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| http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/300/etape_par_etape.html |
Opening of hostilities: "We
are now in France and ready to start from Orchies, a familiar place for
classics specialists. One could be forgiven for thinking we have come
for the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, but we are actually going to ride
straight away from them towards the hills of the Boulonnais. Six big
climbs in 100 kilometres, four of which in the last 16 kilometres. This
could mark the opening of hostilities in the Tour. There is no way the
sprinters will be there at the finish, which will be decided at the same
place as the French Championships won by Chavanel. I think the bunch
will be smashed to smithereens."
From twitter:
EuroHoody
From twitter:
EuroHoody
Wine:Ridgeview Fitzrovia English Sparkling Wine Rose 2009 (Sussex, England):
Price: $39.99 Franklywines
Then we zigged or zagged or some such thing.
I was thinking beer for this stage, but Christy Frank from Franklywines in NY stepped in with an alternative.
In her words "a little off beat, but what about an English sparkling wine? Those white cliffs of Dover are just across the Channel... at one point, they were France! And it's the closet wine producing area to that stage, as far as I can tell. And of course, I have one:"
How could I resist?
The producer says:
In 1994 we planted our original site at the foot of the South Downs in Sussex. With advice from Epernay we selected 13 French clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier on three different root stocks. This way we can emulate “l’assemblage” of the Champagne Houses that combine together the vintages of small vineyards, thereby creating imaginative blends. We have expanded our production through the development of partnerships with a number of growers who are predominantly in or adjacent to the South Downs National Park.
“To me, it was obvious that sparkling wine was the way to go because what you get here in Sussex (and in Champagne) is fully ripe grapes with great flavour, but which aren’t high in alcohol, as this prevents fermentation, which creates fizz. Because we get cold nights even in summer, English grapes have super-acidity – the hallmark of a good sparkling wine”
Mike Roberts
The regions climate is semi-continental and, like the champagne region just 88 miles to the south, has cool nights which make it ideally suited for the growing of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for traditional method sparkling wines. The cooler climate enables the grapes to retain high levels of natural acidity when they are fully ripe which is crucial to producing sparkling wines with fine flavours.
I was thinking beer for this stage, but Christy Frank from Franklywines in NY stepped in with an alternative.
In her words "a little off beat, but what about an English sparkling wine? Those white cliffs of Dover are just across the Channel... at one point, they were France! And it's the closet wine producing area to that stage, as far as I can tell. And of course, I have one:"
How could I resist?
In 1994 we planted our original site at the foot of the South Downs in Sussex. With advice from Epernay we selected 13 French clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier on three different root stocks. This way we can emulate “l’assemblage” of the Champagne Houses that combine together the vintages of small vineyards, thereby creating imaginative blends. We have expanded our production through the development of partnerships with a number of growers who are predominantly in or adjacent to the South Downs National Park.
“To me, it was obvious that sparkling wine was the way to go because what you get here in Sussex (and in Champagne) is fully ripe grapes with great flavour, but which aren’t high in alcohol, as this prevents fermentation, which creates fizz. Because we get cold nights even in summer, English grapes have super-acidity – the hallmark of a good sparkling wine”
Mike Roberts
The regions climate is semi-continental and, like the champagne region just 88 miles to the south, has cool nights which make it ideally suited for the growing of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for traditional method sparkling wines. The cooler climate enables the grapes to retain high levels of natural acidity when they are fully ripe which is crucial to producing sparkling wines with fine flavours.
Christy says: "Yes it's English wine, but don't be afraid. Those white cliffs of
Dover... that's a continuation of the soil that you find in Champagne.
Grapes...same. Production method...same. No, it's still doesn't have
that something-something that the very best Champagnes have, but it's
damn fine and costs a bit less. And we're suckers for an English accent."
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