Cycling, Wine and Cultural Tours in the Dordogne, Pyrenees and Southwest of France.
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Chateau de Pitray
"Thanks again for a wonderful week.
The best compliment I can give you; it never felt "transactional". It was as if we were old friends from the this side of the pond, meeting to ride in your "neighbourhood"; eating in your old haunts, drinking wine and sipping coffee.
The graciousness of you and your secret weapons (your aunt Alix and uncle Pierre), the owners of Pitray, is what made it so special. There aren't adjectives effusive enough in praise of "Pitray."
Grinding away on the flats adjacent to the river, the exhilaration of the hills, relaxing in a quaint cafe, it was truly invigorating, exciting and beautiful. The road network must be seen to be believed. The way you made every ride and every rider comfortable; that's a talent.
Your knowledge of the "just so right" restaurants and what was best on the menu kept it simple and delicious. St Emilion; the wine, the wine class, the fire works, wineries, "oh la la, c'est magnifique."
Seth Brown., Arizona
Cycling bucolic country roads, drinking Bordeaux wines = your life at Chateau de Pitray !
Miles and miles of epic rolling empty roads.
A cycling friend summed up his riding experience in the Southwest of France with the following, "I can't give it a 10 because that doesn't exist, but I give it a 9 out of 10." I don't want to embellish, but he is not far off. Small country roads with little traffic that go on forever meandering through beautiful countryside. Go ahead and try to imagine a better setting. ...read more, full article.
If you get lost in the Pyrenees it is almost a blessing. ( 2 spots open for 2011 )
The Pyrenees foothills...careful, not as easy as it looks.
It all depends on how much you like to ride a bike. As a cyclist I love to discover new roads, and the Pyrenees mountains have spectacular backroads - like the one pictured above. But watch out, these roads can lead to steep climbs that add up, and before you know it you have climbed 3000 feet in 10 miles. ...read more, full article.
The proper way to taste and appreciate a glass of wine. Don't just pour, swirl and swig it !
A perfect Flight of Saint Emilion Grand Crus
Stop ! Before you take a sip of your wine take the time to appreciate all of it's qualities. A lot of effort and skill went in to producing your wine, so don't skip the details of how to properly enjoy it. The subtleties of a little foreplay can make a lot of difference. Here's how to do it right: ...read more, full article.
