This is going to be a relatively short entry because we need to be up earlier than usual tomorrow and I’d like to get in a cold shower before bed!
Yes, it’s true that we had wine for breakfast (ish; it was closer to 11, so I suppose that’d be a typical brunch time back in the States). We visited a gorgeous vineyard about an hour outside of the city, and the couple who own it were so kind! They took us on a brief tour of their vines and wheat field, and told us about terroir, which is the French concept of the essence of locality that is imparted from the soil and the natural environment into the plant itself, particularly for wines and other products. Interestingly, the existence and cultural prioritization of terroir means that it is illegal for Ludovic and Marie to irrigate their vineyard because it would be interfering with the native climate. We also had a wine tasting class
in their wine cellar, and I don’t think I’ve ever held a drink for so long without sipping it! But they taught us to really appreciate the color, smell, and taste of the wine, which aligns with the astonishingly sensory nature of the French. Before we departed, we took a quick group picture and recorded a video for the Honors College to use in their welcome video for the freshman/new student induction
ceremony this fall!
In the afternoon, we headed to a nearby dairy, where a family of three makes and dries their own goat cheese. They said it takes about two hours to milk all 60 of their goats during their most productive season for milk!
Off to cool down and sleep – jusqu’à demain!
