TASTING BANDOL WINES....Are you a wine drinker who swirls your wine, lifts your glass to the light, and comments on its "nice legs" as the liquid slides down the sides of the glass? The French call this the "tears of the wine".... as if it weeps. What an image!
We spent a whole day in the Bandol wine region at the Chateau Pibarnon perched on the shoulder of "Telegraph Hill" in La Cadiere d'Azur. This was the location of the old optical telegraph that linked Toulon and Paris. We walked through the vineyards with our guide on a beautiful, sun-drenched day atop a hillside along the Mediterranean. (There's that ocean again...damn, its gorgeous!) We also learned that some years ago ALL of the grape vines in France were destroyed by an insect that attacked the root systems. A disease resistant vine was brought over from America, and the French vines were grafted onto them. As long as the vines do not touch the ground sending out roots, they are protected and France is in the wine business again. We all felt pretty cool about America saving the French vineyards until we found out that the insect came from the US in the first place. Guess this one's a wash!
Photos are of our wine expert, us tasting many wines, and lunch (with more wine, of course).
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