vendee_wine

These are the offical wines,but those who live in the Vendee tell of a different breed of wine.
It seems that a couple of hundred years ago France lost most of her vines to a terible disease.The goverment decided to distroy all of the vines and re-import new vines back from California and South Africa in the varieties that originally exsisted so that they could continue with their traditional wine production. I'm informed it was at this time that Appelation controlee was introduced to firstly contol the grape varieties that went in each distinct wine, but secondly to control the amount that was produced are therefore keeping the price up to pay for this work.
Well the vendee didn't grow many grapes and it seems the disease didn't effect them, and being good farmers they didnt distroy what wasn't effected. These vines still exsist today and are the true Bordeau's. They are said to be very Fruity and the reds are dark in colour, so much so that they say the glass turns blue when washed. the other stiking feature is that most are up to 18% alcahol.
The stories of these wines that you hear banded about in quiet corners say that they are called Vin-Fool, becauce once you start drinking you do not detect the strong alcohol in them so you drink more than is good for you.
I recently asked an old farmer about them,and he said there where quite a few different ones.
The two whites he mentioned were Noah ( it is rumured that Noah can ashore, planted his staff and this took root and became a vine). The other was Castell white,so I presume there is also a red.The reds mentioned were Oberlan and Jerasian.(I'm not sure of the correct spelling). It seems there's no rose.
It is illigal to grow and sell these grapes so I'm not sure where you can get to try them out other than quietly ask the older man in the small villages.if the like you you may be lucky. As i am no longer able to drink (damage to liver caused by too much medicine after a back operation) I have little interest in casing this one.
There are more wines, generally available from locals once you get to know them,there the imported vines, still in their number formed. One I tryed a few years ago was Dix Huit Mille (18000) a bog standard bordeau wine of about 12%. Again you cant buy them to my knowledge but often you will be given the chance to try them.
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