Another warm, sunny day in Lot-et-Garonne and we started with breakfast in the garden overlooking the stunning view of sloping fields and trees. Then Russ and James successfully connected the electronics on the pool heater, so Rob will be able to come back and connect the pipes and screw it down. It should all work although Russ and James think that an electrician will be required to finish the job neatly. Meanwhile Jenn and I relaxed by the pool and chatted.
Jenn and Russ suggested that we all visit Saint-Émilion on our way to Bordeaux Airport. It’s about an hour west of their house. We drove through lots of wine countryside on the way, vineyards everywhere! James noticed that we would be passing very close to La Clarière, the vineyard belonging to Laithwaites wine distributors. It has self-catering accommodation which is often advertised by Laithwaites, and it looks beautiful in their brochures. Jenn and Russ obligingly drove us there and it turned out to be an excellent experience for all of us. We were given an exclusive tour (because there was nobody else there!) by the charming and knowledgeable Brigitte. She showed us the vineyards and let us taste the different types of grapes, which were hanging heavy on the vines because they are going to start harvesting them on Monday. Tony Laithwaite himself will be arriving on Monday to supervise! Brigitte then showed us the different types of barrels and containers used to ferment the wine, explained the process, and we had a tasting session of four types of wine. Brigitte was great fun and we all enjoyed ourselves.
We were only 7 km from Saint-Émilion so we drove there for a very late lunch in one of the many wine-tasting restaurants. Saint-Émilion is absolutely stunning. It’s a medieval city surrounded by vineyards, 35 km east of Bordeaux. Saint-Émilion is one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux, and has lots of cafés, restaurants, wine shops and beautiful Romanesque churches with cloisters, all along its steep and narrow streets. We walked all around the tiny city, taking in the quaint and picturesque views, and later had coffee and crêpes sitting in a gorgeous square beside a cathedral which was partly built right into the stone of the hill.
Russ and Jenn then very kindly drove us right to the airport, where we said our farewells. What a fantastic holiday it has been.
Jenn and Russ suggested that we all visit Saint-Émilion on our way to Bordeaux Airport. It’s about an hour west of their house. We drove through lots of wine countryside on the way, vineyards everywhere! James noticed that we would be passing very close to La Clarière, the vineyard belonging to Laithwaites wine distributors. It has self-catering accommodation which is often advertised by Laithwaites, and it looks beautiful in their brochures. Jenn and Russ obligingly drove us there and it turned out to be an excellent experience for all of us. We were given an exclusive tour (because there was nobody else there!) by the charming and knowledgeable Brigitte. She showed us the vineyards and let us taste the different types of grapes, which were hanging heavy on the vines because they are going to start harvesting them on Monday. Tony Laithwaite himself will be arriving on Monday to supervise! Brigitte then showed us the different types of barrels and containers used to ferment the wine, explained the process, and we had a tasting session of four types of wine. Brigitte was great fun and we all enjoyed ourselves.
We were only 7 km from Saint-Émilion so we drove there for a very late lunch in one of the many wine-tasting restaurants. Saint-Émilion is absolutely stunning. It’s a medieval city surrounded by vineyards, 35 km east of Bordeaux. Saint-Émilion is one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux, and has lots of cafés, restaurants, wine shops and beautiful Romanesque churches with cloisters, all along its steep and narrow streets. We walked all around the tiny city, taking in the quaint and picturesque views, and later had coffee and crêpes sitting in a gorgeous square beside a cathedral which was partly built right into the stone of the hill.
Russ and Jenn then very kindly drove us right to the airport, where we said our farewells. What a fantastic holiday it has been.
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