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October in France
October in France. Good time to visit? Well, although October isn’t the season that France is on the minds of most travellers….it does have a few things going for it. But then, being a (adopted)native I most certaintly am predjudiced. And happily admit it.
For me, the major advantage to visiting France in the Fall, is the obvious one. Fewer people. But the reason for those few touristing folks is the weather. Not “sun tanning” warm. (except for the extreme south – the Riviera, etc. Where, take note, it’s not 24/7 sun.
The next big reason to mark Autumn in France on your voyaging calendar, is the fact that holidays(for the French) are over. Big people are back at work. Little(and regular sized) people went back to school in September. So, you gots da place to yourself.
Which means, no mile long queques at paid attractions. Restaurants and hotels, crushed with massive clients during summer, are more than happy to see you. And, often, they express that happiness, with lower rates, more personalized service, mini-bar refills, etc.
But the bottom line for visiting France in the Fall, is that all the places, all the monuments, all the ever changing countryside, is still there. Plus, on those country backroads, you’ll find chesnuts,walnuts, and in some regions, figs, ready for you to pick them up. But, er, not take them back home. Unless you’re jonesin’ for trouble at customs.
Adding to all that – October in France is the season for the “Foire au Vin” – the fair of wine. which translates as “supermarkets roll out a massive selection of wines at all price ranges, hoping that their “buy a case, get the other free” sales strategy will add to their bottom line.
The Autumn atmosphere of the “Foire au Vin” flourishes throughout La Belle France. Not just at supermarkets. This means if you visit vingernons during October in France, you could be getting some tasty wines that never appear in supermarkets. Usually at wallet friendly price.
Reasons enough for a French October Visit?
THROW BE A BONE HERE,PEOPLE
WHAT ARE YA THINKIN?
Friday the 13th in France
Friday the 13th in France –
Friday the 13th in France.
What’s it like? How is it different from Friday the 13th in America? Why does it even exist? What do the French do on Friday the 13th?
Answer to number one: Sunny and warm. A welcome relief from the previous few days of sunny and scalding.
Answer to Number two: The French take everything American with several large grains of salt. Especially superstitions and cultural oddities.
It took donkey’s years before Halloween made it over to this side of the pond. Even now, it’s not celebrated everywhere. Including some large cities. Certainly not in villages too small to have a boulangerie.
But don’t go thinking that the French are wishy-washy, unhip, and oblivious to what goes down in the excited states. After all – they’re the Nation that banned that “other Friday.” (The black one.)
Answer to number three: Friday the 13th exists to give us an excuse for screwing up. When you break a glass. No worries. Friday The 13th. When you open that paint can too fast, and wind up decorating your legs and half the kitchen floor.No worries. Friday the 13th.
Include acting erratic(or worse) during a full moon. Black cat crossing your path. Walking under a ladder. Etc.
Bottom Line: Friday the 13th is our excuse for not owning our mistakes.
Whenever life doesn’t treat us as nicely as we think it should – it’s not our fault. Friday the 13th is the bad guy.
Answer to number four: While, obviously, I can’t speak for the entire Nation(would upset M. Macron, n’est ce pas?) what I (honorary froggie)will be doing on this Friday the 13th, is sitting outside in my favorite chair, inhaling the sweet country air, and sipping(effete snobs never simply “drink”) a 2019 Touraine Savignon,Pascal Delauny, (with my phone turned off!)
This is an impressive dry white with a modest price for it’s quality.It’s not available everywhere. But you might get lucky and find it at your local “Bottles B Us” or (for Brits) Tesco.
But -if you don’t – please don’t blame Friday the 13th.
Christopher Strong – Bicycle Gourmet’s Organic Wine
Christopher Strong – Bicycle Gourmet’s Organic Wine
Organic Wine, like Cryptocurrency, is on everyone’s lips. However, Wine grown organically, is definitely much more pleasing to have on your lips than a bitcoin. N’est ce pas?
The Popularity of Organic wine, is the result of a general trend to more natural, chemical/pesticide free products.
As evidenced by the label “organic” on virtually everything you put on or in your body.
The producers of organic wine verify that their grapes were grown naturally. Without chemicals,pesticides and/or fungicides. And, equally importantly, without “flavoring” yeasts added in the vinification process.
Does this mean that organic wine tastes better than wine with sulfites?
Depends on your taste buds, doesn’t it?
But with organic wine, you’re assured that, assuming you do like the taste, that nothing in it should have a negative effect on your health.
Another variety of wine cultivation that could be described as “Organic on steroids, is “Biodynamic Wine.”
This is wine that shares all the positive qualities of organic wine, but is grown using a variety of esoteric practices that are not found in Organic wine cultivation.
Such as planting and nourishing the grapes by the phases of the moon,(Something farmers have done for centuries.) and treating the soil with various natural mixtures. Such as a duiluted solution of cow manure.
The concept of Biodynamic agriculture comes from the (late)German intellectual Rudolph Steiner. Best known outside the World of Biodynamics as the founder of Waldorf Schools.
The “big man” on the International “Bio” wine campus, is Loire vigneron Nicolas Joly.
Often referred to as “the Pope of Biodynamics” for the number of vignerons he’s “converted” to the “gospel” of Bio.
His flagship wine –Clos du Coulee de Serrant, produced from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes, retails somewhere north of $100.(USD)
(Hint: If you order this in a restaurant, bring plenty of bitcoins.)
Curiously here in France, “Organic” and “Bio” are synonyms to those outside the World of Bio wine.
At any French Saturday market, if you ask if the veggies were grown organically, the response will be: “Oui, c’est bio.”
Bottom Line: Organic Wine or Bio wine? To paraphrase Billy Joel’s lyric:
“A bottle of red, a bottle of white, it all depends upon your preference.”
Get a chemical free taste in THIS VIDEO
THROW ME A BONE HERE PEOPLE
WHAT ARE YA THINKIN’?
