Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After our overnight stop outside Macon we then had the pleasure of a short drive south. The route along the Saone, later the Rhone valley is littered with vineyards!
We made the asy decision, after failing to stop anypeople where neqar Beaune that we should now stop. Having checked the books, local guides and so forth we decided on a co-operative just south of Macon called Chateau de Chenas. Tasting wine at 10am is not a good idea but what else can one do.
We eventually found the Chateau having been helped by a friendly local. We were the only people present but the lady assistant was helpful. The cave was large and had a lot of different local wines available.
We duly tried some, particularly the Chenas which proved to be very tannic and will need time in the cellar. Some Julienas followed as well as some Fleurie, all of which must go to the cellar for a few years.
Having made this halt and now weighed down with 3 cases of wine we set off for Orange. But it was saturday and the sun was out and so were the French - in large numbers. The autoroute was busy - trafic fort as the autoroute signs had it. Only one place caused a major difficulty with a 2-3 kilometre tailed back to the toll station. However, we did a queue as we decided we were a 'slow' vehicle. This meant we only queued for a few minutes but for the cars it may have been much longer. All of this to pay 2.20 euros! Its the same at the Dartford Tunnel: why do governments think it worth causing all of this irritation and delay for the sake of a few 'shillings'?
After that, apart form the usual panic over finding a fuel stop, we arr9ived in Mondragon at 4pm to find the office was closed until 5 pm! PM siesta must not be disturbed!! Campsite is in the trees with lots of space and Pines; eg its called La Pineda.
We booked in for several nights with the hope of exploring some of the recommended Vaucluse/Luberon wine sites as recommended in a Decanter wine Magazine article. Also a little time to sit and enjoy the sun!
- comments