Wine round the Bend Burgundy Barge Bliss.

Wine round the Bend Burgundy Barge Bliss Read Jetsetters Magazine at Hote Cotes De Beaune To read this whole feature FREE with photographs cut'n'paste cut & paste this link : burgundy wines Reflected sunlight from the water outside dances on the chestnut ceiling of my cabin the 1st morning I awaken aboard the luxurious barge La Belle poque. A massive white swan approaches expectantly, followed by many mallard ducks. Having no bread to supply, I quickly close the window. After a shower in the tiled bog and rub-down with a thick nautical blue towel, I head upstairs. La Belle poque is one of many bliss canal barges operated in France by EU Waterways. The salon is hunter green, rose and mahogany, with snug banquettes and vases of fresh flowers. It is a fine fall day in France, still summer in the afternoons, with nights that provide a crisp reminder of winter to come. This up-to-the-minute hotel barge carries just 12 passengers, with 6 crew to look after each possible passenger need. After meeting the crew and getting settled into our cabins, we explored the cobblestone streets and trendy shops of Auxerre. At the junction of the Canal du Nivernais and the Brook Yonne, Auxerre was a vital city on the traditional north-south road thru France. It had been a big market city for lumber and wine and a crucial religious center. Nevertheless , if you are still left worried about the standard of the food on your trip, then why not consider one of Burgundys campsites? This area of France is famous for its high living and gourmet eating, so you are certain to be in for a culinary treat. If you consider yourself a connoisseur, you may need to think about the black snails ( the best of which are raised on grape leaves ) which are thought to be amongst the best in France. The Cheese The cheeses are another fine part of the regions cuisine, and a particularly nice present to bring back from your vacation spent camping in Burgundy. The best ones are Chaource ( creamy and white ), St-Florentin, the orange skinned poisses and numerous sorts of goats cheese from Morvan. Most canals were built in the 19th century, but some are 2 centuries older. The Canal du Nivernais passes thru western Burgundy, crossing the Yonne Valley and occasionally joining with the Yonne Stream itself.

As we glide by a rolling patchwork of green hills and picturesque vineyards, lunch is served : quails in crme frache sauce, tuna pasta salad, caprisi salad, fruits, a white Savignon St-Bris and a red Chitry. After lunch there's another lock, and whilst the barge rests we pile into ECU Waterways' minivan.

Nick takes us to St-Bris le Vineux, a little wine hamlet above a network of medieval passages. At the stone cottage ( complete with satellite television dish ) of Mr. Bersan, we descend into a traditional cavern for a wine sampling. "This is the one place in Burgundy To read this complete feature FREE with footage cut'n'paste cut & paste this link : bourgogne wines Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Mag Columnist Read Jetsetters Mag at burgundy in france to order travel visit Jetstreams.