Conquering the Food and Wine of Bordeaux

I am grateful that I spent the last month or so in Canada in training for a major assault on French wine. My strict regimen of a glass a day (increasing towards the end) left me well equipped to tackle the wines of northern France. Bordeaux, however, is an Olympian challenge and not for the faint of heart. Today, after three days of site training to adjust to the altitudes and attitudes of the epicenter of the world wine industry, I girded my taste buds and ventured forth to the Chateau Belingard in the upper benches of Bergerac. With my trust companions, Matts and Elisabeth, we withstood the blows of a wave of whites and a rampage of reds with 10 very liberal tastings of some spectacular Bordeaux wines. The photo sequence here shows us in full battle – fending off a series of popping corks and refreshed glasses until we stumbled victorious from the tasting room. With the valuable assistance of “Doris”, our English-speaking GPS guide, we managed to maneuver our car through the vineyard-banked roads and trails back to our pied a terre in Pineuilth. France conquered (yet again!).

I should also add, with great pride, that I have also been able to conquer another standard in France – the two hour lunch. We all tracked well two days ago in St. Emilion at an hour and a half for three courses and coffee. Yesterday, the fabled two hour barrier was breached at a fine bistro in Merles – with all participants plied with just enough wine to allow us to cross the bar at 2 hours and 15 minutes. Not easy to do, but happily done.