Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Observations along the way

We've been drinking local vintages in each area we've visited and learned some more about wine making in France during our stay in Pauillac. There seem to be two types of winemaking tradition. One creates wines to drink in the short term and these are aged in steel vats. They are described as wines to drink now. Wines placed in wood barrels are more complex and will be aged longer and drunk after some aging. They are described as being from wood. Many of the red wines produced in the Medoc region are blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The French select wine based on the label, not on the type of grape.


Sunday we left Pauillac heading north to the end of the peninsula. The Gironde river remained a large muddy river all the way to the mouth. The vineyards ended and the land was used for pasture. The villages on the peninsula got smaller and smaller and further apart. We stopped in a convenience store/bar for lunch and it was clearly the only social outlet around. A goat owner/cheese maker was there with his herding dog, a local fisherman was telling stories about his boat, a young man described the accident which ruined one side of his car, other locals came and went, and we listened as we ate our bread, salami and cheese. At the end of the peninsula, we took a ferry across the river mouth to Royan. The ferry ride was rough since there was a large swell coming in the river mouth and the wind was howling in off the ocean. We stayed the night in Royan and the town was hopping with tourists. There is apparently some good surfing nearby as we saw a couple of familiar surfing stores in town, Quicksilver and O'Neill's. Wandering about looking for a place to eat dinner we came on an Indian restaurant. Well it was a no brainer! We hadn't had anything truly spicy in quit a while. It was wonderful and left our mouths tingling. Monday morning we left Royan with the goal of La Rochelle. However, we got lost just north of Royan and added an extra 10 kms getting back on track. We passed some delightful houses in the countryside along the way.


We decided to end the day in Rochefort after 65 kms. After a good night's rest, we headed out Tuesday morning to finish the ride to La Rochelle. We had a strong headwind the whole way, but the small towns on the way provided some relief.


La Rochelle has a lot of maritime history and was passed back and forth between England and France many times as English and French rulers changed. It was well known for it's fortifications and inaccessibility during low tide. We approached the towers protecting the old port just at low tide.


Tomorrow we will take a day off the bikes to explore the maritime museum and other attractions of La Rochelle.

4 comments:

Diana said...

Your travel log is like a good novel that I look forward to picking up at the end of the day. The cafe scene you described truly reflected rural life and congered up some colorful images! We experienced the "drink now" wines as well as older vintages. What do you think? A little aging is a good thing (goes for people too)...haha. News from home: the weather is great, the Rodeo is upon us and our company launched a new product: Little Gem lettuce packed as a threesome. Gotta compete with the big guys.

Dave and Belinda said...

Thanks Diana, and we really enjoy your comments. It is great to share experiences. As for aging... Some is good, but eventually a state of diminishing returns is reached. Glad to hear the weather at home is good. Could you send any surplus our way? Good luck with the new product!

bombi said...

I agree with Diana. This log is like a good wine meant to be savoured at the end of the day. Ah, went out with Joel and contingent from District to brewpub "esta noche"; fue bueno!!

Dave and Belinda said...

Hey Beel, thanks and give Joel our best wishes. Hoping your summer is going well and you are not burning, burning...