Challain la Potherie

Thursday we visited Le Chateau de Challain la Potherie.  While the story of the castle itself isn't all that interesting, the story of the family who now lives there is: 7 years ago a family from New Jersey was visiting the town and castle, and 2 days later had bought the place. Over the past seven years the family has transformed the castle from a shabby and decrepit empty castle, to a bed and breakfast fit for royalty. We were lucky enough to meet the parents, and I think they were just as excited to speak to someone american as we were. They took us on a personal tour of the house, allowed us to eat our picnics in the basement kitchen, and served us coffee and cheese. And the castle was magnificent. Every room is decorated exquisitely, each one complete with intricate cloth wallpaper, 4-post beds, lavish showers and bathrooms, and mostly original tubs. Suffice to say I was in heaven and didn't want to leave. And best of all they had a dog! Yes, Zeus the german shepard and I became good buddies that day, and I got my dog fix :). 

After the castle we attempted to make our way to Domaine Bellerive, a vineyard in Rochefort dur Loire. However about an hour into the drive, the chartered bus was lost and in an attempt to turn around, the driver managed to wedge the back of the bus over a ditch so that the rear tires were hanging in the air. 1 hour, alot of loud french talking, hammers, planks, lots of pushing and talk of a tractor later, we were on the road, and only 2 hours behind schedule! We made in to the vineyard with just enough time to see the fields, fermentation tanks, barrells of wine, and more importantly, to do some tasting. We sampled 3 white wines, one a bit sour, and the other 2 very sweet. The third one, which was so delectable I had to buy a bottle to bring home and share, was deemed "M.O. "(multi-orgasmic) by John, our witty and awkward tour leader. So after sampling and buying, we said "au revoir" to Domaine Bellrive and made it safely back to Angers in time for dinner.