View from an Alley in Saint Emilion
After Paris, I subjected myself to a winathon, of sorts. Taking part in a food/travel/wine writer’s workshop, I had the good fortune of visiting premier chateaux, tasting superb wines, delving into divine dishes, and–of course–writing about it! Our group consisted of seven women and our instructor, Nick. (Accolades to Nick for making all of the arrangements.)
What were the highlights? Hmm, hard to remember after all of that wine. Visiting Michel Gracia, garagistes, at his converted garage winery, is a moment I want to bottle because it brought such pleasure. An animated man who is quick to smile and crack a joke, Gracia oozes passion for wine. The meticulous methods he honed as a stone mason have spilled over into his cellar. The result of such perfectionism are two masterpiece of wines.
In my spare time (while not drinking wine or writing), I explored the medieval village of Saint Emilion and the surrounding countryside. Saint Emilion’s narrow cobblestone streets are lined with wine shops, jewelry store, art galleries, cafes, restaurants, macaroon bakeries (local specialty), and a bead store. Then, the surrounding countryside is accessible through a system of trails that meander by vineyards.
