YET ANOTHER HOWLER AT MONTPELLIER AIRPORT

Readers of this blog may remember that I have unfortunate experiences with wine at the local airports. Well, it continues. I’ve just been sent a press release about a new eatery at Montpellier airport, and when I read it, the words : I don’t believe it’ came to mind, in best Victor Meldrew tradition, using his favourite catch phrase from One Foot in the Grave.

We all know that the wine growers of the Languedoc need every bit of help that is going to get their wines better known, and you would expect that the port of entry for many of the visitors to the region would be suitably supportive. There is after all that large sign in the airport, welcoming us to the largest vineyard in the world. So what would you expect them to be serving at the new restaurant? How about an imaginative range of wines from the region, perhaps featuring a wine or two of the month, to illustrate the wonderful variety of the Languedoc?

No. Wrong. The press release shows a photograph of a bottle of claret of indifferent provenance, with a brand name that no one has ever heard of. Words fail me.

With thanks to my friend, Robin Hicks, for the photos. He writes the WOW website, www.heraultwhatson.info that is essential reading for anyone living in the Languedoc. And went to the launch party and spotted the vinous abberration.