It is so FANTASTIC to be back in France.

Hi again to all our faithful blog followers. We are back in France, YAY!!!. I didn’t realise how much I absolutely love countryside France until we crossed the border from Germany. Food, people, scenery, wine, cheese, houses, photographs. I could so easily live here.

We picked up Alan and Linda and with Peter and Nicky we all flew together to Frankfurt. The Air Canada baggage nazis had to be negotiated and I have to say that a few people lost their cool over the unbelievable stupidity and laziness of the Air Canada staff.

Then the sardine flight to Frankfurt with pathetic service and food to top it off. They might be the most awarded airline in North America but that makes me very concerned to travel on any of the others.

Alan and I had both booked what we thought was a reasonably large wagon to transport all the people and luggage. What we were given, without any negotiation or discussion, was considerably smaller. They gave me an Astra wagon and Alan a slightly larger Peugeot. Four of us plus luggage only fit in the Astra if Nicky and Peter and Collette nursed so much luggage they couldn’t see where we were going. 28 km out of the airport we found a lunch spot and Alan rescued much of our luggage from my desperate passengers.

A welcome German lunch later and we were under way for the 300 km trip to Kayserberg. Problem was neither Alan nor I had been able to get any sleep on the plane so we were a little dopey and cranky after 36 hours on the go. It was an exciting trip.

But France at last! Our 3 bedroom, 3 level house is gorgeous and very comfortable. Dinner and beer at the nearest restaurant was sublime and I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Our lodgings for five nights.

Great restaurant, particularly after 40 hours travelling.

The main reason we are in Kayserberg is for the girls to attend a big quilt festival in some nearby towns over the next 4 days. Because it is a girls only thing I will not be reporting on their adventures other than maybe a few third hand anecdotes. Anyone interested will have to contact the girls directly and get the story. I am confident they will be forthcoming.

However us blokes have some tourist things to do and I will be reporting on that. We are reputedly in the best Riesling growing region in the world so we feel it is our solemn duty to prove that statement correct. There are also many other things to do and just France to enjoy.

There is a 15th C castle ruins a 20 minute walk uphill to explore, which was the perfect way to start the day.

We climbed the tower in total darkness but great views over the valley to be seen.

Looking out over Kayserberg and the surrounding vineyards.

Kayserberg is another beautiful example of country France towns. They are exquisite to walk through, excruciating to drive, and stunning at every corner. This is a very big reason I love France.

We were told of a vineyard about 2 km out of town in Schlossberg that was the best example of the region. The winery was Andre Blanck and he was the 7th generation running the business.

The proud owner who is running the winery in conjunction with his brother. It is a special experience when you can spend time with a man passionate but not overbearing about his craft.

They make 7 varieties, all white except for Pinot noir, which is so light it could be a rose. He explained the four types of soil in the area and which grapes grew in each one and showed on a photograph of the area where the grapes were picked. The quality was very good, the Riesling’s exceptional and the Pinot Blanc very interesting. We had a great time and came away with three bottles that will accompany some great French cheeses.

What was particularly interesting was his very specific recommendation for food with each wine. It would be asparagus or poached white fish or something equally specific. The most expansive he allowed was for the Pinot noir which he agreed was for a light Sunday BBQ.

The village of Schlossberg is mostly surrounded by a wall and now dried moat.

A community garden in the moat.

Back in Kayserberg we visited another two vineyards tasting centres. The wine was not as good in quality but too similar to be interesting. We discovered that a hillside of vines may be broken up and owned by dozens of vineyards so that the differences between wineries are distinctive but very subtle.

This applies across all the seven varieties from this area. As a result I think that extensive tasting of vineyards in this area will quickly become mundane. We will need to stretch our reach to obtain some variety.

Some more images from Kayserberg.

A tub of Pinot Blanc first crush filled the winery with a very strong smell.

Tomorrow the girls continue on quilting while the boys drive 220 km to Stuttgart to visit the Mercedes and Porche Museums. Another big day of adventure.