 Words and Wine (www.wordsandwine.com) is a company that grew out of the idea of a couple I met two years ago at the San Francisco Writers Conference. The initial plan was for a group of writer friends to get together at our winery, stay at the bed and breakfast and write- a retreat basically.
What started as a writers vacation for them, became, for the three of us, a tour company called Words & Wine, LLC. that brings writers to the wine regions of France for organized writers retreats.
 Our last one was from the 9th to the 16 of June in the Beaujolais region. We had a small group this year but it was an amazing success. We stayed at a unique and original bed and breakfast in the village of St Amour called La Paradis de Marie, Marie's Paradis. It was truly a paradis.
Our week began with an unexpected confirmation of the marriage of Cari and Harry. Our first tasting was with the town mayor who is also a wine maker. He explained to us the unique relationship St Amour has with a town in Japan in which Japanese newlyweds either visit St Amour or send their marriage certificate to the town hall to have a special St. Amour certificate made for them. They are then resisted in the town hall.
After hearing this story, M. Spay asked Harry and Cari if they'd like to have their marriage confirmed in St. Amour. After an excited yes, the group of us walked the one block at 8 pm to the town hall which is connected to the primary school. M. Spay opened the door, put on his blue, white and red sash and proceeded to re-pronounce Harry and Cari married. I translated the ceremony and we all signed as witness.
The other remarkable moment of Words and Wine Beaujolais was the visit to Jean Claude Rateau. An organic wine maker and friend of Raphael in the area of Beaune, he makes Burgundy Wine. We arrived at his winery in late afternoon. He explained that he wasn't set up to receive individual buyers as he sells mostly to large buyers, stores and restaurants. He took us into his cave where he had set up a barrel and placed some glasses and bottles on top. The bottles were demi's and unmarked. They made me think of the bottles Raph uses to send samples of wine to the wine university for testing.
He was very poetic in his description of wine and wine making which brought all of us writers a news appreciation for wine. The tasting ended with him slipping into his back cave, and coming out with a dusty, unlabeled bottle of red. He poured but wouldn't let us taste for a few minutes. He charged us with a test; we had to try to guess the year. After explaining the color, a brick red color. The smells, which were less fruity with the age.
He finally let us taste. So smooth, the wine slipped down the throat like silk. There was no spitting this gem. We all ventured a guess on the year. I believe it was Harry who came closest to the date with 1985. It was actually a 1986.
Before leaving Words and Wine, we asked everyone what was their favorite moment. Each person had a different moment but they all took away unexpected memories and a happy week.
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