime. And YES, the wine from 1928 was still good – exceptional to be honest. It was a Cabernet franc from Bourgueil in the Loire Valley.
The week was arranged in such a way that we visited two cellars or producers per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Anthony really did his homework well (being a native from the Loire I would not have expected less....) and we visited the top producer in every appellation. We were taken into private cellars, tasted private collections and enjoyed the hospitality of kings and queens. We sat down in living rooms and kitchens discussing details and secrets with winemakers - listening as they share their passion for the vine and its produce. I have to say that again the French hospitality blew my mind away.
Furthermore, the Loire is one of the most picturesque areas in France. With the river flowing down the middle, the enchantment of castles and chateaus is simply breathtaking. You get a sense of country side combined with good food and amazing wines – unlike anywhere else I have ever been.
Finally – it would simply be impossible to write down every experience of the last week. There fore I will post picture and write some notes below each. Cause a picture is worth a thousand words....
What a week! We have had so much fun together in only five days. Thanks to Anthony and Coralie (our French friends) for their hospitality and the trouble they have gone through to organise such a great week....
...in the Loire.
There was wine tasting and wine tasting and then some more wine tasting. We tasted it all. We tasted a wine from 1928! We tasted 1959, 1964, 1974, 1979, 1982.....and the list of old vintages goes on. It was fantastic. I know that it has been an opportunity that not very many people have in their lifetime. And YES, the wine from 1928 was still good – exceptional to be honest. It was a Cabernet franc from Bourgueil in the Loire Valley.
The week was arranged in such a way that we visited two cellars or producers per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Anthony really did his homework well (being a native from the Loire I would not have expected less....) and we visited the top producer in every appellation. We were taken into private cellars, tasted private collections and enjoyed the hospitality of kings and queens. We sat down in living rooms and kitchens discussing details and secrets with winemakers - listening as they share their passion for the vine and its produce. I have to say that again the French hospitality blew my mind away.
Furthermore, the Loire is one of the most picturesque areas in France. With the river flowing down the middle, the enchantment of castles and chateaus is simply breathtaking. You get a sense of country side combined with good food and amazing wines – unlike anywhere else I have ever been.
Finally – it would simply be impossible to write down every experience of the last week. There fore I will post picture and write some notes below each. Cause a picture is worth a thousand words....
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