It took me twenty-six hours to get to France.
Two and a…read morehalf hours to negotiate my way to Montmare. Six hours before it started hailing rain.
10 hours before my IPhone was stolen on the Paris Metro.
I had a friend tell me once. Make sure your first night in Paris is fantastic! Because apparently, that'll set the tone for the rest of the trip.
Ha!
Little did I know, that the minute you step out of Gay Paris, that's where you meet the true people of France. The heart of France.
The France that consisted of small alley ways, cobble stoned floors, forlorn musicians humming in the streets, and Gothic Cathedrals that reached for the sky.
While stumbling across Tours, dazed and confused, my friends and I (still having quite the rough trip), decided, to get drunk before 1 pm. Because... how would you have it any other way? I mean shit, we had to break the bad spell some way right?
This establishment stood out with it s sleek new architecture of glass and wood. We had to come here...twice. Because, well, they're a bit lax with their comings and goings-- according to their hours at least. So be patient my friends, good things come to those who wait.
When we finally did get in, we opted for the 4 Euros a person wine tasting, 4 tastings each.
Arnold-- who was a bit distant at first, asked if we would prefer White or Red. I got white, my friend got Reds.
And after the first whiff, the spell was broken.
What continued after, was a spectrum of different tastes, textures, stories and laughs. Arnold (ahem, who is quite handsome), started bringing out more and more wines. He educated us --- now quite buzzed and drunk Americans, on the different regions from which the wines came from.
I remember liking very much the whites that stemmed from Vouvray. These were the local wines. I believe it's located in the Touraine district and just east of Tours. I cannot begin here to capture all the small nuances, and hints of love that I got from these samplings. It was so much more then I had hoped for, and has brought me back to whites all over again.
The reds were equally fascinating. There was a specific one, which gave off strong aromas of bell peppers. It was-- in short--- divine.
We didn't even go into the Roses, because we were on a time constraint. (not our choice...ofcourse).
Yelpers. I say this from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to marry the man, and live a the Wine Store. Or at least, spend another good 6 hours there, boozing it up.
The most expensive wine on the wall?
10 Euros.
Why in the world are wines in the US-- an equivalent of the wines I tasted in Tours-- at least 80 dollars. EXPLAIN THIS TO ME. yeah, yeah, you have to pay for gas and such. but really?? really????!
Arnold talked me off the ledge of attempting to buy everything in the store. Instead, we walked out with 3 bottles and two tastings, somehow equalling up to barely 20 Euros.
Sigh.
Next time I go to France, I'm beelining it right to Maison des Vins de Tour.
But if you happen to go before me, please give Arnold plenty of Bisous for me.
...After some wine ofcourse.
