Cellar “La part des anges”- Marseille2017/7/17

Cellar “La part des anges”- Marseille

This fabulous all-rounder wine bar is named after the alcohol that evaporates through a barrel during wine or whisky fermentation: the angels’ share.
In the middle of Marseille city center, just few steps from the Old Port, you can take your pick of dozens of wines by the glass.
If you enjoy wine, the “Part des Anges” is indeed the place to head to in Marseille! The “Part des Anges” is a renowned wine bar and art gallery opened since 1999, born of the passion of three friends for wine. Their philosophy is simple: “there are no great or little wines, but men working and respecting their terroirs, vinifying in the rules of art or with originality.”
They consider themselves to be the last link of the chain and want nothing more than share their passion for the wines they love.

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Temperatures are reaching peeks in South of France, the summer promises to be hot. At Domaine Clos du Caillou the time of veraison has come.2017/7/14

Temperatures are reaching peeks in South of France, the summer promises to be hot. At Domaine Clos du Caillou the time of veraison has come.

 

 

What is veraison? ( ‘véraison’ in french)

The ‘véraison’ is the time when the seeds of grapes change color and thus take their final shade of color. We consider that this stage is finished when half of seeds have changed color (see picture). It is due to the migration of sugars of the vine to the grape seeds. 
The acidity decreases, then the tannins, dyestuffs, aromatics and sugars increase till full maturity of the grapes. The winemaker is particularly carefull to this vegetative stage because it is the first information for the time of harvest. Indeed, the harvest generally begins about 35 days after the ‘véraison’.

 

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La boîte à sardines- (fish restaurant) Marseille2017/6/30

La boîte à sardines- (fish restaurant) Marseille

Located near the church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul at the top of la Canebière, the city’s storied main artery, which runs down hill to Le Vieux Port, or the old harbor. There’s simply no better place in the port town to get a really good reasonably priced feed of just-out-of-the-water seafood!
The owner, Fabien Rugi, has a clear philosophy, all dishes are made with Mediterranean products from local fishing. Seasonal products (wolf, sea bream, sole, monkfish, sardines, squid, anemone, shrimps, oysters, ursin, etc…) accompanied by seasonal vegetables (ratatouille, broccoli florets in lemon butter,..), delicious panisses (made of chickpeas flour).
It won’t be a surprise to hear Fabien Rugi to tell a businessman that he can’t have his fish if he doesn’t close his iPad and devote his attention to his meal. “I just wanted to read the paper,” the man will implore, but Rugi will insist. “Concentrate on your meal instead–how can you really enjoy your food when you’re reading? My fish deserves your full attention.”
One way or another, the triangular shaped room hung with fish nets and decorated with nautical bric brac offered ample distractions of one stripe or another.
Be sure to book as the restaurant is very popular!

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Cité radieuse-Le Corbusier , Marseille.2017/6/28

Cité radieuse-Le Corbusier , Marseille.

 

 

Classified as “Historic Monument”, the Cité radieuse registered since July, 2016 on the WORLD HERITAGE OF THE UNESCO with 16 other sites in conformance with the contribution exception of the work the architectural of Him Corbusier to the modern movement.
This is the work of Swiss architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier. The impressive building measures 165m in length, 24m in width and 56m in height and was built between 1947 and 1951. The site is reminiscent of an urban plot in the middle of a park.

  

 

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Rognes village- Château Barbebelle-2017/6/17

Rognes village- Château Barbebelle-

 

 

Rognes is a pretty, historic village situated between Salon de Provence and Aix en Provence, not far from the banks of the Durance River. The origin of the village dates back to the stone-age and it was built on the slopes of the Foussa (the name of the hill). It was built, destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries until the terrible day in 1909 when it was almost totally destroyed by an earthquake, and later abandoned.
Today the village is peacefully nestled at the foot of the Rognes hill and you can even see some of the original streets and houses which escaped the disaster.

The main industry in Rognes has always been agriculture with the vineyards producing the AOC “Coteaux d’Aix”wine which has an excellent reputation. The cultivation of the truffle has been honoured for some years by a fair held in December.

Rognes is equally well-known for the quality of its stone which has been extracted from open-cast quarries for more than 20 centuries. This same stone has become trendy today and is often seen gracing interior design magazines or in renovated residences, town-houses or prestigious properties in Aix-en-Provence.

Famous for its wine, truffles and stone, the surrounding countryside is also beautiful to discover. Large fields, carefully cultivated or left to grow wild, small modest dwellings or beautiful bourgeois residences… there is an impression that nothing has changed here for centuries and that the tranquil life-style has always reigned.
Population : 3,500 h.

Château Barbebelle-
Lands cultivated by Romans, a typical château from 16th centuries, 45 hectares of vines in a preserved and authentic 300 hectares nature : Château Barbebelle is one of the oldest vineyard of Aix en Provence. It is the stronghold of the Herbeau family. An history that continues with the 4th generation: Madeleine decided to join her father to write in four hands the future of the family business. Together, they intend to continue to consolidate the reputation of home wines ( wine type: “lutte raisonnée”) and highlight the qualities and the typicity of their terroir in France and in many countries.

At 16 kms of Aix-en-Provence, on the road to the Luberon, the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence vineyard occupies 45 hectares in a single estate of 300 hectares. It is in the heart of a protected wildlife, between cypress trees, pines and holm oaks, that vines draw all their wealth to give quality wines. The grape varieties of the appellation (grenache, syrah, cabernet-sauvignon, cinsault, vermentino, sauvignon …) are settled on a homogeneous territory of clayey-limestone slopes on a hilly relief, favorable to viticulture, very representative of Provence » The vineyards in Coteaux enjoy an excellent sunshine. Nevertheless, they do not suffer too much from the heat.
Clay and limestone soils retain moisture. The rugged relief ensures good ventilation and the average altitude of the vineyard – 370 meters – gives fresh nights even in summer. Finally, the mistral de Provence naturally cleanses the grapes. This brings a little respite to the plants which ripen with more regularity. In addition, the field practices respect for the environment and for quality a reasoned agriculture validated by the label « Mediterranean nutrition »(treatments are minimized).

 

 

http://www.chateaubarbebelle.com/
http://www.festivites-rognes.fr/fete-de-la-truffe/

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