Drinking Sauternes a whole day...

Château d'Yquem

We spent a whole day drinking Sauternes... wonder if that is really healthy? Looking back it wasn't difficult. Wine tasting at the premier cru classé Château Coutet.... Lunch at the one star Michelin restaurant Claude Darroze with three different Sauternes.... and a visit to the legendary Château d'Yquem... tasting a 2008 Yquem was a great way to end a great day! (My anniversary might have had something to do with all this).

This day was organised by the Sauternes tourist office. I very rarely participate in organised events but I really appreciated this one!

I learned that Sauternes is a very small wine district. It represents about one percent of the Bordeaux region total production. The area has a micro climate due to topological reasons. The cold river Ciron falls into the warmer river Garonne, creating morning fog in autumn that spreads over the Sauternes area but is kept within it by the pine trees on one side and the slope on the right side of the Garonne river. Perfect for the Botrytis Cynerea, the fungus responsible for the noble rot necessary to create this sweet wine. And even better with the warm and sunny afternoons, needed to mature the raisin.

I also learned that at Yquem they harvest by hand, raisin after raisin, passing several times by the same grapes to pick them at the perfect moment. They are famous for their quality requirements, so tough that some years they don't even produce a wine with their grapes. (In that case they sell them anonymously as Sauternes grapes...)

Château Coutet

Lunch at Claude Darroze, among many other delicate servings, what about lamb with your Sauternes? (I don't even show the foie gras crème brulée, nor the lobster ravioli or the Aquitaine caviar...)

d

Look at the different colors of our three sauternes, the deepest being from 1973... and the other two both 2005.

View over the Yquem vines... the castle is on top of a small hill.

Old traditions...

The Yquem grapes before the fungus start its action.

What non surfing friends do.....

... meanwhile on a beach close to you.... to summarise I think we can agree there was a lot of digging going on, taking photos, swimming and checking out the beach guards...

(Erretegia in Bidart)

A hard work called surfing

I've written before about the adrenaline rush in surfing, the beauty of the Erretegia beach and showed surf photos of Clara and of my friends... so this time I wanted to put the emphasis on how bloody difficult and tiring it is....  The friends who tried it once last year came back this year, for a full week of training! Told you, it is addictive!!!!! And hard work.

You thought it was easy getting that darn surf out to the right spot?

They look cool, right? But they are just panting for air and pretending to be waiting for the right wave....

After two hours in the water, when you can hardly walk, then is the time to walk back AND carry the surf...

Maybe that is why surf teachers look so hot being five months pregnant????

It is nearly over. The wet suits are off. Time for picnic.

Repeat: Bayonne festival with the children

Yes, we did a quick stop at the Bayonne festival this year too! I love it! (Daytime version, too old for spending the night there...)

Bright colors, sun, music.... !! This was Thursday, the day dedicated to the children with lots of activities for them (but we came in pretty late and experience since last year told us to stay away from the queues). Next year we'll be there earlier!

A welcome breeze

Even the statues get their red scarf on!

The king of the Festival

Bubbles everywhere!

Strange instrument...

Very very yummy Pariés bakery... I love the decoration of the metal boxes

One of the activites: getting your hair done

The team!

Afternoon in Fuentarrabie

One classic excursion is to take the small boat from Hendaye over to Spanish Fuentarrabie. The Marina area is known for its tapas bars and the old centre is dominated by the magnificent Parador hotel.... so that is exactly what I did last week with some friends. Many detail pictures to give you a feeling for this adorable place!

Rowing festival

You know you're in Spain when you see the laundry hanging outside to dry...

The Parador. Quite a hotel!

View from the Parador