Cassoulet & Carignan
For this dish you need a wine that will help you digest and keep you refreshed so
My love affair with Languedoc began over 20 years ago. We flirted a lot and had some lovely weekends and eventually I capitulated and moved in. My job as a wine teacher was a great apprenticeship for becoming a wine tour guide and my new French life began in 2009 when I started my aptly named business Vin en Vacances. Wine on holiday is exactly what my clients want and they come from all over the world to this part of paradise and luckily many have found me and my tours. It’s a wonderful way of making my living..!
Deciding to specialise in Languedoc-Rousillon wines is like trying to learn a new language and I had to do both. Like the French language, Languedoc was full of words that I didn’t really understand but unlike the French language I could not find any books that explained and uncovered the wine region in a simple and easy to access way. Over the years and through the close connections I made with many winemakers I gathered knowledge and understanding and slowly the jigsaw puzzle began to slot into place. My search for a book that would guide me through this wine country had been in vain and surely I wasn’t the only person seeking such a book? I have a number of passions in my life including Languedoc-Rousillon, wine and food and another is sharing my wine knowledge and bringing the subject alive for others. So I decided to write this longed for book myself and ‘The Wines of the Languedoc-Rousillon’ by Wendy Gedney is released this week.
The book tells the story of the wines of this region, describes the landscape and the terroirs and how they influence the wine styles in every appellation here. It traces the path of Vin de Pays, its importance here and how many Languedoc producers have embraced this liberating approach in order to create some of the finest wines in the region. I have not dwelled on specific wine makers; I feel that is the exciting part to discover for ourselves. I love nothing more than coming across a wine that is not famed and may have been made somewhere off the beaten track but I fall in love at first sip. This book is the structure of Languedoc-Rousillon, the ‘map’, the guide that I hope you will read and take with you on your Languedoc-Rousillon travels to help you seek out incredible wines, landscapes, food and people. And to satisfy your appetite and accompany a good bottle of Carignan, the book contains Bridget’s marvellous Cassoulet recipe and you’ll find it on page 135. Bon appetite..!
To own your copy of my book which costs £20 either email me at wendy@vinenvacances.com
Linda Robertson
Wendy,
Is your book available in the United States?
Vin-Blonde!
Hi, it can be ordered and sent to the USA from the UK. The price to send it is £28 including postage and packing and you can pay using Paypal. If you would like to order a copy please email me at wendy@vinenvacances.com with your address and I’ll send you a Paypal invoice. Thank you
Sandy
Congrats Wendy! Great job! Do you attend the ViniSud? Together with my husband we will be in Montpellier and maybe we could have time for a little chat. with warm wishes from Germany, Sandy
Vin-Blonde!
Hi Sandy. thank you for taking the time to read my blog and glad you liked it. Yes I will be at ViniSud this year and it would be great to meet you. Contact me through my email wendy@vinenvacances.com