It seems very odd, being lovers of fine cheap wine, but when we chose where we wanted to live in France, we managed to pick a place that doesn’t really produce wine. I know, what a crazy thing to do! But still, we love this place and we wouldn’t be aywhere else, although it would be good if the Vendée did have some good wine of it’s own. Oh don’t get me wrong, there are some vinyards in the area, just not many. We are still very well catered for with wines from the surrounding regions being very nice and very cheap, so it’s really not a problem for us.
However, the thing that we DO do round here is apples. Les pommes. We are, quite litterally, surrounded by them. Fields full of apple trees line so many of the roads near us. And as we are approaching harvest time, each tree is currently adorned with lots of red or green jiucy apples. Lovely. We all like apples. The kids have about 3 a day, hence why we haven’t yet had to visit the doctor…
Well yes, it is lovely, and I have to say that as our mayor is one of the biggest apple producers in the area, so I will be kind 
However, we bought a house next to a barn where the folks of the village come to turn their apples into juice. Nice and handy and a great way to get involved in this community. Unfortunately, for the next 3 months, the view from our back door will no longer be the lovely apple trees. Oh no.
Now it will be this:
Not great, but there you go. I guess that’s the price you pay for being part of le pays-des-pommes.
Oh blimey! Still, apple juice is very good for you. Better than wine; you can drink more without getting a headache, or being silly.
Don’t let the good viticulturists of Pissotte, Vix, Brem and Mareuil hear you saying “it would be good if the Vendée did have some good wine of it’s own”! The “fiefs vendéens” are just on the point of getting AOC status. And the rosés from the Vendée are really pretty good.
But why don’t the Vendéens make cider? You’d have thought with all those apples…
BTW – were you aware that an appreciable chunk of the Muscedet AOC actually lies in the Vendée? Not a lot of people know that.
Merewoman: Indeed, that is true. Not quite so much fun though…
Jon: Ah well, I can only go by my own experience, and I have to say that all the Vendéen wines I have tried (granted, not a wide selection) have been a bit dodgy so far. If there is good, cheap vendéen wine out there I’d be more than happy to get some! I’m a bit perplexed by the lack of cider too. It seems the logical choice really, given the abundance of apples. And no, I hadn’t realised the Muscadet AOC was partly on our turf…. perhaps we aren’t quite so badly served after all
Round here some people ferment their apple, pear or plum juice and then have it distilled by the alambic. Our friend, Michel keeps some of his distilled eau de vie in oak for several years to give it colour and flavour. Yummy – it’s good!!!!
Unfortunately you have to have a licence to have your wine distilled and there’s a limit to the number of bottles too. To make matters worse, no more licences are being issued so once the present licence holders are no more homemade ‘brandy’ will (officially) no longer be produced. But, then, the French are experts at getting round the rules. . . . . .
Wow, sounds like a great use for the fruit. So much better than just eating the stuff
Shame it’s on its way out, or rather, underground…. better make the most of it while you can Sandy!
“Louveteaux” pink and red from Marueil. I reckon the pink is the better, but both are highly acceptable. About €3 a bottle.
Higher up the price scale (quite a long way: ranges from €9 to €30 a bottle) is La Chaume from Vix. This is a more powerful wine – more like Côtes du Rhone – but is very, very good indeed. The Cavavan franchise in Fontenay sells it, otherwise it is best to go to the vinyard.
Ah okay, thanks Jon, we’ll have to look out for the Louveteaux. Sounds like its more in our price range – don’t think we’ve ever spent more than €5 on a bottle of wine in our lives!
When we’ve tried it out I’ll report back…
In our region it is plum orchards (well, vineyards too). At this time of year, the plums are being shaken from the trees and dried, in the local factories, into prunes.
The smell is lovely as you drive around…pruney wafts in the air!
Sarah
Pruney wafts huh? That’s an interesting thought, but I’m sure its really lovely!
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