DRINK along with Le Tour de France 2013

RoutemapTourdeFrance2013

 

July is my very favourite sporting month, thanks to the greatest of bike races and the ultimate trek – the Tour de France. The men riding in Le Tour de France face an epic journey: broken bones, road rash, scaling mountains, extreme heat, fans that exemplify fanatical, and cobbles from hell. This year’s 100th TdF runs from Saturday, June 29 through to Sunday, July 21,  will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,479 kilometres.

That’s worthy of a good DRINK. And believe me you, these boys deserve a daily cheers. I will be tweeting a daily DRINK (in 140 characters or less), following le Tour across France and sharing what the riders might be sipping at the end of their day. Be adventurous – drink along with the peloton!

As always, EAT is rooting for our friend and hometown hero, Victoria-born Ryder Hesjedal. Follow Ryder and toast him on twitter @ryder_hesjedal.

 

TdF2012

 

Daily DRINK

Friday, June 28. Eve of le Tour. 
Tomorrow the riders depart from Porto-Vecchio, on Corsica. The island’s viticultural history can be traced back to the settlement by Phoceans traders in 570 BC.

Saturday, June 29. Day 1.
The 100th #TdF began today on Corsica, where the 3 main wine grapes grown are Nielluccio, Sciacarello & Vermentino.

Sunday, June 30. Day 2
Today’s #TdF began in Bastia, home to Pietra (a.k.a. a biera Corsa). This 6% abv amber beer is brewed from a mix of malt & chestnut flour.

Monday, July 1. Day 3
The #TdF began in AOC Ajaccio today, home to red & rosé wines primarily from Sciacarello & white wine from blends of Ugni blanc & Vermentino

Tuesday, July 2. Day 4
#TdF began & ended in Nice, near Bellet AOC & site of white wines of Rolle, Clairette, Pignerol, Braquet & Roussanne

Wednesday, July 3. Day 5
Le #TdF rode through Provence today, famed for their dry, bright rosés from mainly Mourvèdre, Grenache & Cinsault

Thursday, July 4. Day 6
Today #TdF went thru Languedoc-Roussillon, one of the biggest single wine producing regions on earth & more than 1/4 of France’s wine output

Friday, July 5. Day 7
#TdF ended in Albi today, in SW France’s Gaillac AC. Local grapes here incl. Duras, Fer, Mauzac, Len de l’El & Ondenc

Saturday, July 6. Day 8
#TdF visited Limoux today, believed to be home to world’s 1st sparkling wine, produced by the monks in the abbey of Saint-Hilaire in 1531

Sunday, July 7. Day 9
Today’s #TdF ended in Hautes-Pyrenees = powerful Madiran wines fr. Tannat grape. Also Courbu & Petit Manseng for white, sweet & sparkling

Monday, July 8. REST DAY

Tuesday, July 9. Day 10
After yesterday’s rest day, #TdF resumes in W. Loire. Light white seafood-friendly Muscadet rules here, from the Melon de Bourgogne grape.

Wednesday, July 10. Day 11
#TdF raced through Normandy, a major cider (Fr. cidre) area. Normany cidre ranges from sweet-dry & still-sparkling

Thursday, July 11. Day 12
#TdF races through the Loire & ends today’s stage in Tours, heart of AOC Touraine & land of stunning Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc & Gamay

Friday, July 12. Day 13
#TdF rode through the sm but acclaimed Esvres today, site of Touraine Noble Joué – a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier

Saturday, July 13. Day 14
#TdF began in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, Saint-Pourçain AOC. Vines date back to Gallo-Roman era & wines were served to kings in Middle Ages

Sunday, July 14. Day 15
Cycling fans know Ventoux as epic #TdF mnt, wine fans know Ventoux AOC: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Clairette, Roussane

Monday, July 15. REST DAY

Tuesday, July 16. Day 16
Vineyards throughout much of today’s #TdF as they rode through the Rhône-Alpes. Côtes du Rhône main grapes incl. Grenache & Grenache Blanc

Wednesday, July 17. Day 17
#TdF Riders climbed through the Hautes-Alpes today, where idiosyncratic mountain wines of indigenous grapes like Mollard are being produced

Thursday, July 18. Day 18
After the climb to Alpe-d’Huez, #TdF riders deserve a nip of Génépi, a local mountain herb liqueur based on wormwood

Friday, July 19. Day 19
Today #TdF rode through alpine Savoie wine region, home to Jacquère, Roussanne, Altesse & Gringet (white), Mondeuse (red) grapes @letour

Saturday, July 20. Day 20
#TdF rode through Annecy, “the Venice of the Alps” & site for Violette – a liqueur made from wild violet blossoms.

Sunday, July 21. Day 21
Vive @letour ! #TdF ended today in Paris – Champagne cheers to all riders!

Written By:

Treve Ring is a wine writer, editor, judge, consultant and certified sommelier, and has been with EAT Magazine for over a decade.\r\n\r\nIn addition to her work with EAT, she is a Wine Critic and National Judge for ...

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