We took another trip to Holland, Michigan and this time with Ms. Yoga.  Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, who left the Netherlands during a time of dire economic conditions.  To this day, Holland has promoted the ethnic background of the city with its Tulip Time Festival in May, which is almost impossible to secure hotels, anywhere near the area.  There is also a windmill and wooden shoes can be found in abundance around the city.

Shopping and dining are the two major draws for us and Ms. Yoga, it was a get-away for both of them, and I just tagged along, like a third wheel.  We have never been there during the winter season, but the city actually had the sidewalks reinstalled in the downtown area, which is the shopping and dining center of the city, after they installed geo-thermal hot water pipes underground to melt the snow and ice for the benefit of the tourists, visitors and the locals.  Imagine, shopping in Michigan with dry sidewalks.  Also, one can find statues everywhere on with themes strong for the city, both civic and whimsical.  I mean how can you not enjoy seeing a group of school children around a flag pole, and in your mind, you are reciting the Pledge of Allegiance along with the children.  There is a great statue honoring the Police Department, escorting a young girl.  In the center of the downtown, instead of another building, this is a charming little park with a local music group looking splendid in bronze, and the details and expressions are captivating. 

After we arrived, and settled in, we opened a bottle of wine in the room to celebrate the mini-vacation.  We had a bottle of Domaine de la Verpaille “Harmonie” Vire-Clesse 2019 by Estelle & Baptiste Philippe.  The Domaine is in its fifth generation, located in what is now the heart of Cru Vire-Clesse.  They actually make wines with five different designations from the one property; Vire-Clesse (cru du Maconnais sine 1998), Macon-Village, Macon, Burgundy and a Blanc de Blancs Cremant.   The Domaine converted to organic farming in 2006 and in 2009 they were officially recognized for their efforts.  They only grow Chardonnay on a clay-limestone soil and the average age of the vines is sixty-five years of age.  The Vire-Clesse appellation was created in 1999, but the 1998 vintage was allowed to use it, as well.  The appellation only is for Chardonnay grapes and replaces the older Macon-Clesse and Macon-Vire and includes several other communes as well in the immediate region and the region is considered to offer wines as dry as Chablis.  After harvest the wine undergoes fermentation, maceration and aging for twelve months on the lees, which adds to the flavor and richness.  The wine is a pale yellow with notes of yellow fruits and florals.  On the palate there were tones of apples, pears and peaches in a full, round wine with a nice meandering finish of gun-flint.