A Princess in Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The Princess I’m referring to in the post title is me (obviously, but I’m guessing you knew that already). When The London’s arrived in The LPV before our trip to Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Avignon, Mrs. London presented me with a tiara for the weekend, because she knows that everyone should be treated like royalty on their birthday (she’s a clever one that Mrs. London). And that pretty much set the tone for my birthday weekend because I was spoiled rotten, like a princess should be. 
My fourth of February birthday festivities began before January was even over. Thursday the 31st to be exact when Mr. & Mrs. London arrived in The LPV in the afternoon. The Husband was still at work so we went for a long walk, watched Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon (a childhood favorite), and took it easy, because we all knew that we were in for a doozy of a weekend. And it was a doozy. A marvelous, dizzy of a doozy. 
We arrived in Châteauneuf-du-Pape on Friday just in time for lunch and not having any plans to eat anywhere in particular, we strolled through the village, stopped outside La Mère Germaine, looked at the menu, looked at each other, shrugged, and walked in. What a happy accident that was! The decor was a bit ‘1982 hotel’ but the service was impeccable and the food scrumptious, like bites of heaven on your fork.

After lunch we strolled through the village, looking out for signs that read ‘dégustation’. We hit the jackpot with the first one we found. Red, white and rosé, set out ready to be tasted…
And a table with loads of delicious nibbles in case you find yourself feeling peckish (wine sampling can do that to you). We sampled a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and did our best to act like proper grown-ups. 

In the end we left with a few bottles of the 1895 and the Chateau Maucoil (they’re sitting on my wine rack staring at me!), and a couple of bottles of Rocher de La Garde Rosé that the owner through in for free (she must have known it was my birthday).

But even though we loved the dégustations (all of them), acting like a grown-up for more than a few minutes is tiring, and must be shaken off immediately.

{trespassing}


bisou

20 responses to “A Princess in Châteauneuf-du-Pape”

  1. Looks like such a nice birthday. I don't see a tiara in the pictures, you should probably have worn it all day, so people knew you were the “pre-birthday girl”

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  2. Fantastic pictures! 🙂 glad your birthday was so nice! 🙂

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  3. Looks like it was an awesome birthday!! Perfect way to celebrate!

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  4. Looks like you have an absolutely wonderful birthday.

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  5. What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday! May many more happy birthdays come you way!

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  6. Never mind the wine, I'd be all over those nibbles lol Although saying that, the best summer festival we ever stumbled across was the one in Beaumes De Venise, which is as far as I go with wine drinking :oD

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  7. Fun! Pass me the saucisson aux olives svp…I am surrounded by people talking about and loving Toulon Rugby, which of course has me thinking about you guys 🙂

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  8. It all looks quite wonderful your Majesty, and your kingdom of wine looks just perfect!!Ivan

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  9. I agree, acting like grown-ups can be very tiring. 🙂 Hmm, all that wine makes me want to drink right now! You definitely deserve to be treated like a princess! Every day!

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  10. You have so much fun Princess. You look fabulous and I love your sweater.xo Jane

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  11. Wow best birthday ever!

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  12. What a jolly time! Lovely lunch, lovely wine, delicious nibbles, and having a laugh with yer mates. Sounds a perfect birthday!

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  13. I love coming along on all of your mini adventures. You need to write a book. I want to read it. xo

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  14. This lovely post has really made me miss France – all that delicious wine tasting and cheese! What a fun birthday and that last photo is brilliant!http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  15. This place looks and sounds like a dream!

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  16. I can't believe you have wine sitting staring at you – that's an unforgivable sin in my house 😉 (or I simply have no self control.. probably that one). You deserve a tiara every day, but especially on your birthday, darling! (and the day after mine – almost twins!). That wine looks tres delicieux – I know what my dinner will be tonight!

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  17. Well done, lads. As you're partially from Dublin, you'll know that includes the ladies, too.

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  18. Nice. What's the point of being a grownup if you can't chose to blow that noise off once in awhile?! Cheese, cured meat and wine, sounds like a fine day to me…

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  19. That first picture is AMAZING! And the wine, and the cheese?! And your awesome polka dot sweater?! So many great things!

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  20. This looks pretty fabulous!!

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