Our first wine tour took place during the first week of October - and what a great experience it was!We couldn't have asked for better timing as the 'vendange' (gathering of the grapes) was in full swing and there was great action and excitement in all the vineyards we visited. We saw the grapes being snipped carefully by hand - these grapes will be used for the very best wines, the 'Excellence' of Cahors.
But the majority are gathered by the giant machines that trundle up and down astride each row of vines and shake the grapes into their huge stainless steel drums on either side. Once the drums are full, the machine meets up with the little tractors trailing large steel tanks and transfers the grapes for the short journey back to the domain or chateau.
They're then sorted from the stalks before being crushed and the deep purple juice flows safely into the enormous stainless steel or concrete vats to be metamorphosed eventually into delicious
black wine'.
The weather was absolutely fabulous the whole time and we enjoyed a great picnic - freshly procured from Prayssac market - in the warm sunshine, high above the vineyards with a fantastic view right across the valley.
If you fancy joining us on a wine tour next year click here.
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I was lucky to be in the first Wine Tour. We visited 5 vineyards and one wine shop. Each place was unique unto itself. We were provided with detailed information about cultivation, harvesting, production and aging of the local Malbec wine. Each place we tasted at least 5 deep dark wines, plus some white and rose'. We ate at superb restaurants, shopped at a local market for a picnic with a lovely valley view. The highlight of the trip were the outstanding meals prepared by Aileen. She is an excellent "French" cook! That feature alone was worth the trip.
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