The forecast was really good and we got the bikes out to cycle along the Beaune-Santenay veloroute along the Cote de Beaune and some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world.
We headed through the villages of Pommard, Volnay, Mersault and on to Puligny Montrachet. This village reputedly produces some of the best wines in the world. Because it was grape picking time the vintners were not doing wine tasting, but at about 60 euros a bottle for the premier cru that didn’t bother us too much!
We then headed to Chassagne Montrachet and did a wine tasting at the municipal winery in the village. We tasted two different bottles of premier cru from different vineyards and they were quite different. Again, at 45 euros a bottle, we declined to buy.
We then headed home. The cycle path took us through the vineyards and was really scenic. We stopped to taste some of the pinot noir and chardonnay grapes grown there. The pinot noir was quite sweet, but the chardonney very tart.
When we got back home we cracked a bottle of cheap French chardonnay (2.50) we had bought at the local supermarket and it was hard to tell it from the expensive wines we had tasted. That must be our poor pallet!
The distance computer measured 23 miles, our longest journey so we must be getting fitter.