The Blanquettier

Our local town, Limoux, is famous for it's sparkling wine, Blanquette. it was made before champagne was and uses the same method, known as Champagnoise. Of course, everyone here knows it should be called Methode Blanquettoise and those northerners stole our wine making idea!

Anyhoo, each year there is a carnival which goes on every weekend from January to mid-March, and on the final weekend, one of the big local producers distributes Blanquette to the revellers. These are handed out by people dressed in what most would think of as Pierrot outfits, and these are called The Blanqettiers. At one end of the main road through town there is this topiary representation. Come the next carnival you can expect some pictures. Except on the last weekend when I might just avail myself of their generosity a little too much!