Visions of warm sunny days, leisurely two hour lunches drawn out with conversation, an aproned waiter pouring bubbles into your champagne glass and soft music beckon us back to the Old Country. France, Italy and Spain are the most sought after destinations, followed by Germany, Portugal and Greece. Thomas Jefferson was just so inspired during his travels to France, thus beginning the New World efforts of cultivating grapes to make wine.
He started his vines on the slopes of Monticello, his mountain top home, overlooking Charlottesville, Virginia. I especially like the praise offered by John Hagarty, www. If Jefferson could peruse this book a satisfied smile would surely grace his countenance because his dream of quality Virginia wine has been fulfilled.
A riveting and rewarding read. The movie, A Good Year, with Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, , is one of my favorite movies and the film location of Bonnieux, Vaucluse, France was just a little southeast of Carpentras, where we made our home base. Maison Trevier , the delightful maison we stayed in, is within the walled village of Carpentras, around the corner from a wonderful fromagerie, La Fromagerie du Comtat.
Grab a baguette, some home made fig preserves, olives and truffles from the market and you are in heaven. Ah, I driftβ¦. The influence of Rome and Catholicism permeated the terroir, walled villages, monasteries and small churches and olive trees used for olive wood carvings. I was accustomed to our lovely tasting rooms at the wineries in Virginia.
Many of which supplement the costly production of wine on the east coast by building fabulous event sites for weddings and celebrations. They have a perfect spot with a contemporary arbor for weddings plus one of the coziest tasting rooms. Some are tropical and create gourmet chocolates like Glass House Winery and seating under the glass conservatory jungle of banana trees. Pollak Vineyards sits below the mountain overlooking a pond and has offered fly fishing lessons in the past. Mountfair does weddings on a smaller scale and many of the wineries offer live music on weekends.
