Des Raisins Au Vin

Perhaps most surprising was that Vin Diesel was there helping take in the grape harvest...

Grand last day. Out driving in the sun amongst the vines, heading to a few of the big name places in wine, and trying to search out, for the third time, the Chateau Ange-Gardien. Recommended on a website, with good reviews for the visit and the wine, it appears to have disappeared into thin air and was nowhere to be seen. So instead we wound up at the massive Veuve Ambal, seeing how Cremant de Bourgogne is made.

Cremant is basically Champagne that isn't made in Champagne, and therefore lacks the name and price tag. Seriously, in Burgundy it's even made with the same grapes, and yet the price per bottle is a third or less than that for an equivalent Champagne. Ambal has been on the go for quite some time, but instead of a visit to some ancient cellars filled with mustiness and cobwebs we were in an industrialised hub. And it was utterly fascinating seeing the machines at work.

From there it was back to Autun for a last night meal, at the fantastic Le Chapitre (though the trainee waitress spilling the amuse bouches, then not clearing up the mess, or replacing the half empty little glass of broccoli soup, wasn't quite in keeping with the quality of the food). We were surrounded by Dutch people - Autun is actually known as Little Holland because so many Dutch people own holiday homes there.

And sod it, the packing can wait till the morning...