8th September - Day One of the Adventure

We had beautifull rain overnight and today dawned cooler and a promise of a cooler day to those of 30+ of the last few.
After visiting the local boulangerie (bakery) for baguettes and tarts it was back home for breakfast and then a a drive around the area and being amazed at the beauty of the area. Sweeping fields of corn, orchards of apples, peaches, pears and other stone fruits and  grapes hanging heavy on the vines ready for picking.
We crossed the Rhône  River and were immediately in the Region de Condrieu where the Northern Côtes du Rhône  wines begin. Suddenly rows of vines supported by stakes clung to the steep stone slopes along the river. We travelled along towardsVienne  past wine producing towns like Ampuis, the prestigious capital of Côte Rôtie wine, where wine has been produced for nearly 2,500 years.

The Rocky Slopes Vineyards

There are a lot of rocks.

Today was not an in depth wine searching out drive - we have 2 months to do that - but what we did see in the short little drive around we did do was some of the most famous wine producing places in the world, and we will be living amongst them - just down the road.