Blogs from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France, Europe

We have always felt an obligation to support local businesses when we travel, and never is this more true than when we are in a wine-producing area. Therefore, we embarked on a guided tour of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area. This part of the Côtes du Rhône AOC. The rules here for labeling a wine appear to be a little complicated, but as I understand it you can label your wine with the Côtes du Rhône AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) if the wine production and grape sourcing are all within that defined region. As I understand it, you are not allowed to make wine from a single grape variety, but must blend at least two. You can further refine the label if the sourcing and production are done within one of 95 approved communes, and then the label ... read more

Woensdag 25/8/2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Bomma is gevallen met de fiets. Maar leeft nog. Gisteren, dinsdag rond de middag op een afgepijlde 30 km lange rondrit door de wijngaarden rond Chateauneuf du Pape kreeg ze in een afdaling een klapband op het achterwiel van haar fiets. De buitenband en een deel van de binnenband schoot van de velg en blokkeerde het achterwiel waardoor die fiets zowat onbestuurbaar werd met val tot gevolg. Tegen de asphalt. Gelukkig niet op volle snelheid en met fietshelm op. Wel schaafwonden op polsen, ellebogen en knieën. Tussen de wijngaarden op kilometers afstand van de bewoonde wereld met nog 10km te gaan. Het steeds aanwezig ehbo-mini setje in Bomma haar fietstas deed zijn dienst bij de eerste reiniging en ontsmetting. Met reserve binnenband en een spannadrap in gescheurde buitenband dachten we te ... read more

The next day we sadly left Paris and took a train to Chateauneuf du Pape. It took 3 hours on the train. We heard our stop and we started to get our bags, but while we were getting our last few bags the doors shut and the train started. How many things can you miss in one trip? So, at the next stop we had to get off and quickly get on another train going the opposite direction. Then we got off on the right stop and got our rental car and drove to a winery (Vieux Telegraphe). After that winery we went to our hotel (AirBNB -Peaceful Designer Village House ) Then after the hotel, we went to another winery (Barroche) Then we went back to our hotel and hung out a bit and then ... read more

Next stop was the unmissable Loire region, a long drive from Beauvior to pretty Braciuex. We visited two chateux over two days - extravagant Chambord on bike and the refined Cheverny... there are a few pics of each included here. Chambord was built by, but only lived in for around 45 days, by Francois I. Louis XIV also lived there but no-one enjoyed it much because it was too big and draughty. Our next destination was Lyon, with a stop over in Chatel-de-Neuvre as a picturesque half way point. Lyon was great fun - our first day of sunny, warm weather - with a visit to the Musee des Baux Art, our first French three course lunch, and sight-seeing in the medieval quarter and the Roman ruins of the Odeum and Theatre. Lyon was the centre ... read more

Rick Steves is a great guy. If you need a cheap hotel in the center of a city, Rick is your guy. If you want a reccommendation on wine, don't ask Rick. We stopped at the place reccommended by Rick in Chateauneuf du Pape. This grape growing region lies just north of Avignon and is world famous for it red wines. I have only had one bottle of this wine before and I was impressed. We could of driven from winery to winery to sample wine, but when you do this you are expected to buy wine and Rebecca and I did not plan to drag several bottles of wine to Italy and then home. Rick reccommended this one stop cave where you could sample 5 different wines and buy many more. I thought this was ... read more