La Percee du Vin Jaune 2010 - Help

originally posted by Thor:
Exactly. I'm on glass seven, I think.
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The sherry rules allow for a six stroke maximum. After that, it is off the record.
 
originally posted by Thor:
Joe, as for traveling to France, I really like October. April can be OK. Later than that, and you're in tourist season. (Obviously, never go in August). But October is a great time to go; later if you're on the plains/near a river, earlier if you're in the mountains.
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I second this belief. I can't talk of how other parts of France are in October, but that's when I have been in Paris and it's beautiful. Could be the leaves turning or could be the women in boots, scarves and long coats ready for the cooler weather. Your call.
 
I've been in Paris, the Rhne, Alsace, Burgundy, the Loire, the Pyrenes (from Gavarnie eastward), the Minervois/Corbires, and the Mediterranean coastline just north of the Spanish border, in October. In every case, the weather was more or less acceptable. Sometimes, it was unseasonably warm (Rhne 2001, in which it was summer-like; Collioure 2006, in which it was beach/swimming weather, plus the hiking in the Pyrenes was done in short sleeves). Yes, OK, Alsace was the worst, but better than in the spring.

I'm a big fan of France in October, in other words. If you can swing the time/economics, consider it.

(Early November is OK, depending on the place. Late November is winter.)
 
But October is not necessarily the best month for wine tourism. Sure you may be able to work something out and you'll probably see someone. But it is a busy season.

I like the February idea. Much less scenic in terms of weather/seasons, but it's cheap and you'll stand out as a 'special' team for visiting during that month.

I've done travelling in Europe every month of the year and I'm coming to the view that there is always something to gain in each season. So just go with it and enjoy what comes your way.

Of course since this is your first trip to France and if you're not likely to get back soon you may want to 'maximize' your efforts in which case you should probably listen to the other folks in this thread.
 
You're right about the potential difficulties of October in terms of the winemaking season. On the other hand, winemakers are rarely busy every day over that period, so if you're flexible in making/rescheduling appointments, the rewards -- tasting/watching things "in progress" -- can be considerable, especially if it's clear you're not just some random drop-in, and can be trusted to taste grapes with fruit flies, wines straight from the press, and mid-malo ferments without freaking out. Etc.

You're right that every month (except August) has its rewards, though.
 
originally posted by Thor:
the rewards -- tasting/watching things "in progress" -- can be considerable, especially if it's clear you're not just some random drop-in, and can be trusted to taste grapes with fruit flies, wines straight from the press, and mid-malo ferments without freaking out. Etc.
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Good point.

You're right that every month (except August) has its rewards, though.
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Even August in France has its rewards. Being able to experience firsthand that cultural phenomenon known as Closed/Subdued.
 
I hardly think that finding places unexpectedly closed is an exciting and unique experience in France.
 
originally posted by Thor:
I hardly think that finding places unexpectedly closed is an exciting and unique experience in France.
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Good point. It's also called Monday, Wednesday, lunch, afternoon, morning, Saturday, Sunday, or any other reason you can think of.

But, it's all part of the cultural mosaic that makes our globe so interesting. And annoying.
 
Granted, it's not as bad as Italy. But it's probably more frustrating, because it's so capricious.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Thor:
I hardly think that finding places unexpectedly closed is an exciting and unique experience in France.
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Good point. It's also called Monday, Wednesday, lunch, afternoon, morning, Saturday, Sunday, or any other reason you can think of.
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And January and February, which is why I advised Joe to go some other time. Not going to be fun finding a place to eat when all the restaurants are closed.
 
I'll half-agree with Mike, in that I think you'll want to do a lot of research on your intended restaurants (if you have them; if you play it by ear, never mind) over the winter months, to figure out who's actually open. For us, since we tend to plan where we're staying based partially on the proximity of interesting places to eat, this is important. For others, it might not be.

On the other hand, I've never found a region's restaurants to shut down en masse (except, perhaps, in August, but even then...), though you may need to work a little harder to find the ones that are open. Which means: less choice, (maybe) more driving...the latter of which is less carefree in these prohibitionistic days...and possibly a generally lower average standard of cuisine. Or not; it's so hard to predict these things. Rely on the local winemakers, to the extent possible...but you probably know this.

Still, I tend to agree that given a full range of choices, this wouldn't be the time I'd go, for a number of reasons. (Weather [especially in the pre-Alps), closures, the fact that the fair sounds less fun than visiting the producers, etc.) But price is, obviously, something to consider.
 
I run naked in the snow at 25F, so that isn't so much the problem.
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Cold weather party+tasty alcoholic beverages...so what's the issue here? Plus if you cross-country ski or snowshoe, there are probably a number of good places in the Jura.

I want to have meaningful conversation with some of these producers...
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Just look at the photos of the previous Percees. I don't think so.

Also, I want my non-geek wife to have a good time.
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Just look at the photos of the previous Percees. Probably yes...unless she's agoraphobic.
 
(Early November is OK, depending on the place. Late November is winter.)
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But Joe says he's a cold weather guy. How about December? The decorations and patisserie/charcuterie store windows are almost worth a trip in themselves. Northern Burgundy in December was cold but astonishingly beautiful - early morning and late afternoon sun lending a rosy glow to sheep on a snowy meadow by an old castle, that sort of stuff.
 
originally posted by Joe Dressner:
Joe:

Do you speak French?
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I'm better at understanding it than speaking it. I was thinking of doing an adult education class in the Fall as a refresher. It was spoken in Amy's house growing up, so she has a better grasp on it than I.
 
December is a far better idea. We're planning a trip then. Thor, ever been to Ribeauville or Riquewihr in late January? They are the definition of closed. Zum Pfifferhuis, closed. Table du Gourmet, closed. All the little shops up and down the main streets....closed. Take a look at www.mostlygreen.com if you want to see what closed looks like. We had a great trip, but not because of the availability of things to do, in spite of it.
 
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