Perfect summer holiday
The French Alps are not just about snow and après-ski, for a holiday where you’ll feel like you’ve experience something really spectacular with the most amazing scenery, activities and food – look no further than the Annecy ski resorts in spring and summer.
Find lots more information at www.lakeannecy-skiresorts.com
Take a trip to Distilleries des Aravis where Mathieu Castellano runs a family liqueur manufacturing company. In the grand tradition of liqueurs in France ‘Génépi’, a sort of gin, was created by a monk in 1878.
The great grandfather of the current owner was a fan of Génépi. He bought the company and built the atelier where it’s still produced in La Clusaz. It’s like a taste of mountains and herbs in a bottle, and it’s strong! These days Matthieu makes around 45 kinds liqueurs from lavender to melon, raspberry, pear, prunes, a scrumptious limoncello, absinthe and a prize winning pastis, quite different from the Marseille one, with a sprig of fennel that's put in the bottle by hand.
“Genepi makes for a great digestif” says Matthieu “and is very good for a cocktail base especially mojitos”. He honours the heritage of his ancestors and the traditions of making liqueur, using an old copper still. “Even the crates we keep the bottles in are older than me” he jokes.
You’ll find the eye catching bottles on sale in local shops.