A Drinker's Notebook #7: Afternoon, Banyuls-sur-Mer

Noon on a Friday, Banyuls-sur-Mer. Last day of a tour sponsored by composite cork manufacturer, DIAM Bouchage. Portugal, Spain, France. Learn about corks during the day, eat and drink wine in the evening. Tutelage over each dinner by Evan Goldstein, wines flowing out of DIAM-sealed bottles. Clos de la Siete, William Fevre, Billecart-Salmon, Palacios, Corton-Charlemagne - all the stations of the cork. Sacramento restaurant in Lisbon, two-star Atrio in Caceres, a picnic lunch at a cork farm near San Vincente. Now, everyone else is out on a boat. I relax in the shade of trees and an umbrella at Domaine St Sebastien, a combined open-air bistro and fine-wine producer across the street from the beach. I order a cocktail, Le Catalan, an icy concoction of apricot juice and sweet Banyuls red in a Pilsner glass with a slice of lemon. It is delicious. Conversation buzzes at distant tables like jarflies in the forest. A plate of frites passes by, a nice lingering aroma. I think about the past few days - what I have heard, seen, tasted. Stories begin to form. Tomorrow, an airplane back across the Atlantic from Barcelona. Life is good - and possibly interesting, as well. Read more at www.isantemagazine.com and www.thedailymeal.com (check slide shows).