We just returned from a wine cruise in France with two Arizona wine makers and 86 wine enthusiasts from all over the United States.
Eric Glomski from Page Springs Cellars and Sam Pillsbury from Pillsbury Wine Company were the perfect wine escorts on this unique trip with AMA Waterways! We learned about the different grapes and growing methods. We even got to compare Arizona and French wines that contain the same type of grape from the same year, side by side. I’m happy to report that the Arizona wines are every bit as good as the highly acclaimed French wines, but this did not surprise me.
My favorite wine was the Chateanueuf-du-Pape. The vines are grown very low to the ground due to the fierce Mistral winds and the rich soil is covered with ancient river rocks.
In addition to wine tasting at local French wineries, we got to visit many wonderful sights along the way. Les Baux de Provence is a tiny village on top of a rock outcrop with some ancient castle ruins. Beautiful rock formations and wild thyme and rosemary lend a mystical feel to the entire region.
What a treat it was to explore the many hidden trails around the famous Pont Du Gard, the ancient Roman Aqueduct outside of Avignon. Built 2,000 years ago, it is a testament to the engineering skills of the ancient Romans.
The Truffle Farm Tour and wine tasting was fun and educational, but the French farmer’s dog stole the show with his enthusiasm for his job! I can’t wait to cook with the truffle oil that I brought back!
After tasting some wonderful Beaujolais wines, we visited the medieval village of Oingt, which is perched on top of a hill with great views of the surrounding area. As we were traveling outside the tourist season, we pretty much had this town to ourselves. I can only imagine how crowded and busy this place must be in the summertime. All of the buildings use the local “golden” rocks, which cause the entire village to glow in the late afternoon sunlight.
We were in Lyon on the day of the uncorking of the Beaujolais Nouveau on the third Thursday in November. This happens at midnight all over France and it was a great experience to witness this event. Wine makers were rolling their wine barrels down the road, escorted by their wives and daughters who were cheering with pom-poms to the tune of a small marching band. Just before midnight, fireworks erupted over the main square, followed by wine makers handing out glasses of their wine to anyone in the square.
Traveling on a river ship is one of the most relaxing modes of transportation – no packing and unpacking while traveling from town to town. While all of the meals were outstanding, we especially loved the Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner and wine pairing. All excursions and wine and beer at dinner were included in the price. All of these features make river cruises an excellent value and a wonderful adventure! FBN
Eric and Sam have already signed up for the next wine cruise on The Danube in 2013! You can find more information at http://www.avenuesoftheworld.com/html/wine-cruise2013.htm.
By Monika Leuenberger