A Stroll Around Saint Emilion with a Visit to Les Cordeliers #Winophiles

Posted by foodwineclick on March 20, 2020 · 14 Comments

Crémant = Methode Traditionelle from outside the Champage region. Still bubbly and delicious!

French Winophiles Highlight Crémant de Bordeaux and Other Crémant Wines
Crémant refers to any French Sparkling wine made in the Methode Traditionelle, outside the Champagne region. There are Crémant wines made all over France, such as Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, or Crémant de Loire. Our goal this month was to track down a Crémant de Bordeaux, which turned out to be quite difficult for many in our group, so we expanded to any Crémant.

Save a Link for Your Future Trip to Bordeaux
As I write this, we are in a worldwide “Stay at Home” situation under the threat of the Covid-19 Virus. There is currently no tourism in France. Perhaps to help you take your mind off these daily challenges, I can offer a bit of a daydream for your next trip to France, maybe to Bordeaux.

First Stop in Any French City or Village
Your first stop on arrival in any city or village in France should be the local tourism office. These offices are packed with information and great ideas for visitors of all interests. Sometimes, you can order information in advance, but you should always stop in for some excellent local advice! Before your Bordeaux trip, make sure you find where the offices are in all the major areas, and don’t miss Saint Emilion on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River.

(click on any photo for a full size slide show)

Medieval villages like Saint Emilion are a maze, you’ll need a map! #7 marks the spot for Les Cordeliers

The tourist office will have information for a variety of interests

Make sure you allot time to wander the area, you’ll gain a much better sense of the land and the people.

Hikes are available from a few hours to a full day.

Good detail on the route, and you can always improvise

Our Hike Around Saint Emilion
My adult son, Peter, and I spent the afternoon hiking all around the ancient village of Saint Emilion. Views both intimate and grand, with a few surprises.

Logis de la Cadène is a hotel and Michelin 1 Star restaurant right around the corner from the tourist office. Why not stop for lunch?

Our walk started with a descent to some underground caves inside the city walls.

We visited in early April and the vines were just starting to bud and leaf out

Wildflowers filled the rows between vines

Vineyards started immediately outside the city walls

With some very old vines

We didn’t know it, but we could see Les Cordeliers during our hike. It’s the tower just right of the upper center.

Grand old chateaus with all sorts of unusual structures

Old ramparts of the village

French lawnmowers

Entering back into the village

Les Cordeliers – Crémant de Bordeaux
Les Cordeliers is a full fledged Crémant winery inside the walls of Saint Emilion. Even if you arrive after the last tour, they have a wonderful picnic area with Les Cordeliers sparkling wines and snacks available by the glass. Perfect for a post-hike apéritif! Here’s a link to their website and a map to help you find it.

The winery is located in an old cloisters

Tours or refreshment, you pick

We enjoyed their vintage brut

If you buy a whole bottle (great idea for two or more), you’ll have a cork to adorn one of the trees in the courtyard. Note: NOT where cork comes from…

Perfect spot to relax after your hike

Winophiles Links
Take a look below at all the great ideas for your next bottle of Crémant. Why not join in our our chat? Jump on Twitter at the #winophiles hashtag on Saturday, March 21 from 10-11am CDT.

Cam at Culinary Adventure with Camilla shares Definitively Bordeaux: Cannelés + Crémant without the Champagne Price Tag.
Linda at My Full Wine Glass enjoys Date Night During a Pandemic with Crémant de Bordeaux.
Lynn at Savor the Harvest introduces Crémant de Bordeaux, Sparkling Wine From the Land of Big Reds and showcases Making Biodynamic Crémant in Bordeaux.
Robin at Crushed Grape Chronicles asks Bordeaux Bubbles?
Jeff at Wine Food Click! recaps A Stroll Around Saint Emilion with a Visit to Les Cordeliers.
Cindy at Grape Experiences says Welcome Spring with Amelia Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé and Raspberry Clafoutis.
Terri at Our Good Life serves Warm Brie, Cool Bubbles.
Gwendolyn at Wine Predator tells us to Clink Different with Cremant: Bordeaux’s Sparkling Wine Paired with Crab Cakes, Squash Fritters, and the Daughters of Dada.
Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm serves Wilted Spring Greens Soup with Amelia Brut Rose.
Susannah at Avvinare enjoys Cremant de Bordeaux, An Unexpected Pleasure.
Pinny at Chinese Food and Wine Pairings Drinks Cool Malesan Crémant de Bordeaux and Eats Chinese Hotpot.

Filed under French Winophiles, wine & travel

Comments

14 Responses to “A Stroll Around Saint Emilion with a Visit to Les Cordeliers #Winophiles”

culinarycam says:

March 20, 2020 at 12:44 pm

Great advice! Makes me long for some travel soon. Not likely with the world in the state that it is. But this will definitely be on my list. Thanks, Jeff.

Reply
- foodwineclick says:
  
  March 22, 2020 at 11:48 am
  
  Thanks Cam. Definitely worth adding to your travel list!
  
  Reply
Lynn says:

March 21, 2020 at 9:02 am

Les Cordeliers is a jewel of Saint-Emilion, especially since the remodel/overhaul. Given the present situation in France, your photos are a spring tease… and I’m thoroughly enjoying them!

Reply
- foodwineclick says:
  
  March 22, 2020 at 11:49 am
  
  Next time I’ll leave enough time and energy to actually visit inside!
  
  Reply
Linda Whipple, CSW says:

March 21, 2020 at 9:41 am

Let the daydreaming begin! We need this now more than ever. Is Les Cordeliers widely available in the US?

Reply
- foodwineclick says:
  
  March 22, 2020 at 11:51 am
  
  Daydream, yes! Les Cordeliers does show up on 1000corks.com, so there’s hope!
  
  Reply
Robin Bell Renken says:

March 21, 2020 at 4:36 pm

What a lovely virtual trip for the afternoon! The photos are stunning and I loved that you shared the maps with us! Really….that was an afternoon getaway that I really needed. They have lovely lawnmowers too! They might double as fertilizers also right?

Reply
- foodwineclick says:
  
  March 22, 2020 at 11:51 am
  
  Thanks Robin. I think the sheep were real maintenance workers, not just for show. And yes, fertilizer too!
  
  Reply
Terri Steffes says:

March 21, 2020 at 11:33 pm

I want to travel badly at the moment, due to the wonderful articles there were to read this month on #winophiles. I am pinning for when I actually do get to go!

Reply
- foodwineclick says:
  
  March 22, 2020 at 11:52 am
  
  thanks Terri. Saint Emilion is really beautiful and definitely keep it on your list!
  
  Reply