View of the garden, old farm house water tower, and pool from our bedroom
Our bedroom - "Emilie" - at Chateau Real - all of the bedrooms are named after Violaine's women relatives. Nine generations of her family have lived in this farm house.
Chateau Real
Up about 7 - breakfast in the large dining room of Chateau Real at 8:15. Violaine has all kinds of preserves that she has made. Patrick even made a loaf of breakfast bread - a spice bread. Everything was good.
At 9 Frederic picked us up in his van. He was our guide for the day. So knowledgeable. He grew up on a vineyard and knows all about it although he didn't study it for an advanced certification. He talked to us all day until 6 pm about wine, the vineyards, and the chateaus.
First stop was LaFon-Rochet where Claire guided us through their operation.
Le Chateau LaFon-Rochet
Wine aging in French oak barrels at Chateau LaFon-Rochet
Claire and Tim enjoying the wine tasting at Chateau LaFon-Rochet
We liked Les Pelegrins (The Pilgrims) and bought a bottle
The old chapel next to the vineyard at Le Chateau LaFon-Rochet
Next stop was Chateau Beychevelle- a HUGE chateau now used as a conference center. It had a view from the chateau all of the way down to the Gigonde River. Beautiful and immaculate.
Panorama picture of Chateau Beychevelle - which means "sail halfway down" to honor the admiral who built the chateau
Close up of Chateau Beychevelle - Magnificent
These are Les Carrelets - fishing huts along the Gironde River
Next stop was Chateau Pontet-Canet - they make wonderful grand cru classes and use horses to tend the vineyards, pick the grapes by hand, and don't use any chemicals. They are doing lots of experimentation with ways to make wine. Daniel was our guide and was very informative.
Daniel at Le Chateau Pontet-Canet
Le Chateau Pontet-Canet
The sorting machines used at Chateau Pontet-Canet
More of the assembly line machinery used during the harvest at Chateau Pontet-Canet
The huge vats at Chateau Pontet-Canet
Daniel explaining the 'concrete' vats they are experimenting with at Chateau Pontet-Canet
The French oak barrels used to age the wine at Chateau Pontet-Canet
The "egg" vats they are experimenting with at Chateau Pontet-Canet - this vineyard "inverted" the eggs to help with the wine making by letting the "debris" go to the bottom of the egg yet continue to fortify the wine.
The "cave" at Chateau Pontet-Canet
Wine tasting at Chateau Pontet-Canet
Frederic and Daniel - Frederic was our guide for the day - Daniel our guide at Chateau Pontet-Canet
Then to Clos Manou in. This was a small family run vineyard. Francoise spoke so passionately about their wines. They started the vineyard in 1996 and make only 40,000 bottles per year. She loves what they do and we could tell. We had a great time with Francoise and she gave us a bottle of their rose as a gift. Clos Manou has been in 2 blind taste tests and they were awarded NUMBER 1 in both. Francoise was so happy. They have a red wine that is good and very affordable. Sweet visit!
At Clos Manou in St Christoly Medoc - Francoise was so great as our guide even though she spoke no English! We made do!
Back to Chateau Real for a much needed nap a little after 6. Dinner tonight was at the table d'hote cooked by Violaine. It was great - main course duck breast wrapped in rosemary sprigs. Delicious.
Our dinner - duck breast slices wrapped around rosemary twigs - yum!
Violaine and Patrick at the table d'hote - she made a great dinner - such gracious hosts
Patrick and Violaine explaining the art of breadmaking to Tim in their breadmaking kitchen!
Chef Tim mixing the flour with the yeast mixture
We headed to bed about 10:30 - where does the time go - we are having such a blast. The storms have moved east and the sky in the west is clearing. Tonight is the "new moon" so there should be very little moon light or city light here so Tim is planning to get up and go out into the vineyards to look at the stars. I think I'll sleep!
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