Pauillac, discovery of the Medoc wine region

Appellations......a new word. Wine regions of France. St. Juien, Margaux and Haute-Medoc. vinyards as far as the eye can see with chateau's to boot. Our first tour of the region took us to an original castle which survived the French Revolution, WW1 and WW2. Goodness knows its name but the winery attached to it is Vignobles et Chais en Bordelais. This is where we had a tour of the winery and tasting before going into the castle to look around inside.

On the grounds of the winery are two olive trees. The eldest dates back to 272 when it had been planted during the time of Emperor Constantine and the second had been planted in 734 in the beginning of the Carolingian dynasty. Those tree are 1734 and 1272 years old!!!

After our stop at the castle we then bused around the Medoc wine growing area, sighting many Chateau's and little villages which seemed to be deserted.

When we were bused around this region (Appellation) we spotted some interesting types of buildings across from us on the other side of the river. When we queried we were told it was a nuclear power station. Mmm the thought crossed my mind of its' management and hopes that nothing terrible happens to it in the future.

                                                     
                                                           the two old olive trees

                                                   one of the many chateaux

                         nuclear power station on the northern side of the Gironde

threatening clouds in the background.

Our ship in berthed on the other side of the walkway