ay three of my photo shoot around southwestern France finds me in the small village of Montagne, located in the middle of as-far-as-the-eye-can-see vineyards in the Gironde department of the Aquitaine.

Smack dab in the middle of the grapevines, at the top of a small clearing, stand two well-preserved moulins (windmills) that are the pride-and-joy of a local winery, Chateau Saint Jacques Calon, the producer of a fine Appellation Saint Emilion Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend, Cuvée des Moulins.

Back in the mid 1800s, all across l'Hexagone vintners were under attack by a tiny aphid invader from North America that systematically brought the entire French wine industry to its knees, region-by-region, vineyard-by-vineyard.

In anticipation of the imminent devastation, chateaus rushed to construct windmills to serve as the workhorse for their backup plan: burn down the vineyards, temporarily grow and harvest wheat and mill it into flour until the earth below was renewed and newly planted vines could take root and flourish.

As daytime exhales its final, long deep breath signaling nighttime's arrival, there's really no better place to be than alongside the rose-colored windmills of Chateau Saint Jacques Calon to watch the setting sun bid bonsoir in the vineyards.

Recommended dining: Le Clos Mirande – Montagne-St. Emilion – t. +33 05-5774-5016 – http://www.leclosmirande.com

I enjoyed my first dining experience here so much that I returned twice more during my stay in the area. Le Clos Mirande delivers on its promise to provide market fresh seasonal dishes that reflect the generous, local and regional gastronomy with a flair. Both a restaurant and a bistrot, Montagne's finest eatery offers its clientele a delightful dining experience outdoors, weather permitting, in its lovely terraced garden with its spectacular panoramic view of the rolling hills and vineyards. Begin the evening with an aperitif as you take in the sunset and study the menu featuring an array of delectable and creative dishes.

Highly recommended as an appetizer is the millefeuille de courgettes et aubergines, fromage frais et copeaux de jambon fumé (layered zucchini and eggplant, fresh cheese and smoked Serrano ham).

For the main course, you can't miss by choosing either the brochettes d'agneau grillés (skewered and lightly grilled lamb tartar - browned outside, moist inside) or the filet de daurade royale grillé (grilled fillet of sea bream).

And, for dessert, enjoy the croquant de chocolat noir triple avec framboises fraîches (a thin crispy of triple thick dark chocolate surrounded by fresh raspberries), or order one of the many other selections to satisfy your sweet tooth.

With its multi-paged wine list of bottles from around the Appellation Saint Emilion, including the aforementioned Chateau Saint Jacques Calon – whose vineyards nestle up to the restaurant-bistro's property line – and the greater Bordeaux region, coupled with its vast and ever-changing creative menu, Le Clos Mirande is well-worth a reservation should your travels find you in Montagne.

Cost per person is approximately 35 euro ($45) for an entrée, main course and dessert selection. Aperitif, wine, water and coffee selections are extra; the breathtaking view out back is FREE.

Related Articles:
Destination Southwestern France: Domme and Beynac-et-Cazenac; Destination Southwestern France: Sarlat-la-Canéda; The Medieval Towns of Bruges, Leiden and Dijon; Thoughts About Les Hommes Français; Provence; The Magnificent Cities of Champagne and Lorraine