Priceless week at our castle 2007

Market in Brantome

 http://www.chateaumarouatte.co.uk/
For one glorious week we gathered 18 adults and 5 children under the age of 3 at this wonderful Chateau.  My two sisters and our children and grandchildren plus our daughter in law's sister, Julia and husband Kekko, from Germany. Their mum from Rome.  This was the group Jon and I bought 13 cases of wine and champagne in the week prior for.
 There are a lot of celebrities that have stayed here as the present owner is big in rock music.  When Cher has signed the guest book it does sort of make one take notice.


Dining room set for our gala dinner on the last night

 All this set in lovely wonderful France.  Food and wine that are always special and the Dordogne region is noted for duck .  Great cheese and the french bakery that is beyond description.



Avery age 3 with dress she bought at market




Michael age 1



The bedrooms are spread out in several buildings, this was Avery's tower.  She was really into Cinderella so this was perfect.

Flying the flag over the kitchen

 We had a very special one day tour of Hennessy Cognac conducted by Maurice Hennessy.  Rick's bosses had arranged it.  Here Rick is with Maurice in the Vinyard.
http://www.luxist.com/2009/12/02/exclusive-cognac-king-maurice-hennessys-ten-essential-luxuries/

 Brad with a picture of the queen mum taken with Maurice's grandfather.She visited Dordogne and came to Hennessy in the 80's.  Guess where she stayed?  Our Castle.  Brad and Diana were sleeping in her bed.
Considering she was in her 80's and she walked 3 flights of stairs to that room, it is no wonder she lived to be 100+.  This picture hangs in one of the aging rooms at Hennessy in a place of honor.


Elegant cocktail party and luncheon at the Hennessy Chateau



 Our private tasting of the Cognac at Hennessy.  Last year we saw a travel channel special with this same gentleman doing the same tour we had. 
I was really good at spitting in the bucket because I really dislike eau de vie.  Yuck.  Don't tell anyone.  In fact I don't like the finished product.  Guys more than made up for my bad taste.
We heard many interesting stories from Maurice.  He is a master  at conversation.  Raconteur is an apropos description.  WW 2 and his father were the subject of many of the stories. The book "Of Wine and War" will give you and idea of their life.
http://www.diningnewsasia.com/?p=367


                    We took turns being chef for the day.

Kekko making his famous sauce




Here is where we ate all meals except the last night





Dario and grandpa in the master bedroom



the Bakers

The Ferrell family

        Fresh Bread every morning for breakfast thanks to a daily bakery run.



Sunday brunch in Bourdeilles



Bradley in a library fit for an attorney at law.



Diana and Dario -Julia and Flavio,  Cousins only a few weeks apart and sisters only a few minutes apart

The Ferrells

The Mariottis



Two real happy guys



There was lots of baby time and the pool was heated so we had lots of happy hours there.  All the adults got some cuddle time and the babies slept good and ate better.  Happy time for all.


Manlio and Avery.. Best friends for the week



                                    FLAVIO AND DARIO,  11 DAYS APART.

                                                                   MICHAEL AND YOGURT




                                      Took 50 shots to get one with all looking forward

Most were like this

All the guys in this group like to cook and we had some sensational home cooked meals at the big table in the garden.  Brad did the bakery run every morning and the first night dinner which was a great meal.  The man can cook.



Are you wondering about all that wine and champagne...It was almost all gone.



The master sommelier had a lot to do with our consumption of wine and champagne


rough life



Some of the Suteras

                  Our Castle from inside the outer walls.  Gate and moat from the 1100's.

       Almost all of us.  A few babies were napping.

2007 Paris,Champagne,Bordeaux

 2007 Jon and I flew to Paris and spent a week provisioning for the trip to the Chateau Maroutte.  First we drove to Rheims to buy Champagne. Then to the Loire valley for some nice whites and to revisit our friend, Francois Cazin at his winery.  We then drove to Bordeaux and met some of our group.  Brad and Diana with Dario, age 6 months, Rick and Jenny Ferrell, my sister Helen , and Mary.
We visited wineries and stayed in wonderful old house/hotel run by a French Comte down on his luck.  Forced to let rooms at his home.  Great for us.   After 6 days our bags caught up with us here.
Rose Garden at Rothschild     Barrels at Palmer

 In the garden we had our favorite meal one evening.  Wine, sausage, cheese, fruit and shared it with the resident flock of peacocks.  Also the pair of nesting swans.  Idyllic does not even do justice to the setting.

        http://www.thewinedoctor.com/loire/francoiscazin.shtml       Francois has become famous since we first met him in 1999.  His wine is so drinkable.  He still has small winery at his home.



Rick and Jenny Ferrell



Baby Dario and mommy, Diana

Like the outfit?  I wore the same thing for 6 straight days and that was all I had.  Jon and I went to Paris and our bags went to Miami and then to Paris and then all over France trying to catch up with us.  Gave new definition to rinsy! rinsy.!

Wine barrel at Pommery



Art show in cave at Pommery