Day 10 Sunday 25th September. ..Roquefort. ...'the land where neither vineyards nor corn will grow'

Discovering the birthplace of Roquefort cheese

Roquefort is first mentioned in 1070 and by the end of the Middle Ages,  its reputation extends to the bigger towns and cities of the Mediterranean region - Toulouse, Marseilles and Montpellier. In the 15th century,  under Charles VI, the refining of the cheese became the monopoly of the people of Roquefort and the caves were granted a protected status. Roquefort cheese became internationally renowned in the 20th century.  In 1925 it was the first cheese to be granted title Appellation d'Origine- label of origin-  a mark or guarantee of quality and in 1951, at the International Convention of Stresa, Roquefort was confirmed as an Appellation d'Origine Protegee.

Roquefort  is in the  Averyron district, located at the bottom of the Rock of Combalou and is registered as Site Remarquable du Gout- a unique village. Here and only here,  in the depths of the caves, the famous Roquefort cheese is ripened. Our tour though in French, was very interesting as we made our way through the many levels ending with a tasting session.  It was a fantastic tour and one that is truly unique.  

From Roquefort we made our way to the Viaduc de Millau the highest bridge in Europe designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster who is also known for the design of the National Art Gallery of Victoria.  Lunch was at the service centre at the bridge where a surprisingly delicious array of types of food were available.  The Viaduc de Millau is in Averyron department which is famed throughout France for its fine food.

Day 8 at the seaside

Back on the road and today would be full of variety. First stop was the Noilly -Prat winery in the village of Marseillan a delightful town southwest of Montpellier on the coast.  Marseillan is on the outskirts of Montpellier and is slowly being swallowed  by the city as it grows. It is home to a well known brand of aperitif Noily Prat, a type of digestive stimulant with the generic name of Vermouth. White wine made in the vicinity is macerated with a secret  combination of  aromatics derived  from herbs and  medicinal plants that grow on the shores of the Mediterranean  or inland in the marquis and garrigue, two kinds of low scrubby bushland found in Provence. While the ingredients and proportions of each are a well kept secret a tasting of Noily Prat will suggest the presence of juniper berries, sage, thyme and other plants with a 'dry' taste profile.

Lunch was in the small village of Meze further up the coast and once again a random choice of harbourside cafes did not disappoint. The salmon served on hot rocks was divine. Meze is also the home town of Pepinieres Filippi a nursery known world wide for its introduction of many fine plants suited to summer dry  Mediterranean climates. Olivier Filippi a leading authority inthis field gave the group an interesting insight into  this trend.

The final visit for the day was the Jardin antique Mediterranean in the glorious town of Balaruc les Bains and is the home to a botanic garden of interest as it grows only plants  native to the Mediterranean that have been grown and harvested since ancient times.

Day 7 ...a day at leisure in Montpellier

Today is a designated day off for the coach driver so the group had time to explore this beautiful place. With lots of options available such as art galleries, shopping, the cathedral, and catching the local tram, the day was a very pleasant one. Or for those who just wanted to catch up on sleep and some personal time out the day was most welcome.

Day 6 Wednesday 21 September. ..the back country of Montpellier

Day 6 Wednesday 21 September. ..the back country of  Montpellier
Food.....food...wine....not too much wrong with that combination. Today we experienced some wonderful food and wine moments. Our first stop was the market at Clarmont-Herault which is one of the best in the region noted for its very varied selection of local produce. Each person purchased their choice of delicacies for a shared 'Happy hour' at the end of the day. We had some amazing charcuterie,  breads, regional cheeses, olives, fresh radishes, salads and many superb fruits. This market has operated  almost continuously since the  12th century interrupted only by war and the Black death. Vibrant and wonderfully French.

Our next stop was the Canet at Domaine de la Dourbie winery for yet another taste sensation. Here we were treated to a tour of this organic winery with a guided tasting. Superb!  But then the best was yet to come...a picnic in a forest. A small feast in individual picnic bags were prepared by our hosts complete with the gingham table cloths! With perfect weather and good company he whole experience was very memorable. Our perfect day ended with the spoils of our market shopping with happy hour in our hotel breakfast room per kind favour of our host Nathalie. I love this place.

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