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.
