After visiting the troglodyte village we had ourselves a proper french wine tasting experience; and why wouldn't we, its a must when in France. When we arrived at the winery we were escorted into an official looking building titled "École de Vin," from first sight I knew this part of the day was going to be great. Our tour guide slash wine expertise was a very french man with a very french, solemnly sarcastic humor. He explained the process of making both vin rouge and vin blanc (red and white wine). I felt so smart because he asked the group what color of juice is squeezed from red grapes, everyone responded saying red, but I am a wine snob and I knew that it was white because I am glamorous and sophisticated. This is actually a false statement, I only knew this fact because it was the only thing I remembered from my wine history class a few years ago. (For those that are curious, red wine gets its color not from the juice of the grapes but from the skins. White wine is fermented without the skins and red wine is fermented with the skins so the color actually comes from the skin not the juice.)
After our wine making process lesson our french man took us on an exclusive tour through the whole factory. We watched the workers unload the grapes and saw the big containers that the wine ferments in. The cool this about this winery is that it is all organic (my true hippie side shining through, can't deny it). Most food in France is organic anyway because that is the French standard so it really isn't that different from the other wines made in France, but the French know that it is a new trend in the states to eat organic food so they like to push that fact. My favorite part of the tour was the cellar. Just like the troglodytes village the cellar was in a cave. Something about seeing hundreds of bottles of wine in a cave was just so flipping cool.
After the tour we finally had our wine tasting! We started with the sparkling vin blanc, which is what that specific winery is best known for. We then tried the vin rouge, and I'm not trying to be a wine snob or anything but it was no Bordeaux, then we finished with the rosé. I was surprised because out of the three I liked the rosé the best. I usually am a vin rouge type of gal, but wow the rosé was good. It was so much fun to feel all sophisticated and grown up - wine tasting in France, who would have ever thought!? My favorite part was that the International Program Director Monsieur Milan was helping serve us the wine!
My friend Julie flirting with the cute french wine server
Mes amis
Monsieur Milan
Off to the bus we went again and on to dinner...for such a great day it is hard to decide which part I liked the best. Village, wine tasting or dinner? I think dinner wins by just a tad bit. First of all it was through a tunnel and in a cave. (Why is everything so much cooler in a cave?!) Second, the food was like no other food I have ever tasted in my entire life. Our entrée was a plate of mushrooms sauteed in butter - absolutely melt in your mouth heavenly, like no mushroom you have ever tasted in your life. Then they gave each table two bottles of wine which was fabulous since there were only six people per table and lots of wine to go around. Our main dish was actually something I have never tried before. They came around with hot out of the oven pita-bread-type rolls, then brought a fatty pork spread, butter, and kidney beans. You split the warm steaming pita in half, spread butter on it, layer the pork spread, top it off with kidney beans and bon apetit! I wish I would have worn my stretchy pants because I went to town! I never wanted the cheese course to end, it was the same pita bread with fresh warm brie spread on top. By the end of the meal my stomach was delightfully stuffed, I was a little giggly from the wine, and having the best time of my life laughing with friends in a cave restaurant. Going out to eat will never be the same again, it will be hard to top that!
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