Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Bonjour!

BONJOUR !!

Okay, so I took a longer break from blogging than expected. I guess sometimes it's nice to have a giant break from school, and from life. But I have missed writing about my wine exploits, so I have journeyed back to Wine and Pr: A Perfect Pairing. In my latest blog post, I had promised to tell my 'French' wine experience. I think that 'experience' seems to be such a ...weak... word for what wine, in France, is exactly like. But, there are too many words and not enough time to replace (i.e. amazing, fabulous, insightful, fun, delicious, delightful!)

Last April I went on a European trip with my close friend, Hillary. We spent a week exploring Italy and then another week exploring France. As you read in my last post, wine in Italy go together like peanut butter and jelly. It seems, however, that wine and France go together just as swimmingly!


After Italy, Hillary and I decided to take a week to spend in the heart of Paris. We stayed in the Republique area of the city, a kind of Bohemian, revolutionary-like division. Our first day in the hotel, there was a large communist group protesting directly outside the hotel doors, waving banners and marching in the streets. We knew immediately that we weren't in our little home town in New England anymore...


We went on many day trips while in France (Mont St. Michel, Versailles, etc.) One of the most memorable trips was a small day trip we had organized a few days earlier, to a little wine tasting. About a 2 minute walk from the Louvre Museum (which turned into a 20 minute walk because sometimes the side streets of Paris can be very puzzling) we found the wine tasting.

We visited the O Chateau to learn a little bit more about France, wine, and all things that go along with it. Sitting in the dark, cellar walls of the building, it felt like we were really in the depths of the wine-loving city. The sounds, smells and tastes of the wine tasting put my senses on overload!

Hillary and I decided to opt for the "Introductory" French wine tasting class, to avoid embarrassment in a higher-leveled class full of French wine experts. We sat with about 20 other classmates, most of them being American. We were poured three different types of wine, starting with the lighter bodied wines. All of the wines, were of course, absolutely perfect!
We learned many things, tried many wines, and enjoyed feeling like true "Parisians". We clinked glasses, listened dreamily to French musings on Bordeaux's, Sauvignon Blancs, and Pinot Noirs. I provided a map at the top of my blog, to give you an idea of the French wine regions. This map was very helpful in learning, or at least attempting to learn, more about the French wine culture.
The sommeliers were knowledgeable and interesting, making the overall experience that much better. We left with yet another 'experience' under our belts, one that made us feel like we really belonged in that city. I have always been in love with Paris, and this just another reason on my list of reasons why...