A Visit to Domaine Bernard Baudry: Le Jardin de Bernard
Leaving behind the putting greens of Les Granges we moved on, driving east and then north, heading back towards the main road. As we did so we sailed past a parcel of land, its vines long disappeared, the soil carefully cultivated and planted with neat rows of vegetables. This was no cottage garden. I estimated the size of the plot as perhaps half a hectare, and it was brimming with rows of asparagus, beetroot, potatoes and more.
“C’est le jardin de Bernard”, said Matthieu, “enough vegetables for all the family!”
If I lived near Chinon I would get to know this family well. Not only would you be able to buy some of the greatest wines in the entire appellation, you might just find yourself coming away with a tray of freshly picked organic vegetables as well.
Once back on the main road, we headed for Cravant-les-Coteaux, here turning off and climbing up the côte. Before long we had come to the top of La Croix Boisée (pictured), where Matthieu proved the off-road capability of his camion. We descended a steep dirt track into the vineyard, before driving through the vines, descending the côte as we did so. The ground here has a 20% incline, so this was no mean feat.
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