A couple of years ago The One and I drove from Calais to Antibes to stay with some generous friends who had invited us to stay in their lovely rented holiday home. It is a long journey, so we took our time and had two overnight stops en route (as they say in France).
The first stop was in the heart of Burgundy in the wonderful medieval town of Beaune. The accommodation was straight out of 'Allo, 'Allo. I think we slept 'in the bedroom of my Mother' and definitely in the least comfortable bed imaginable. The local food and wine certainly justified the following day's backache.
The second stop was intended to be at Avignon, but there was a festival in full swing and no room at the inn. So we pushed on and drove up into the hills looking for a suitable resting place. We ended up in another lovely village, famous for it's sweet, fortified wine; Beaumes de Venise.
Week M (2014) is Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. NV. Costco £6.25 37.5cl.
Made from 100% Muscat, specifically the Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains version, it has been made sweet by having its fermentation arrested before all the sugar has been converted to alcohol, through the addition of grape spirit. This is the same technique used in the production of Port, only in the Rhone valley it gives rise to the term 'Vin Doux Naturelle', or naturally sweet wine.
It is 15% abv, and beautifully sweet and golden and has grapey, fruity, floral aromas and flavours with a lemon-honey finish.
This is a very typical example of the type of wine which has been made in this part of the Rhone valley from as long ago as the 14th Century, but recognised as an appellation controllee in 1945.
Not much more to say about this other than it makes a great partner to sweet desserts such as trifles and fruit custard type tarts, or as a chilled evening treat.
The Village of Beaumes de Venise is in a truly beautiful part of the world, in the shadow of a range of hills known as the Dentelles de Montmirail, from where our journey took us up into the Alps and through some beautifully scented lavender fields and up some impressive mountain passes. These passes are irresistible to mamils (the snuggly attired racing cyclists) who, not content with the effects of gravity, will pedal at full tilt down roads that I had to think twice about driving up.
A great trip and a great memory of drinking this wine in the village where it was made. Cheers.
The first stop was in the heart of Burgundy in the wonderful medieval town of Beaune. The accommodation was straight out of 'Allo, 'Allo. I think we slept 'in the bedroom of my Mother' and definitely in the least comfortable bed imaginable. The local food and wine certainly justified the following day's backache.
The second stop was intended to be at Avignon, but there was a festival in full swing and no room at the inn. So we pushed on and drove up into the hills looking for a suitable resting place. We ended up in another lovely village, famous for it's sweet, fortified wine; Beaumes de Venise.
Week M (2014) is Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. NV. Costco £6.25 37.5cl.Made from 100% Muscat, specifically the Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains version, it has been made sweet by having its fermentation arrested before all the sugar has been converted to alcohol, through the addition of grape spirit. This is the same technique used in the production of Port, only in the Rhone valley it gives rise to the term 'Vin Doux Naturelle', or naturally sweet wine.
It is 15% abv, and beautifully sweet and golden and has grapey, fruity, floral aromas and flavours with a lemon-honey finish.
This is a very typical example of the type of wine which has been made in this part of the Rhone valley from as long ago as the 14th Century, but recognised as an appellation controllee in 1945.
Not much more to say about this other than it makes a great partner to sweet desserts such as trifles and fruit custard type tarts, or as a chilled evening treat.
The Village of Beaumes de Venise is in a truly beautiful part of the world, in the shadow of a range of hills known as the Dentelles de Montmirail, from where our journey took us up into the Alps and through some beautifully scented lavender fields and up some impressive mountain passes. These passes are irresistible to mamils (the snuggly attired racing cyclists) who, not content with the effects of gravity, will pedal at full tilt down roads that I had to think twice about driving up.
A great trip and a great memory of drinking this wine in the village where it was made. Cheers.
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