What a beautiful villa we have found for our last week in France. Owners Sophia and Frederick have made us welcome with relaxing breakfasts and even a delicious dinner with them last night. Sophia gave us a guided tour around Vertus yesterday, and even organized the most humorous private champagne tasting with a very amusing, if somewhat eccentric local sommelier. A perfect place to end our France holiday.
La Villa Eustache
La Villa’s kitchen…or part of the huge kitchenAnother bedroom view.. of endless vineyards
Vertus
Mal spitting champagne onto the ancient walls as instructed at the champagne tasting..apparently a perfect way to appreciate the complex flavours. I nearly chocked when I had a go. Cedric, the sommelier looking on.
40 steps down underground. Dark and damp. With Cedric our eccentric sommelier giving us a private tasting, we were not sure whether we would return safely !!! Eventually did with champagne to share with Sophia and Frederick that night for an apperatif before the three course dinner they had prepared.
We are spending six days in the Champagne Region west of Paris before heading back to Paris to begin our long haul home. I am not kidding when I say grape vines are everywhere. Every spare paddock right up to backyards and towns are vines after healthy vines. Even on the roundabouts !!! The region and it’s people are passionate about champagne. From my bedroom window I watch the vineyard workers at work, oh, except during the two hour lunchbreak when they head home or to the nearest bar.
We started off with a tour of the famous Mercier Champagne, all 18km of caves.
The caves
The caves are kept at 10 degrees in temperature and about 40 feet below ground.
