WineInProvence

Brian and I have been preparing for the Wine & Cheese class that we're offering next week, as well as getting ready for the Wine & Food class after that. Apryl Anderson led us in an aperitif tasting out at her house in the country (she makes her own!), and we cooked with her, as well. Last night I tried a bit of what I've learned on a couple that was taking Dom and I to dinner. I made them Caramelized Ginger Champagne & dates stuffed with almonds and rolled in bacon. It worked! The Champagne was what I was most worried about. I had to make this syrup with crazy spices, but it turned out nicely. Here is the recipe if you are interested...

Ginger Champagne Cocktail:
(Serves 8)

½ chopped fresh ginger root
2/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tbsp sugar for later
¼ tsp Chinese five-spice powder
3 tbsp chopped crystallized ginger
8 whole star anise
1 bottle champagne or sparkling wine

Bring ginger, 2/3 cup of sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan.
Reduce to a simmer; cook until liquid thickens to maple syrup consistency, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool. Strain syrup; discard ginger. Combine Chinese five-spice powder and remaining 2 tbsp sugar on a shallow plate. Moisten the rim of champagne flutes with water and dip in sugar. Drop anise into each glass. Add 1 tbsp syrup and about 3 oz champagne.

This Weekend...

I tried a yoga class with Andrea. It was fun, but now I am sore! And a group of us went biking again. We rode out to Pey Blanc- a little winery outside of Aix. I talked the owner into a sneak peek of the fermentation/barrel room, and he was nice enough to let us fill up our containers with wine directly from the tanks! John Brubaker (a Westmont grad) was visiting, and I cooked lunch for a group of people on Sunday afternoon, including my French host mother from last year and the yoga instructor! I also sang in church (Dom played guitar) and I played the piano during Communion.

Bike Riding Through the Vineyards

Yesterday, I rented bikes with 5 friends and rode out to a 'Co-operative'. We filled up a plastic gas can type container with wine, carried it home in my backpack, and bottled it together that evening (Dom and I have a bottler and corks). It was so much fun! Perfect weather for a bike ride, I saw the sun set on the way home- beautiful views of Mt. Sainte Victoire, and the wine just tastes better when you've bottled it yourself. =) We had a little assembly line going of people pouring the wine (using a funnel) into the bottles that we had recycled, putting in on the corker mechanism, and then pushing down on the lever that fits the large cork into the small bottle neck. We peeled off the old labels and decorated the bottles with silver and gold pens. The Co-op is in the small town of Eguilles (right next-door to Aix- it's about 11 or 12 kilometers to get out there). It cost 11 euros for just under 8 bottles of wine, and it wasn't heavy to carry home on my back at all because it was just the liquid in the plastic jug and no glass bottles. I want to do this with all future visitors!

Wine Tastings

Last week we were hired to put on the CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad) student orientation. There were 23 students the first night and 28 the second. During one of the tastings, a young lady in the back raised her hand and said..."Hilary! It's Melanie Lyeth!" I couldn't believe that a girl I grew up with- knew her from Sunday school in Healdsburg, CA- was sitting in my living room on the 5th floor of an apt building in a foreign country! She is studying in Aix this spring semester and we will see each others families when they visit Provence in a few months. I couldn't believe it...I rode horses with Melanie's older sister Margaret in Pony Club, Heather worked at the same Bed & Breakfast, we had pool parties at her house. Small world.