Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Limagne valley is an original source for frogs, whose
legs are still fried and eaten here. So this region can be
credited with giving the French another name.
Cognac and Bordeaux
South-western France, where the famous wine regions of
Cognac and Bordeaux are, is a land uniquely mixed with
British characteristics. In the 12th and 13th century,
this Aquitaine region was part of England. The capital,
Bordeaux, was the fourth largest city in England. It retains
a cosmopolitan l air and remains a prosperous centre
of trade.
Many still consider the Bordeaux wines unsurpassed in
the world. The great Grand Cru vineyards around the city
produce some of the most complex red wines from tiny
AOC vineyards. Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau
Lai te and Château Mouton-Rothschild are designated 'i rst-
growths' of the Medoc, in the strict classii cation established
by Napoleon himself in 1855. St Emilion has two Premiere
Grand Cru. All these need ageing in the barrel and in the
bottle, before they can blossom.
There are many 'surprises' as well among lesser growths
of the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde river valleys. The
elegantly sweet Sauternes and the crisp dry white Bordeaux
from the Graves and Entre-deux-Mers give the area a
remarkable range of very distinctive wines.
Oysters on the sea coast are raised at the water's edge
and brought inland to fatten and mature. They take their
names from these maturing villages. The Marennes oysters
have a green meat. The
entrecôte
of the Bordelaise
complement the red wines, as does the St Emilion speciality,
chocolate charlotte.
The
Chabichou
goat cheese is remarkable. The Charente is
both dairy country and home of Cognac, the great brandy of
France, different from an
eau-de-vie
in that, after distillation
from wine, it is aged in wood barrels, instead of crocks, thus
adopting a golden colour.
Foie gras
and trufl es come from
this area, as well as elsewhere in France, but the
trufl e du
Périgord
is considered the best.
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