Out on the hustings by mid morning, staying over so no need to do a great deal today, that said we did have one of the more famous white wine regions in the world in our sights today. Chablis the region and Chablis the town and Chablis the wine is only 10 minutes away so that is our only plan today.

Within the Chablis region they produce Chardonnay grapes which in turn makes up a number of different types of wines . They all depend on where the fruit is grown, from the bottom to the top, Petit Chablis, then Chablis, Premier Cru and then at the top is Grand Cru. We traveled around the region within say 20 klms of the main town Chablis to look at the countryside, the vines are all grown up on hillsides and it just depends which level you are and which way you face. The soil for the grand Cru is a very harsh soil with lots of rock. The vines are tightly planted and spaced with all grape pickers needing some form of mountain goat in them. At one of the winery's we were chatting to a guy who had been for a vintage season in the Hunter Valley and then had spent time at the Mornington Peninsula winery's as The MP region is very similar in climate and undulating aspects with the main difference being the MP terroir is far more accommodating in fruit production. He seemed pleased to be able to chat to an Aussie from the MP.

We spent a deal of time wandering around the village of Chablis, it is also very old and has many of the characteristics that we have here in Auxerre but on a much smaller scale . Purchased a bottle of Premier Cru to have so looking forward to that. We were caught today so a tip - ensure you get your produce for lunch before Noon, we didn't today and lucked out big time as all the shops close from noon until 2.30 / 3.00 pm. All very strange really.

Lazy afternoon then a wander off to the Cathedral to attend worship, we go at least 3. - 4 times per week at the moment! This one is in need of lots being spent on it but bigger than some of the French villages that we drive through. The structure has survived all the wars and still has lead light glass dating back to the early 1300's.

Pizza and our bottle of Premier Cru at the local, not at the tourist joints, they do like you being from Australia rather than from England. Back for a few more games of pool and then back in the room to listen to Australia all Over, Macca starts at 5.30 am so 9.30 pm Sat. night here. We are heading to Beaune tomorrow which is where some of the best red wine in France is produced, thinking of becoming a vigneron since I can say that I have spent the season in Champage, Chablis and Côte d' Or and that is before Italy.