Sunday June 18, Mas Granier Mas Montel Vineyard, Asperes
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| Under the Millau Bridge |
It has been one of the bigger
drives we have done, not intended but just how it worked out. Said our goodbyes
to our English friends and set off in the general direction of the
Camargue. We picked up on the A75, a
double lane toll free freeway and headed south. This was through real French
countryside, with large areas of barley ready for harvest and paddocks of hay
getting ready to be baled. We were at more than 1000 metres and the views were
amazing. Many small towns in the hills. th century castle that dominates
the town. It still impresses me to see these old buildings that are still
standing.
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| How's this for a mobile home! |
Continued on to Millau, and the
famous Millau Viaduct, the world’s tallest bridge that spans the Tarn River. We
could have paid a toll and driven across the viaduct but decided it would be
good to actually see if from beneath. Jilly took quite a bit of bantering to
get her to take us to the right place to view it, got there eventually and what
a breath-taking sight. Hard to imagine the engineering needed to build it. Had
read about an information centre but got there only to find that it was closed.
Continued south on the A75 then took the N106 East, a secondary road. Really
enjoyed the drive through some great country, dropping down from 1000 metres to
almost sea level.
It was mid-afternoon and getting
quite warm and checked out several Aires in towns we passed through, but not at
all appealing, not much more than dusty carparks in the middle of a town, so
got out my French Passion book and found this listing in Asperes. It was close
to 5 when we arrived, and once again we have landed on our feet. We drove up
the long driveway to the entrance with a really old vine covered stone chateau
type building and into the tasting area. The managers met us and with pretty
good English said we could park anywhere we liked on the grassy area under the
trees – no one else was here. We went inside for a tasting and Fleur gave us a
welcome bottle of wine, could not believe it. She was excellent and told us so
much about the property. The first grapes were planted here in 810AD and the
present buildings were constructed in the 1600’s. Such a sense of history. It
was so pleasant sitting in the cool old stone building as we tasted some
excellent wines – and took a few back to the van! We sat outside under the
trees, enjoying the sounds of the country with the chooks coming to visit, and
the bells chiming in the nearby village and enjoyed the cold rose we had been
given. The oleanders do so well in this climate and create such a show of
colour along with the impatients planted in the large wine barrels. We are now
in the Languedoc region.
Another great day on the road in
France.
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| Our campspot for the night. |
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