Rioja Wine Tasting

I know this won't be a shock,  but we've done a fair amount of wine-tasting in various parts of the U.S. and Europe...so it was a nice surprise on what an amazing day we experienced in Rioja.  We met up with our tour guide/host, Inma who recently started her own wine touring company - Rioja Wine Trips- out of Logrono.  She was fantastic!  We started by visiting the most uniquely designed winery, Bodegas Ysios.  Having worked at a local winery for 3+ years, she was very well-versed in the different styles that Rioja uses to produce grapes and ultimately wine. She then took us to a couple of family-run wineries  (which most are) for some tasting.  However their tastes would qualify for almost what we would consider as a 'glass' of wine!  Sampled 4 wines at Ostatu and then toured and sampled 6 at Bodegas Tierra.  Would've been 4, but the wine - maker Rodrigo must have liked us since he pulled out 2 bottles of the good stuff that he doesn't usually pour on tours. Next Inma took us to a several hundred year-old cave/cellar to have lunch (with wine of course) where friends of hers store a few barrels of their wine to specially sample with family and friends. A fantastic dejeuner with barrel 'tastes'...doesn't get much better than that!   Afterwards,  we did a quick trip to Elciego to see the Frank Geary designed hotel Marques de Riscal which was pretty cool and then café au lait in the hilltop town of Laguardia before heading back to San Sebastian. A very fun,  full day!!!

San Sebastian and Bilbao

Can't believe we've been in San Sebastian for 3 nights already!   The drive from Bordeaux was an easy one...made even sweeter in our Mercedes rental car.  San Sebastian is much larger - and with more people than I had anticipated. The beaches are beautiful and food is stellar...but it's a shock to the system after spending the past week in tiny unpopulated towns.
Yesterday we took a day trip to Bilbao which was fun. Took in the Guggenheim - which is more impressive from the outside.  Favorite part was 'Puppy' :)  The old town was pretty fun to explore as well.  It didn't hurt that all the locals had abandoned the area to watch their soccer team  (Athletico) so felt like we had the place to ourselves.

Barsac

Finishing a walking trip always feels great...and finishing one at Chateau Camperos is fantastic!  We calculated that we did about 50 miles in total, definitely not our longest walk by any stretch - but this trip was one with the nicest weather!  It was a bonus that our Chateau had a pool and huge grounds -along with some nice wine from the Graves region -with which to celebrate:) We would definitely recommend this place - and would stay there again.  Rooms were the nicest of the trip, and dinner was an amazing experience.  We were sad to have to catch the early train to Bordeaux the next morning.

Sauternes and Barsac

Well we made it...we finished our walking trip.   We did 16k around St Macaire  and the final 15k from Sauternes to Barsac.   The Chateau in Sauternes - Chateau D'Arche was fantastic  - very old and has been making wine for centuries!  We had a little tour and wine tasting.  Sauternes aren't my preferred type of wine, but the history and complexity of how it's made was interesting to see and learn about.  The next morning on our final walk, we experienced another winery tour at Chateau La Tour Blanche...one even more 'respected'.  Pretty fun!:)

St Emilion to St Macaire via St Martin de Lerm

It's amazing how much you can take Wi-Fi for granted...and how much you can appreciate it when you get it after being without it for a couple of days!  And here we've been lugging our tablets for 44 kilometers - over hill, over dale, through vineyards, next to cornfields, along the Gardonne River...to no avail:)  Good thing we had good company, good hosts and lots to eat and drink!  The walk has not been as difficult as our previous ones, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been tough.  The dogs have been barking... and that's besides all the dogs who have been barking at us as we walk past their homes, farms, wineries, etc. :)
It's been the carrot that we always know we have some good Bordeaux waiting for us at the end of the day!  And today was only 10k, so had a little reprieve in the middle of the walk.   Tomorrow we're off to Sauternes...should be another interesting day!  Bon Soir.

Saint Emilion, France

Bonjour France!
Arriving in St Emilion yesterday afternoon made the very long day of planes, trains and automobiles totally worth it!  For visitors who enjoy du vin...this place is like being a kid in a candy store.  No lie - there are wine shops after wine shops, and tasting rooms after tasting rooms!   (Oh there are a few stores and restaurants as well,  but not as prevalent.)
The town at one point was a walled city - with gates, ramparts, etc. Most of the walls are gone now, but the old buildings remain including the King's Tower and a bell tower with 196 steep and narrow stairs to the top...just what we needed before starting our walking trip tomorrow! :)  Good thing we had a nice patio by the pool at our hotel to rest ourselves afterwards.  This was all after we had stopped in at a wine shop  (the Wine Buff), run by a gentleman named Paddy - from Ireland.  Best wine tasting experience we've had in eons.   He owns a number of shops in Ireland as well,  so plan to visit one again someday.
Bon soir!