Le Vin

I must first apologise for the lack of accent marks in this blog.  I am sure there is an app or something that will enable me to use accent marks, but at the moment I do not have such a programme.   Very annoying.

Where do I start with this blog? There are a huge number of wineries in Provence, even when I narrowed the search down to our local area, the Var region.  Many of the wineries have been awarded Appellation Controlee status, which means their quality of grapes, and wine, is of a very high standard.  

 The speciality of the area is the Rose wine, and the bottles come in all shapes, sizes and prices, from the standard size bottles to the refillable plastic containers.   There are Vin du Pays (wine of the area) served in jugs (cheap) at the local restaurants to the exclusive Grand Cru wines, which are very expensive.

Three of the wineries that are close by the camping ground, Chateau Minuty, Bregacon and Sainte-Maree, are certainly not found on the shelves of the local supermarket.  

The owners of Camping Manjastre, have been purchasing vineyards around the campsite, and send their grapes to the local co-operative.  Their share of the wine, is bottled under their name and sold in the shop and restaurant.   A reasonable cheap wine, and quite drinkable, but some years are better than others.

But what is impressive, the vineyards no longer look neglected and full of weeds.  In fact they all look very healthy and well looked after.  

Not a weed to be seen among the rows of vines.  There are strong fences around them as well to stop the wild pigs getting in to have a feast of grapes and leaves, or digging up the roots.  The old electric fences just seemed to encourage the pigs.

Ronald, on his super tractor which has cutters on the front, for removing excess growth, and a discus/plough/scrapper affair on the back for scraping up cut branches and weeds, as well as break up the soil.   Very nifty.

We have also noticed  that generally wineries have lifted their game, and now have smart wine tasting rooms.  The standard has also risen too.  A little bit of competition from new world wines, no doubt.

But our choice of wine is red, and not usually from the region.  This is due to our doctor telling us that white wines and roses are not good for us, due to some chemical mix, and that we need to stick to red wines.  And it has put us off.  Spoil sport.