In the next 30 days, we will post more comments from our 2012 visitors and give detailed explanations of O’Vineyards different Experiences and Gifts.
Offer an O’Vineyards Gift Certificate to a wine & food enthousiasm in your life.
” Where to start?
When first reading the reviews here of Domaine O’Vineyards, you could be forgiven for taking the superlatives written here with a modicum of apprehension. How could such a place be so perfect for wine lovers and, for that matter, for non-wine lovers? Well, believe me, it can.
We had booked for a group of six (three couples) for wine tasting and an evening meal on Sunday 15th April – some wine lovers, some not (but these were slowly coming around to our way of thinking due to the time spent in France!). We arrived at around 4 o’clock and were initially met by Joe, who you may think is a little quiet at first meeting. That conception very soon disappears. Within a few minutes we are discussing all things wine, and were soon whisked down to the vines and the house cellar/basement area, where the large fermentation vats and wine barrels were kept. At this point we were also joined by another member of the family – Muse (the dog!). She seemed rather pleased to see us! Lots of discussions ensued, with plenty of banter and laughs, complete with tasting wines from vats and barrels to get a good idea of how the wine evolves as it ferments and matures. If there is one thing Joe is not, it is a wine snob. He has a great knowledge, but doesn’t come across as being a know-it-all, and is always ready to answer any questions. He is obviously a very clever man, having been involved with many large building projects in the past (in America), but presently running the vineyard mostly single handed.
We eventually move upstairs, try more wine (same wine but some from vats, some from American oak and some from French oak barrels) – interesting to compare how this changes the wine so much. We then are also met by Joe’s wife Liz who has been preparing our food. She promptly tells us that she has prepared seven courses for the evening, including vegetarian options for my wife! She looked like she had been resting for the day (she obviously had not!) – very cool and collected!
We begin to eat, having great conversation (and not just about wine). Both Joe and Liz are great conversationalists. Perfect hosts for the evening. Course after course flowed from the kitchen – Liz preparing, serving and eating with us, along with Joe. She is super-human! Each dish was lovely, fresh and very, very tasty. Joe was continually flitting off to his personal wine cellar, bringing out new bottles, regularly filling our glasses with his lovely wines. My favourites – O’Syrah, and the absolutely divine Proprietor’s Reserve. There was one instant when I was tucking into some Roquefort cheese, fresh bread and a glass of the Reserve when I thought that this was the most perfect moment – just heaven, life cannot get any better than this!
We carried on chatting, finishing with coffees around the log fire, and also had a quick tour of the house and guest bedrooms.
Seven hours after our arrival (at 11 o’clock), we finally left, feeling that we had all had a unique and wonderful evening and made new friends. We discussed it in the car on the way back to our lodgings in Felines, we discussed it when we got back to Felines, we discussed it the next day, such was the impact the day had made on us.
Don’t hesitate – just book it! It is a very unique experience that you will rarely find in this modern world. We will undoubtedly be back. Hmmmm, I wonder, could I get a Ryanair flight just for the evening…….? (smiley face thingy).” -Andrew Rhodes-
