Foie Gras, Armagnac & the Most Beautiful Villages in France!
First visit to this part of France and it was amazing! I loved my Airbnb, a farmhouse in the small town of Condom, and my hostess Carolyn was the best. Gascony (or Gascogne in French) where Condom is located, is an area in southwest France that is well known as one of the great gourmet regions of France, with its most famous products being foie gras and Armagnac. And to add even more delight to the senses are two of the most beautiful villages in France: Larressingle and Fourcès.
Floc de Gascogne is a regional apéritif made from local grapes.
La Table des Cordeliers is a Michelin restaurant with a casual feel. Definitely try the Armagnac cocktail!
Le Balcon in Condom is another good spot for delicious local cuisine.
Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages in France)…
Larressingle
Zoe doing the usual dog greeting with the shop owner’s dog 🙂
Fourcès
Gascony is la Capitale d’Armagnac…
One of the most well-known types of brandy is Cognac. But do you know Armagnac? Both Cognac and Armagnac are brandies made in France. Cognac is made in the Cognac region and is typically a single varietal, meaning using only one grape, the Ugni Blanc grape. Armagnac, which is much older than Cognac by more than 200 years, is made in the Gascony region of France and is typically a blend of several grapes- Ugni blanc, Folle blanche, Colombard, and Baco. Because of the different growing regions, there are naturally differences in terroirs- the soil, climate, and grape varieties. Other important distinctions between Cognac and Armagnac are in the distillation process – double versus single distillation, and also how they are marketed. Cognac is heavily marketed for export while Armagnac stays more local and therefore is less marketed. Both make wonderful digestifs and cocktail creations!
What I love about cellar visits and tastings in Gascony such as Domaine “Le Péto” and Domaine Castarède is the warm and personal feel of being in someone’s home. In this part of France, you won’t find the huge conglomerates like the Hennessy’s and Martell’s with large tour groups and where it feels commercial and business-like. The experience here is intimate, special and more exclusive. You can’t beat it!
Domaine Castarède
At Domaine Castarède learning about the soil differences in Bas Armagnac (west) versus Armagnac Ténarèze (east).
Larroque-Sur-L’osse is another adorable little village in the region. In fact there are quite a few picturesque small towns within just a few kilometres of one another. So many beautiful places in “la belle France”!
