An almost bygone taste

Lizzie and Ali picked their Muscat Petit Grain grapes today. They were ripe and ready, but as with many of life's fineries, they come in quality, not quantity. Not enough to make a meaningful amount of wine. And it would be a white wine at that, when Le Couvent specializes in reds.

The grapes were therefore pressed -- by feet, the old-fashioned I Love Lucy way -- and made into unfiltered organic grape juice. Absolutely no preservatives. It will only last a few days. An email went out offering it for free to mates. 2 bottles per household. Call after 3pm. Nicola,

Henny and I arrived at once, the gate-crasher specials. Ali handed us our prizes. Nectar from above. Well, actually, below. It was pressed just under the Virgin peaking out between the bottles and on our lips within the hour. Divine.

One of the things I miss from the States is freshly pressed apple cider. Non-alcoholic. You don't get it in Europe, the apples aren't the same, the process is different, you just don't. This beautiful grape juice reminded me of that, as delicious and more. Fresh, pure, cloudy, sweet in the finest sense, but not sugary. The taste of another era. A souvenir of childhood. Why would you want to spoil this heavenly nectar by turning it into wine anyway?? An amazing treat. Thank you.