Hiking to a WineTasting in Tournon and some Chocolate Tasting

There were three options on offer for today - Valrhona chocolate tasting in the town, a walking visit of the chateau or hiking with wine tasting in Tournon.  I opted for the hiking and Jules took the chocolate option as it was supposed to be the shortest walk. Unfortunately it wasn’t a 1km walk as promised, but a 3km walk each way to learn the art of chocolate tasting.

The hike was just what I needed - a chance to be outdoors in the fresh air, climbing the steep slopes whilst admiring the stunning scenery and the remaining towers of the old wall.

 

We climbed the hillsides on both sides of the river, and were only treated to the wine on reaching the top. I’m sure for some this was the only reason they kept going, as it wasn’t a walk in the park!

Walking there and back was a real treat too - seeing the shops (mostly all closed on a Monday) and some lovely homes and hotels. 

The walk to Valrhona across the bridge and along the river, although long was certainly picturesque.

Upon arrival Jules and the other chocoholics were taken into a private tasting room to learn the proper way to taste chocolate - apparently as much a skill as wine tasting! Despite everyone being desperate to partake in the delicacies, the French chooolatier insisted on talking at length about the key points to chocolate tasting - smell, taste (sweet, sour, bitter and salty) and aroma (different to smell).

The key steps to truly enjoy chocolate apparently are:

1. Observe
2. Breathe in
3. Listen
4. Taste 

Some of our fellow passengers could not resist the temptation to sneak a chocolate or two before the official tasting began, as the talk was VERY long.

After the tasting there was time to look around the museum on site and appreciate the variety of chocolate displays that adorned the walls, beautifully displayed in glass cases along with chocolate samples throughout.

Jules chose not to purchase any herself, and limited her indulgence to four small samples - very impressive!