The streets of Vieux Lyon take on even more charm when seen through the legs of an unusually good Côte Rôtie. Its goodness is guaranteed as it has been selected and poured by Georges dos Santos, a man who is regarded internationally as one of the finest cavistes in the world and a man in whose miraculous cave, a cave spared the abstemious temperance of Aladdin’s, I was happily standing, glass in hand, one evening last July. The occasion was called “work” which may well be the reason why food photographers proliferate at a rate akin to that of bloated lips and protruding buttocks. If food and wine be the music of photography, play on, give me excess of it. And so it was….Georges played on, as is his wont, and I had excess of it.
Georges is possessed of that nature which is in direct opposition to sound business sense which, to my mind, is invaluable to lovers of pleasure: invaluable, not as an asset but as a prerequisite. An inability to separate pleasure from work makes Jack a poor but happy boy. As I stood with Georges on the threshold of one of the caves behind Antic Wine, his celebrated shop, which was filled with thousands of bottles of grands crus he told me of the greatest fear that he had for his business ….himself: and he was smiling as he said this, not at the irony, but because the idea filled him with delight.
Beautiful pics
“Look at the legs on that!” is my favorite thing to say to my father-in-law at wine tastings. No matter how many times I do this, he always looks slightly disappointed when I raise my glass. As always, great photos. And your caviste makes me want to take a trip to Lyon.
He is a dude…he had the most amazing bar which he has just closed because he just got bored:)
And he’s sitting with a huge smile and his arm on a box of Drouhin…….one of the finest!
It’s an extraordinary place…you should google him and Antic Wine, his shop. The Financial Times and the Spectator rate him and his shop in the 10 best in the world:)
Well, another new thing discovered….
🙂
Ah, the wonders of Côte Rôtie…it’s a miracle your photos aren’t all blurry. And speaking of legs, I could kick myself for living in Lyon for so many years without venturing into that shop. Next trip!
It is a wonderland….wines from very, very good to phenomenal and plenty that are affordable:)
That first photo almost wafts about an aroma. Gorgeous.
Glad it did as I hoped it would:)
Those are my kind of legs 😉
you’re coming on all ZZ Top:)
Fantastic! ROFL 🙂
🙂
Beautiful photos and he sounds very much like someone I’d enjoy sharing a few glasses of wine with!
You would… he’s such a good bloke:)
The new boy who is coming to work on the farm in a few weeks has an apartment in Lyon(or his parents do) . But he is too young to drink.These images are beautiful esp the cluttered cubby holes in the background.. c
…and just behind those cubby holes is the door to the inner sanctum:)
Celi: if Hugo is old enough to cross the ocean and come work on the farm he very definitely is old enough to have wine! My paediatrician told my parents to give me a port glass full of red wine at lunch when I was four ! Have never stopped and always, but always enjoyed D !! Sounds like a very interesting guy to know, Roger!
People like him were the reason why I stopped being a fashion photographer and moved on the food and wine 🙂
We’ve got to get to Lyon. Not quite sure how we seem to go on managing to avoid it…..
..just avoid going there now:)
Santé -in every blissful sense of the word!
…and long life:)
I’m going back to Lyon in 3 weeks- can’t wait!! I hope you’re well xx
I think he has two little shops now….check the Lyon newspapers:)
Ok I will!
Nice work if you can get it. Might come back as a Caviste in my next life.
Every reason to become a Bhuddist or a Caviste:)
Epitomises a quotation I’ve just read by Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Lovely photos and thoughtful prose Roger.
I know, and try to live by, that maxim…:)
What wonderful photographs – I can feel the atmosphere and almost taste the wine 🙂
vicarious Cote Rotie:)
Some people just know how to live. Simple as that.
:_
Ditto the comment from Ardysez. “Lovely photos and thoughtful prose Roger.” Always.
Many thanks, Patricia:)