Day Trip to Saint Emilion

With a panorama of vineyards, limestone wine chateaus, and a medieval monopolistic church as the town center, Saint Emilion is a small quaint town near Bordeaux. I visited Saint Emilion on a brisk and sunny morning, adding to the charm of its captivating landscape, with limestone townhouses and cobble stoned paths blending finely into its natural surroundings. I attended a guided tour in the morning exploring Saint Emilion’s historical heritage and visited a wine chateau which held a wine tasting tour in English. The day was well spent learning about the town’s past and the booming wine productions in place today.

Historical Heritage

Saint Emilion is crowned as an UNESCO heritage site with its rich history and wine producing practices that dates back to the 2nd Century. Back then, Saint Emilion’s main industry included cereal, wine, and limestone extraction. In the 8th Century, a monk named Emilion (now crowned a saint) moved to the town, built a Benediction brotherhood while the town prospered in size and population. His underground dwellings in the town today attracted pilgrims on their way Santiago, and thus the town prospered economically due to the worshippers.

Renowned for its wine, Saint Emilion boosts a diversity of complex geology of sand, clay, and limestone, while the mild microclimate provides fertile ground for wine production. The wine brotherhood established in the 12th Century under the King of England’s rule also preserved its wine making tradition well throughout the years, and today Saint Emilion boosts a wide range of red wine with rich aromas and flavors.

Chateau visit and Wine tasting Tour

Many of Saint Emilion’s 900 chateaus are family owned, with small limestone houses dotted in midst of the sea of wine valleys. I visited the Ambe Tour Pourret Chateau, which held guided tours in its magnificent chateau and vineyards. We started the tour in the vineyard, learning about farming practices, soil geology, and climatic influences. I was surprised to learn that irrigation of vineyards are not allowed in central and northern regions of France, thus wine quality was dependent on varying rainfall each year. We were then guided through its fermentation, aging, mixing, and bottling processes, entering rooms with bottling machines, wooden barrels, and aging cellars. Wine making is a complex art with rich historical roots, with unique producing practices that differs (and guarded as secret) for each chateau. We were blessed with tasting 3 different wines (one white wine and two reds) with pairing cheeses in the end of the visit, and I felt bubbly and a bit tipsy after the tour haha.

Walking through the picturesque town, I bathed under the vibrant sun and chilly breeze. The tumbling alleys of spring vineyards spread before me, and I was amazed by the vibrancy of a small town of 200 residents. The medieval limestone architecture, the wine producing chateaus, and the panorama of the landscapes captured the simple abundance of a gem of history, culture, and nature. A feeling of tranquility swept over me, as I breathed in the crisp air, observed the rolling valleys, and felt the warmth of the sunbeams. Taking long strides in the open air, being close to nature, and observing the changing of lights calms the mind, and I feel extremely blessed with exploring such a beautiful gem and learning about wine production.

Awakening of the five senses

Wines awaken the five senses. The plop of the cork and bubbling of the wine tingles against the glass. The dynamic aromas of fruit, wood, chocolate, honey, and animal tickles the nose. The shades of red, rose, gold, glitter, and white dances with the light. The flavors smoke, spice, and sweetness awaken the taste buds. The textures of smoothness and dryness inspire imaginations and crafts memories with emotion.

Wine is a pleasure to the senses, and also a cultural and social practice. It compliments culinary feasts, brings friends and family together, and crafts a convivial atmosphere. Mixing social and gourmand pleasures, wines present sharing and conviviality deeply rooted in French culture.

The art of quality living can be manifested in eating and drinking well in French culture. The precision in the pairing of wine and food, the dedication in preserving traditional recipes, the preservation of agricultural appellations, and the commitment in the presentation and serving of food manifests such beliefs. As French Michellin chef Helene Darroze said, “Each dish is a work of art, and each grand cru a gem.”; wine can be seen as the magic potion that brings out the charm in culinary celebrations. “Nights in Bordeaux seem to be longer”, as wine enlivens the spirit and brings out hearty ambiences.

We don’t have to be an expert in wine to enjoy wine. It leads us in exploring the panoply of colors, distinguishing dancing aromas, and relishing the convivial ambience in family gatherings. Being introduced to wine’s rich traditional roots, vibrant sensual pleasures, and the social fabrication stimulants opened another “wine-view” for me. It is a humbling learning process, on the rich cultural, historical, and social practices.

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I’m extremely thankful. Wine introduced me to the vibrancy of the world: the pairing of gastronomic pleasures, opening up to social gatherings, and dedication to a life of quality. I paid more attention to gastronomic well-being, I opened up to novel experiences, and I fully appreciated moments of people gatherings- being patient, respectful, and compassionate to people who each have a story of their own to share.

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Each solo trip triggered surprising insights. I couldn’t imagine if these revelations would surface if I weren’t walking thousands of steps a day, living each moment and seeing the fascinating and vibrant world on my own. Such is the freedom and independence of youth, and I will always remember these life values crafted in these simple, yet abundant travels.