This Snowman reminds me of a business trip to Quebec City years ago just before the Christmas holidays. Amid the grey-brown foggy gloom of an eastern Canadian winter day, the Quebecois Bonhommes de Neige spread cheer wherever they appeared around the city and in all the Christmas decorations. I’ll never forget them.
The cheerful chap in this photo comes from his french roots in France. He can be spotted towering over the new shopping centre in Pineuilh, outside Ste Foy La Grande in Gironde, SW France and almost opposite the new Pays Foyen tourist and wine shop with its tasting bar established right in the shopping centre. That’s what the other photo is about: the Vitrine du Pays Foyen meaning the window on the local area run by the regional tourist office to promote the area and is products.
More modern approaches to wine tourism are starting to catch on in the Bergerac wine region as increased competition forces wine makers to become more extravert in their ways. This wine area “Vitrine” is a good start and many local winemakers from the Bergerac Wine Region; from Monestier, Sigoules and many other villages and communes are represented with photos of the winemakers and their products. The different appellations that constitute the Bergerac Wine Region are: Bergerac, Monbazillac, Montravel, Pecharmant, Rosette and Saussignac.
Chateau Lestevenie is one of the many chateaux represented at the “Vitrine” and it produces Bergerac ‘appellation controlle’ wines. I particularly mention this winery from Monestier because their Rose is one of the best we have tasted and the colour is so festive – Merlot crimson I call it. A wonderful cherry red to look at and taste!
Humphrey and Sue Temperley, the proprietors of Chateau Lestevenie make one Rose from old merlot vines and another Rose from younger merlot with some malbec. Supporting our enthusiasm for their Rose, the Chateau Lestevenie 2011 Rose won a coveted silver medal in the Vin de Bergerac Concours!.
Between the Bonhomme de Neige in Pineuilh and Chateau Lestevenie’s Rose, its enough to put anyone in the festive mood.
Felicitations pour la Nouvelle Annee.
Reference: Chateau Lestevenie www.chateau-lestevenie.com
Office de Tourisme du Pays Foyen (the area between Saint-Emilion and Bergerac) http://www.tourisme-dordogne-paysfoyen.com