Time for my last post, most likely. Completing my three part series on travel, I will finish in France, the “heart” of the wine world. What can you say about French wine that has not already been said, for many it is the best. Grown in one of 9 regions all around the country, this wine is the model the rest of the world imitates. Having already covered the country (in detail) in Posts #18 & 21, I will not do so again here. Instead, I will focus on my three favorite regions: Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux.
In Champagne, Moet & Chandon is a must. They have more miles of caves than anyone & have Napoleon’s wine cask. Yes, he had his own personal cask! Others worth checking out are Taittinger, Krug, Bollinger, & Louis Roederer. There are also a few Michelin one & two starred restaurants in the area. In Burgundy, focus on the Cote de Nuit & Cote de Beaune. At the north end of the Cote de Nuit is the town of Dijon. If you go there to play tourist, be sure to check out “old town”. Of course, in Burgundy you must go to the town of Vosne-Rominee and “worship” at the altar of Rominee Conti, the best wine in the world! Otherwise, while in Vosne-Rominee be sure to check out La Cave Privee, a wine store that carries many excellent Burgundy wines. My favorite “mom & pop” winery in this area is Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion. They have grapes in the first 2 rows of La Tache and are very affordable. For the “heavy hitters” check out Joseph Drouhin, Louis Jadot, Phillippe Colin, & Bouchard Pere et Fils. While in the area, you might want to play tourist in the walled town of Beaune. As far as Bordeaux is concerned, I would focus on 5 specific areas: St. Emillion & Pomerol on the Right Bank and Pauillac, St. Julien, & St. Estephe on the Left Bank. There are so many really good “wine houses” in these areas that it’s hard to pick a bad one. Two of my favorites are Chateau Pichon Baron (in Pauillac) and Clos Fourtet (in St. Emillion). The Rothchild’s castle is also in Pauillac and worth a visit. Most of their wine (a first growth) is VERY expensive. Otherwise, there are many towns and wineries worth exploring in this expansive region.
As with every country, there is more to do than just drink wine (for most people). Paris, of course, is the main attraction in France. I’m not going to go over the obvious, but thought I might mention a few things. Avoid museums & monuments on the first Sunday of the month, it’s “free day” and they are usually packed. The “stalls” on the left bank are slowing disappearing, so be sure to take a stroll, before they’re all gone in the next few years. There are MANY museums to see, not just the Louvre (Yes, the Mona Lisa is worth it!). My favorite is the Musee D’Orsay, where you will find Monet and the Impressionists. Speaking of Monet, just north of the city is his home & gardens in Giverny (worth a visit). The restaurant on the lower level of the Eiffel Tower is much more affordable and has a great view. Finally, for the adventurous, try the tunnels under the city. Otherwise, the Normandy coast is probably my favorite part of France (other than wine country). While there take a 2 day Jeep tour of the main WWII sites, have some Calvados (apple brandy), and spend a day at Le Mont Saint-Michel (worth the drive). If you find yourself in the Loire Valley, make sure you go to DaVinci’s workshop, it’s really cool!
That should do it for this one. As I said at the beginning, this is probably my last Post. I will keep the site up for the rest of the year. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading my “ramblings”. Please, continue to explore the wonderful world of wine, I know I will. Cheers!