Food and Wine in the South of France...

There is nothing much finer than enjoying an incredible meal and a good glass of wine and it is in expounding on that sense that much of the Micro-Lease concept is based. This past trip I had incredible meals made in the real kitchens of people who have lived in the south of France for years, punctuated by wines grown locally that are among some of the best I've ever tasted.

If you are looking for any reason at all to justify why you might want to become a Micro-Leaseholder in Monte Lauro Vineyards you need go no further than the food and wine of the region. Experience flows from food and wine as water flows from a fountain. From conceptualization, to securing to preparation and consumption, joys of all kinds are manifest in the process.

Spices at the market in Sommieres...

Corrinne, the new chef of Le Ferme de la Chateau de Montlaur (a title we conferred upon her after much wine and another great dinner), provided a virtuoso performance for the time I was there producing an incredible array of dishes, both traditionally French and also local. She hales from that part of France that nestles up against Switzerland near Geneva and has obviously inherited a gourmand's love of food and food preparation (and managing to do it all one handed as she had her arm in a sling the whole time). I can't pretend to remember the names of everything but the Mousse au chocolat definitely got my attention. Corinne has planned out a four or five day cooking course on French cuisine that we intend to offer at the farm next year. So if you ever wanted to learn the art of French cooking on the ground then now is the time you should sign up. I will personally be doing the wine matches for the week long course and look forward to highlighting the various foods with my favourite regional picks. More information will be available in the near future and we can expect Corinne to post a few recipes to the Blog over the next few months. Bon appetit!

Corinne enjoying a light lunch at the farm...I think that is a Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape in the glass!