Friday in Beaujolais, Like Being at Home
Thursday night we were treated on board to a performance featuring French culture. An opera soprano and a baritone, accompanied by a pianist and soprano saxophone performed a medley of music including opera, Broadway (les mis), and classics (American in Paris and Clair de lune). All were very gifted musicians, but the saxophonist was especially good and could have given Kenny G a run for his money.
This morning was our tour out into the wine country of the Beaujolais. As we entered the area it was much like being back in Dundee --- the vineyards, the vistas, and the wineries.
This morning was our tour out into the wine country of the Beaujolais. As we entered the area it was much like being back in Dundee --- the vineyards, the vistas, and the wineries.
Our first stop was the town of Beaujeu from which Beaujolais got its name. A town of 3,000, I could see myself spending some time here taking in the local culture with its church, streets, shops, and cafes.
From our stop at Beaujeu we were just a short distance away for our winery tour at Chateau Ravatys. Built in the 19th century by a wealthy individual, it was donated by his daughter who inherited it to the Louis Pasteur Institute with the proceeds going toward their efforts in improving public health.
We started out with a tour of the vineyard and tasting the grapes on the vine (due to be harvested likely next week). Notice how the grow them in bushes close to the grown to maximize the amount of sunlight they receive.
After a tour of the winery and the concrete fermenting tanks (and we thought Stoller was crazy trying to use concrete tanks), we adjourned to the cellars that were dug during the 17th century. Here we tasted four of the Chateau wines, a Chardonnay and three of their red Gamay wines (although the french seldom identify their wines by the grape variety). They were all very good and compare to the "less complex" wines of the Willamette Valley.
It was at the tasting that Alice was introduced to Bacon and Cheese Bread --- needless to say, we will probably be looking for that again as it was soooo good.
OK, back to my rhythm of life .... breakfast ✔ (egg benedict), tour ✔ (Beaujolais), lunch ✔ (German sausage, sauerkraut, fried apple, German dark beer), so it must be time for nap. After that we will probably be off to explore a little on our own in Lyon, then back for a silk making demonstration at 6, dinner cruise at 7, and a French cheese tasting at 9. It will be nice to eventually get back home so we can rest up from our vacation. Blessings to all.
