A winter drive through the Jurançon vineyards, a golden sunset, and a bottle of wine I couldn’t leave without. Back home, it became poached pears — fragrant, honeyed and just sweet enough to let the Jurançon do its thing.

Our visit to Château-Grillet, the tiny Rhône jewel famous for its rare, golden-hued Viognier, turned into a memorable little fiasco. Slightly defeated but undeterred, we cracked open a humbler bottle of Viognier with an even humbler petit beurre along the Rhône. Simple, unpretentious, and unexpectedly magical. Proof that even a missed tasting can make for the perfect picnic. Santé!

We went to the Loire Valley expecting a quick look at Château de la Roche aux Moines, but left with unforgettable memories, a car full of Nicolas Joly’s wines, and a love for misty winter vineyards. The warmth, the landscape, and the legendary Clos de la Coulée de Serrant completely won us over.