One of the cycle club members, Nathalie, works in an armagnac distillery; they are distilling at the moment, a process which goes on for just a fortnight each year, when the wine has been made. Nathalie offered to give us a guided tour of her workplace, so Nick, myself and Maithée, another cyclist, set off today to ride to Barbotan where we were to meet Nathalie.

The shop was filled with an unimaginable number of different sizes and shapes of bottle and an equally mind-blowing number of trophies, gold medals, plaques, etc., prizes for the best armagnac, going back a lot of years. We looked at the wine making bits, with their huge stainless steel vats, the rooms full of barrels of armagnac, dating back decades, but for us, the highlight was seeing the old copper alambic, or still, on wheels since it dates back to times when it was pulled through the countryside, stopping at various locations so that the locals could bring their own, home made wine, to be distilled. This practice has all but died out now, as the government has tightened the laws dictating who can own and use a mobile alambic to the point where virtually no-one has the right any more. The still is wood fired and works 24 hours a day for two weeks each autumn, producing 5 barrels a day. The alcohol comes out at about 60º, a clear, extremely potent liquid, which takes colour from the wood of the barrel it’s stored in. I’m not quite sure how it gets down to the required 40º alcohol for selling; we didn’t ask about that.

We had a lovely ride to and from the distillery, through tiny lanes, bordered by trees and vineyards which are turning beautiful shades of red, brown and gold, on a day which was amazingly mild for November; and we even got home before dark, just!

On our return, I was very flattered to be asked by one of the other teachers at the CLAN, where I teach English, if I’d be prepared to take her class on Monday as she’s going to be  unavailable. It was only after I’d agreed that she dropped the bombshell that this is a French class! It’s a great compliment that she thinks I’m more than capable – I just hope I can live up to her expectations!