Blood Wine

They say beauty is wasted on the young. This may be true of people but not of wine. Wine ages with beauty, it is said to preserve your youthfulness, beauty and is timeless. What is it about wine that makes us feel like we are drinking from land of milk and honey? Is it in the richness of history as the story of time unfolds upon every sip and drop on our lips? Or is it in the wisdom of the vines and minerals of the earth?

There has always been something about wine that is incredibly seductive and luring. Even in my youth, I was drawn to it. Maybe because I was raised to believe it was the blood of Christ, but most likely it was in the words of wisdom: "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die." Those sound like words of the young.

Those words became an anthem for myself and my friends. In our younger years, our weeks were busy in our overly zealous lifestyles of seeking the perfect blend of holding onto our youth, finding success and becoming sophisticated adults. In the pursuit of balance in our lives a small group of us began exploring wine. It began in our early college days when we would drink box wines out of plastic cups while tailgating, we graduated from tailgating to after work tapas and “just one more glass of wine”that became the late night, "I wish I hadn't had that last glass of wine." kind of morning. Eventually we matured to the exploration of wines from weekend getaways, destination retreats, educating ourselves on pairing, notes and becoming members of winerys.

For me, the passion didn't stop there. The experiences of wine retreats stirred something inside of me and led me to a deeper exploration of the history of wine and inspired me to become a traveling journalist where my passion deepened into the richness of culture, people, cuisine and wines of the world. Over time, the journey became more intoxicating than the wine ever was.

We all have bucket lists and for me many were met during my career of choice. But it wasn't until one assignment that I jumped out of the bucket and into the well of a lifetime.  Destination: Bordeaux, France.  A  magical region where the land meets the sea. A blended culture in a region that has survived some dark history, including the wine.  Within my bones, I longed to plant my feet on the rich soil, I knew I had much to learn and too little time to explore.

Upon arrival, overly excited and disappointed it was yet too early to explore I fell into a slumber and dreamed of high altitude French lavender and truffles. It was as though my dream world was taking its own exploration of France. Still jet lagged, I awoke with dreamy excitement and a hunger in my belly for food and culture. I grabbed my camera and stepped out onto the cobblestone streets lined with 18th Century architecture. Bordeaux feels like a romantic, quaint town even though it is one of the six largest cities in France.

Bordeaux a port city, brings culinary culture and flourishes with influences of neighboring Spain and nearby regions offering black truffles, saffron, Medoc oysters and Toulouse sun-ripened fruit. 

Wandering the streets and turning corners, I found myself on a pedestrianized street in the Old City. The street dates back to the 13th century where it was once the Compostela pilgrimage route. Now, it's lined with exotic spices such as black lime and sumic.  As I satisfied my camera with photos and engaged the locals for knowledge, I found myself engulfed in a place that has not only stood the test of time but time itself seems to stand still. 

Upon breathing in the aromas, a deep rich voice, wrapped around my shoulder into my ear inquiring, "Do you enjoy the spice of life?"  My body moved to see who the french accent belonged to. My eyes met with deep brown, nearly black piercing eyes of a man with salt and pepper hair and strong features. He grinned and fine lines smiled around his eyes making his eyes even more entrancing and I fumbled foolishly just to find the word, "Yes." 

He looked down at my camera I now held lightly in my hand near my thigh. He inquired if I was here as a curious explorer or for work. He asked in such a way that I was not certain if it was an inquiry or a jugement.  I gazed down at my camera and said shly, " Both. The exploration is about the experience and the funding is professional." He smiled half way and seemed to be satisfied with my answer. 

Inhaling and exhaling deeply he said, "I would like to invite you to a private event. I do believe you will find much of what you are looking for. The Chateau is one of the oldest in the region. We reserve our Merlot for only special guests. I do believe you will discover ancient history, tantalize your taste buds and drink from some of the richest wine to be found in this region if not the world.  Rise early tomorrow, my driver will pick you up.  He will bring you to the family estate. In the morning we shall have breakfast and stroll the grounds. Later, you may rest in your suite and prepare yourself for the celebration!  For the feast we will have a local specialty, Agneau de Pauillac."  I sighed softly to myself, "lamb to the slaughter."

 "My name is Arthur."  He reached out  his palm up to take my hand in his. I couldn't help but notice a thick cord like scar on the palm of his hand. I offered him my hand and as he was lightly kissing it, I said my name is Aine." He paused and starred long into my eyes. "Of course you are. The Celtic Goddess of love, cattle and light.  You've just missed our traditional Oxen Festival. It is a beautiful celebration. But not to worry, you will meet our Great Ox at tomorrow's celebration.  He stepped back, took a long look at me and said, "I am indeed looking forward to our date tomorrow, my Little Black Bird."  With that, he winked and walked away. 

I paused for a second, confused and then said in realization, 'Merlot!" Merlot was the french word for little black bird.  He turned, winked and said, you bring your spice for life and I shall offer you the elixir to life. To our date..." and he turned the corner leaving my site.

The morning came with warm peach light filtering in through the window. I excitedly prepared myself for the day, over packing as usual. I wondered what I was anticipating the most, the company of the man or the adventure. I finally decided on all of it. I made my way to the lobby where the driver was already awaiting me. He escorted me to a luxury sedan, opening the door, "Madam." 

We drove through the french countryside with every site being nothing less than spectacular.  It was as if I had been teleported back in time to an ocean of grape vines and sheep wandering the countryside. It was when we pulled into the great gate entrance of the Fortress that my breath was taken away.  

Standing in the castle door was Arthur. He approached the car with the same smile. Kissing my hand and assisting me out of the car, he said, "Welcome Little Black Bird."   A woman followed close behind him offering me a warm, wet towel streaming with lavender oil to clean my hands and offering a glass of fresh, cool rosewater.  "Adele will take you to your suite where you may refresh before brunch.  Adele is your personal assistant for the duration of your stay." 

Adele led me to a room with modern sophistication and old world charm.  She bathed my feet and mentioned we would explore much of the ground on horseback and had presented proper riding attire and boots. "I believe you will find these to fit you." She said. And they did.  I decided not to inquire as to how they knew my exact size and dismissed it as a certainty there must be an entire wing in the castle with clothing for every shape and size for accommodating their guests.

Adele brought me the Orangerie where Arthur sat silently on a bench enjoying the warm sun. A beautiful glass room with orange trees lined with other fruit trees cast still shadows as the air was perfumed with grasses, flowers and sweetness. We dined on Canales, a traditional Baillardran cake. Arthur explained they are very careful to use all the resources of the land and make certain the Estate remains self sustaining.  The yeast cells, grape skins and phenolic are never wasted and were actually one of his favorite processes of wine making and enjoyable in the cake. "This is a living, breathing place. The earth drinks and the blood pumps through the vines." He said as he fed me the last bite of my cake.

The day was magical as we explored the estate, the gardens, the cellars, and he shared the history of his family. It was intoxicating and dreamy while feeling like a place you truly never wanted to leave. Arthur personally escorted me to my suite where Adele awaited me. Within the suite a bath the size of a small pool  filled with warm milk from the cows and rose petals from the garden. "A bath for Queen Aine." Arthur said as he looked down at his feet and back up to my eyes and said humbly, "It is not without sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears that this place has remained as sacred as it.  Rest now. I shall explain more of this at the celebration tonight. And, my Little Black Bird, you are right, it is a lamb to the slaughter for dinner. Please know, nothing is done in vain on these sacred grounds." He kissed my cheek and walked away. I was embarrassed he had heard me mumble that under my breath the day before. 

After my bath, Adele presented me with a deep red silk evening gown, a champagne silk shawl and gold flat sandals. She looked at the sandals and said, “Dinner will be served in the main garden by the maze."  She helped me into my dress and brushed my hair allowing it to fall softly on my shoulders. I did for the first time feel as though I was a queen with my milk drenched skin and silk sliding against my soft skin. 

In the main library, Arthur sat by the fireplace that was big enough for all of my "wine buddies" to fit into. I smiled at the thought.  Arthur put his hand over his heart. "My Beautiful Queen, in your presence you take my breath away. My heart beats faster and my blood dances in my veins." He handed me a glass of Merlot. This is a very special wine. Merlot is said to be the queen of wines and wine is the elixir of life. To you my Queen, you are life."   The hum of our wine glasses coming together vibrated deep into my bones. I closed my eyes as I inhaled the wine deep into my lungs and sipped a thick, rich indescribable flavor immediately going straight to my head. Arthur touched my shoulder.  When I opened my eyes, he touched my cheek and said, "It is the blood, sweat and tears of my Ancestors that you can not place and awakens something within you." 

A horse and chariot awaited us as we stepped out into the cool evening. I could smell the ever so faint crispness of sea air and the earth as the horses hooves pranced on the hardened dirt path. When we arrived at the garden, under a canopy of trees and lights was a large wooden table filled with an overabundance of food from exotic fruits to fine french cuisine. The guests sitting sipping wine engaging in laughter with elegance and pose. The music of string instruments weaved through the air.  Arthur assured me with his eyes as I held my silk gown in one hand and stepped out of the carriage that this was going to be a fine evening.

I wasn't certain if it was the over stimulation of the day, the wine or the dim light but as we walked towards the guest, although they were of different ages, seemed to have a familiar presence about them. Not only did they seem to have similar features but somehow appeared to be ageless. As we approached the table arm in arm, the guest directed their attention to me. 

Arthur cleared his throat demanding the attention of the guests. "This is our Guest of Honor, Aine.  She comes from the Americas to grace us with her presence."  They collaborated in raising their wine glasses and said in unionsen, "Welcome, Aine."  They then continued to engage in their festivities. I wasn't entirely certain if i should feel awkward or honored.  "Come now." Arthur led me to my seat next to his at the head of the table.  

Food was passed around, wine was flowing and Arthur was attentive to my every need.  Arthur reached over gently sweeping my hair away from my ear. I could feel the warm moisture of his breath on my neck creating a warm sensation to run down my spine. "I promised you earlier I would share more about my family and the land. This brings us to the part two of the evening." With that he stood up and the audience grew silent, the music stopped and everyone turned their attention to him.

"In honor of our guest, I shall share our story in English. It is with great tradition we are in good health and high spirits as we gather here once again. This table, as many of you know, has been part of celebration and feasting from the beginning of this lineage. The guests nodded in agreement and raised their glasses.  This land is ancient and the roots that dig deep into the earth and bear the grapes that offer us the life, come from regions and times dating to the beginning of time. Boats and the ancients brought these plants to this rich land so they may come together in a place some would call Eden, but for me, it is just our family land. We have cared and cultivated it.  During the great dark time when the devastation occurred and vines developed rot, our vineyard did not! This was due to the blood, sweat and tears and sacrifice of you, the ancient ones and caretakers of the land, and thus the land gave back." Arthur turned and looked at me before continuing. "You see, it was the wine and the land that ran in the blood of my family. The people and the land were one and the same. BUT... it was the DNA  of land found in the blood of the ancestors and the nitrogen in the blood that kept the land sacred, protected and nourished." He touched my shoulder. "Blood sacrifice is no different than blood meal to provide nitrogen to the land just as it is not different from the small black birds and grapes being one and the same. The profound difference is restoring the known DNA of the land through the blood of the veins into the vines. This is truly the elixir and cyle of life."

My head was spinning in fear and somehow an undeniable acceptance that there was some truth to this madness. The soft sound of hooves approached and the sweet smell of Convallaria sat in the air. The ox was led onto a wooden stage where a bronze bowl sat next the ox front hooves. I suddenly felt woozie like I may faint. "Come now." Arthur said softly. He gently led me to the podium facing the ox. I could hear the ox inhaling and exhaling deeply. Not in fear but taking in my scent. His eyes were big, brown and soft with long lashes. Arthur took my palm and placed it over the ox's eye. I touched it lightly. I could feel its soft lashes tickling the palm of my hand. "There now." Said Arthur. "It's all going to be more than fine. The earth just needs a little refresher of the elixir. You are the Goddess of the cow. You and the ox shall provide just enough to refresh, just droplets for the earth and to fine the wine. It's it own sacred DNA for rebirth. See, he showed me his scared palm. This is all." He whispered. 

I nodded in acceptance. He took a long golden narrow knife that looked much like an ice pick and cut a small line in the ox's neck. Blood began to run down the neck of the ox pooling in the bronze bowl below. He then took my hand and cut it ever so gently. blood began to run from my hand and dripped into the bowl below. He then took my hand and placed it on the wound of the ox. "One and the same he said." He pulled my hand away and closed it into a loose fist.  Adele approached with another bowl of mud and herbs. She took the mud and dressed the wound on the ox’s neck.  Arthur held my hand out for Adele and she dressed it gently in the medicinal mud.  Arthur then took the shawl from my shoulders and wrapped it around my hand. "There. There. I'm sorry I didn't reveal more to you, but I knew you would not have come. I'm sorry I seduced you. But you my Queen are now part of this sacred land. The wine pumps through your veins. the herbs and mud and minerals will heal your wound, the milk bathed your skin and the food nourished your body. You are and always will be the Elixir. Everything is one. Adele will take you back to your room now so you may rest. You may decide in the morning if you would like to stay or go. If you stay, you have found your Kingdom. If you leave, it was all just a magical dream. The ox is fine. You may visit him in the morning if you wish. But you already knew this my Queen of light, cow and love. My Little Black Bird." He kissed my forehead  while Adele placed her arm around me and the music began again as we walked away from the ceremony.  I looked at the golden straps on my feet as the silk danced around my ankles as I whispered into the night air, “I am the Queen.”