November 2013 Agenda

Monday, November 18

Ghislaine Perroud

Our group of 12 will meet at the Lyon St. Exupery airport between 10 am and noon for transport via two minivans to the village of Cogny, about an hour’s drive north, and meet our hosts for the week, Michel and Ghislaine Perroud. We will settle in our Home Sweet Home at Les Buis du Chardonnet for the week, tour the cellar and get an overview of the terrain plus a Wine School short course on the wines that we are going to enjoy all week long.  That evening we will drive to Oingt (pronounced "Whanh"), one of the beautiful “Golden Stone” villages to take a walking tour of the medieval town and then have dinner at a local restaurant.

Oignt

Tuesday,  November 19

Croissants, baguettes, pain chocolate with coffee, fruit and homemade jam—each morning we will start our day the French way. This morning we will head over to the producer-only market at Les Bois de Oignt to buy provisions for having dinner at home, Choucroute.  After the market we will have lunch in the village of St. Paule 

A French Pot au Feu

Many cafes have special menus

 this week

After lunch we will tour the Chateau de Pizay, an elegant chateau with astounding manicured gardens designed by the creator of the gardens at Versailles, and visit their deep wine cellar that will be very busy preparing the nouveau for release. Afterwards, a tour of Brouilly Chapel, a landmark in the region, and  visit to Michel's brother's chateau with roots that go back to the 1700's. Robert Perroud, one of the founding partners of Terroirs Originales, will give us a tour of his private cellar and we will learn of his efforts to promote the artisan vignerons of the region.Home to our Choucroute that evening and to relax after our busy day.

Wednesday, November 20

This morning will have a slow start, with a cooking lesson in house, since we will be heading to the Nouveau festivities and partying late into the night.  In the afternoon we will head to the town of Beaujeu, the capital of the Beaujolais region. We will tour a small museum in the town square and then proceed to a famous Huilerie to taste test oils and vinegars that are produced there and marketed around the world. The festivities commence in the evening and we will visit the various cru stations in the village before going to dinner and starting the countdown to midnight when the nouveau is released.

Musicians in a cave in Beaujeu

Thursday, November 21

Henry Fessy wine tasting

With the big event behind us, we will take stock and regroup to put the crash course in wines that we experienced the nigth before into a geographical and historical perspective. John will speak about the wines of the Burgundy region and how they relate to the wines of Beaujolais before we head over to the commercial cellars of Henry Fessy for a tour and a tasting of all 10 crus.  We will then systematically tour the northern cru region and check out small winemakers in Saint Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin au Vent, and Fleurie.  Lunch and dinner will be in the typical restaurants of the region.

Friday, November 22

Off to the city of Villefranche after breakfast, to their large indoor (food) and outdoor (goods) market.  This is the best place to pick up any items you might wish to take home. We will visit Chollet Patissiere to taste some pastries and chocolates and grab lunch in town at Bla Bla The, an organic restaurant and tea bar. In the afternoon we will resume our cru wine travels, visiting Chiroubles, Morgon, Regnie, Cote de Brouilly, and Brouilly.  Dinner will be in the village of St. Lager, for frogs legs and other typical regional specialties.


 Saturday, November 23

Ghislaine and Michel taste wine at Chateau Fellot

 Back to Villefranche to cheer on our hostess, Ghislaine, as she competes in the marathon in the morning. That afternoon the ladies on the tour will visit a Hammam Spa, a Turkish bath house (where you wear a bathing suit for your exfoliating rubdown) and we will all emerge cleaner than we ever thought possible.  Mint tea and pastries at the hammam will revive us before we connect with the men in the group who have been off to check out the Conscrits Museum and a brasserie—or two—in town.  We’ll wind home that evening, have a light repast and go to the Beaujolais party at Chateau Fellot, another of the Terroirs Originales group.  Live music, dancing in the cellar, and even more wine.

Sunday,  November 24

None too early, we'll get up and  enjoy our last leisurely morning at Les Buis du Chardonnet. Time to get ready for our departure the next day which will be very early.  That afternoon we will have our final meal, a mid-day Sunday dinner at Le Veille Auberge where the 90 year old (yes, 90!) gracious chef Madame ??? and her son Francoise enchant us with a leisurely 5 course menu.  Back to Chardonnet to savor the memories and prepare for the trip back to the States.

Monday, November 25

Both vans will be heading back to Lyon to drop folks off at the airport or elsewhere in the city if they plan to stay.  Van departure times will depend on the airline schedules, but we should all be checked out of our Home Sweet Home Francaise by noon that day.
Au revoir!  

Beaujolais Nouveau Tour Agenda Overview, Monday, November 18 to November 25

The Fall 2013 Corrs Tours trip to Beaujolais is getting ready to roll for Monday, November 18 through Monday, November 25.  The itinerary has been tentatively set, the costs have been anticipated.  The cost for the week—for everything except airfare and personal souvenir/spending money—is expected to be $2500 per person.  All meals are included.  All wine is included. All cooking classes and admissions (festival, museums, hammam spa) are included. You can relax and just show up when you are supposed to and be transported to the next activity.

If you think that Beaujolais wines are well-represented by the Beaujolais nouveau that we get here in the States, you will learn that there is a world of difference with the crus. Interested? Send an email to chefcorr@gmail.com for information about how to sign up.