Teen says…
This morning I woke up on a bed in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, in the heart of Basque Country. Now, I am falling asleep on a bed just outside of Sant-Emilion, France. Today was super crazy! I mean, one second I’m in Spain, and the next, France!?? So many macarons to taste, cheeses to smell, and historic attractions to see!
As you know, we’re on a family road trip, so the car is jammed pack, or…. it was. Earlier this afternoon, once we had finished getting settled in and unpacking in our new location—and after taking a quick trip to the tiny town market And the butcher’s next door, to get supplies for dinner—my mom made my brother and I walk around and explore the town. There isn’t that much too see of the town we’re staying in (Lussac) per se, as much as there is to see of the whole region. You see, everywhere around us there are grape vines lots of them. Dozens upon dozens of vineyards lining the road, along the horizon as far as the eye can see!
Now, one might think bringing children to a region known for wine making wouldn’t be all that interesting, but I am telling you it is 100% worth it, for every single grape that grows on the land. Although I am not yet legal age to participate in the wine tastings, I still learned a lot about wine. It was incredible to see all the French chateaux and learn about the different types of soil which sprout the 6 varieties of grapes—ranging from Merlot, the most common type of grape, all the way to Malbac, one of the more uncommon types—the wine from the Bordeaux region really is exceptional. It is certainly a destination to consider if you’re planning a road trip to France any time soon.
Mom says…
Did someone say wine? Yes please! Especially since I’m married to a huge craft beer junkie, so the opportunity to be surrounded by wine estates with tasting tours every few hundred meters is a real treat. OK, true we live in Portugal right now and, according to some oenophile websites, Portugal tops the world in per capita wine consumption (62 Liters to France’s 50). Regardless, I think most of us still think of France when it comes to wine…and cheese…and pâté…and chateaux.
Being in the heart of this beautiful wine producing region, surrounded by rolling hills of vines and winding roads through them. A countryside dotted with tiny hamlets where the vine tenders lived and medieval towns inhabited by hermit monks and Ursuline nuns…and wine.
I think the family consensus was a win for this stop on our trip. We took two morning wine tours with tastings: Chateau de Pressac was the more elegant and sophisticated, Chateau Franc Mayne was the more personal and multi-sensory. There are so many to choose from and experience it’s overwhelming. And the restaurants in the area were also fantastic. A definite repeat if we ever get the chance. Next time by bicycle…
Muses Where We Go 