CHATEAU DE MONBAZILLAC Chateau de Monbazillac…read more24240 Monbazillac http://www.chateau-monbazillac.com 05 53 61 52 52 and 05 53 63 65 00 An afternoon visit to the Chateau de Monbazillac was the highlight today. We arrived at the home of the famous sweet wine after a 70 km trip. Built around 1550, the chateau stands today almost exactly as when built by the AYDIE family more than four centuries ago. This was a very interesting visit indeed, highlights including the Grand Salon, the Mouney-Sully Hall, the Grand Staircase and the Hall of Bottles. The world renowned vineyard was first cultivated in the 11th century and is famous for using the noble rot method to make its sweet wines which draw thousands of visitors every year. We availed of the tasting service, naturally, and purchased some of the golden nectar along with some Bergerac Rouge and Bergerac Sec. In entering this place, you are entering a part of the History of France. So says one of the chateau's leaflets. Today, the Wine Cooperative of Monbazillac owns the chateau and makes every effort to look after the monument and open it as much as possible to visitors. For EUR6.40, we thought it was very good value indeed.

The famous sweet white wines of Monbazillac are grown in the vineyards surrounding this historical…read moremonument dating from 1550. We visited on a day that it rained followed by sunshine and were delightfully greeted with double rainbows arching over the vineyards and behind the Chateau creating postcard perfect memories. Le Chateau boasts twenty furnished rooms with unique and original architecture. Make sure to go down the stairs to the wine cellars and read some of the historical documents. When we visited, the top floor dining room was hosting a very odd art show of trash and garbage. We weren't sure what the meaning was, however, we decided to think about it as a nod to the importance of recycling. The view from the northern terrace offers extraordinary landscapes over the Bergerac valley and the Dordogne river. The white wine was too sweet for our California palate, but would be delicious over ice cream as a dessert!

I had visited Chateau Feely a few years ago as a study abroad student, and to this day, it is still…read moreone of my favorite memories from France! A friend and I were visiting Bordeaux for a weekend trip looking for wine tasting tours and were so happy to find this one off the web. We had signed up for The Essential Wine Tour adventure and Caroline was quick to respond to emails. Unfortunately, on the day of, the French train workers went on a strike, so we missed our original one-hour train from Bordeaux to Gardonne. A quick call to Caroline and no problem! She was able to adjust the tour when we came later and even helped come to meet us at the train station given the train fiasco. The wine tasting experience felt like I was in a National Geographic documentary examining vineyards! She pointed out everything from history of the nearby communities and walked us up and down the vineyard with an ambiance of a true expert and lover of wines as we felt more like friends than tourists. Her wine class and lunch were delicious and we even had an opportunity to meet her children; again, it felt like we were family and friends and it was a pleasure to be in her home. It was here that I feel in love with dessert wine! Originally, we had looked at the big Bordeaux-based companies that have tour buses, but glad to avoid the typical tourist route. The personal experience at Chateau Feely was the way to go. Highly recommended!

If staying at a winery in France is not on your bucket list, it should be! Chateau Feely is an…read moreorganic, biodynamic winery located in Southwest France. Honestly, I will never forget the absolutely wonderful three days/nights we spent here. Our host, Caro Feely, greeted us outside as soon as we drove up. We immediately were made to feel as if we had arrived at the home of a friend instead of the guest house where we stayed for the next three days. She also led our tour of the vineyard and winetasting lunch that next day. She is knowledgeable and passionate about their wines and organic/biodynamic wine making. It truly was an educational and fun experience. We opted for the half day wine tour with 'Revelation' Lunch for 50 Euro per person. Our small group of 6 began at 10:00 learning about the grapes, growing, the land/area, wine making all while strolling through the property. Towards noon, we were back to the lovely tasting room for our lunch. Caro opened a few wines, explained each one and then left us with tasting notes to explore and taste as she prepared our lunch. Lunch was a great mixture of pate, duck prosciutto, smoked trout, salads and different cheeses plus delicious, hearty breads and even chocolate to pair with all of the wines. She explained which wines paired best with the different foods, but also encouraged us to experiment with our tastings to see what appealed most to our individual palates. This was a great ending to our tour. The wines were delicious. It isn't often I like each one, but I did here. My favorites were the Sincerite, a dry sauvignon blanc and Grace, their barrel aged red wine. Sincerite is 100% sauvignon blanc, crisp and citrusy. Grace is 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot aged for 24 months in oak. The result is a rich red blend with dark fruits and depth. Delicious! Last, but not least, the accommodations. What a treat it was to stay on premises. Our wine cottage was comfortable with the most amazing views of beautiful scenery. Stress just melted away as we stared at the landscape sipping delicious wines we had purchased at Chateau Feely. There was a small kitchen and even a grill out on the patio if we wanted to stay in and cook for ourselves. There were a number of restaurants that Caro kindly recommended, one even within walking distance and more than one that were awarded a Michelin star. Needless to say we did not go without. I would absolutely visit this lovely winery again. What an unforgettable experience this was! Many thanks to Caro Feely for her wonderful and welcoming hospitality!

Hidden in a wood and on the bank of Vezere, is the La Madeleine site, a cliff village. Findings…read morehere were and are of such an importance to the understanding of the Upper Palaeolithic period that the Magdalenian culture forms part of such studies. Physically, the site is not as impressive as the neighbouring Christophe but the collection of underground rock shelters, where remains of a chapel, walls and shelters and workshops are visible, and the site above the Vezere, all combine to give one a feeling how life was lived here for century after century. Many of the ancient buildings outlived the castle that was built above them. Entrance fee: EUR5.50

Vinoma is a huge wine conglomerate that makes wines all over France. Some of the styles produced:…read more Bordeaux Bordeaux Supérieur Côtes de Castillon Côtes de Castillon Côtes de Bourg Côtes de Francs Sainte-Foy Bordeaux Montagne Saint Emilion Saint Emilion Grand Cru Lalande de Pomerol Pomerol Médoc Cru Bourgeois Médoc Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc Cru Bourgeois Listrac-Médoc Cru Bourgeois Saint Julien Cru Bourgeois Graves I particularly like the Sauternes from Chateau Grand Piquey. A solid dessert wine that is in the middle of the Sauternes scale. Good honeyed richness but young enough for a little acid, going well with stone fruit desserts.

Good stop when visiting caves. Lots of flints, some signs are in English. Animal displays are cool,…read moreand the museum continues along the hillside for great views.

Take a walk back through time Our tour guide brought us here…read morefor a tour of this museum. The collection, the documentation, the displays cataloged with a "Smithsonian" perfection were just overwhelming for the short period of time we were there. I understand this area of France is a little off the beaten path for the large American tour companies. This is a shame, the museum deserved much more time for discovery and contemplation. Even with so much use of French in the museum, a visitor can still be filled with a sense of wonder.

My husband and I along with our friends went wine tasting in Southern France. We read about Cave d…read moreEymet in the charming town of Eymet and decided to give it a try. I can't say enough wonderful things about this experience. Mitch was such an amazing lady with an abundance of knowledge about wines and wine tastings. We actually ended up booking two wine tastings with her. One was for local and regional wines and the other was for wines around the world. Mitch speaks English and has a delightful sense of humor. This was by far our favorite tasting experience. And as an added bonus...her dogs are adorable! We had an absolutely fabulous evening each time we were there. I advise calling ahead for a reservation so she can give you the absolute best experience. This is a must do when in the area!

During our month long stay in southwest France we toured several wineries and tasting rooms. Cave…read mored' Eymet was our best and most educational tasting and wine experience. Mitch, the owner, gave us two separate night tastings, first taking us through the region and then around the world. Her expertise was enlightening and educational. With her humor and knowledge we had a wonderful experience. I highly recommend anyone interested in wine make an appointment and enjoy an evening with Mitch.

Nice garden and tour of the Tower area. Also a chance to buy…read morethe estate wine. You can just visit the garden for a nice walk if you wish.