Grape Expectations Read online

  'Well, don't tell me about it. Do something about it,' he retorted.

  The annual organic fair in Bergerac offered me a chance to make him eat his words. I found suppliers of everything from organic cosmetics to a biodynamic cheesemaker with whom we could share our lunar secrets. The revolution had started. Like us, people everywhere were on similar paths, discovering not only the joy and health of organic, but the ethics of it.

  A treasure was my organic flour supplier, a lively fellow with a Gallic moustache and great tufts of black hair coming out of his ears and his nose and over his glasses. He created flours and oils from his crops himself and they tasted clean and clear; like the essence of what they were. The day after the fair I made my first home-made bread. It was therapeutic and surprisingly easy. Kneading the dough gave me time to contemplate where we were and where we were going.

  The first phase of the violent birth of Château Haut Garrigue was complete. Through our voyage I had been transformed; from wine lover to winemaker; from consumer to producer; from ecological spectator to activist; and from outsider to insider. Sean's biodynamics in the vineyard and winery were at an early stage but we could already see what a difference it made. Sharing my passion for wine with wine lovers gave me a thrill.

  We invite you to be part of the next episode in this sometimes terrifying ride. Sign up to our newsletter or join our wine club. Email me on [email protected], visit us or stay at our vineyard in our ecological accommodations. See www.hautgarrigue.com and www.frenchwineadventures.com for details. We look forward to hearing from you.

  À bientôt!

  Caro

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to all the wonderful characters in this book and to the team at Summersdale. Thank you to Laurence, my good friend and running partner, for reviewing the French language used in this book; nonetheless, any mistakes are my own.

  Big thanks to my friends who helped with feedback and editing in the early days of this book and encouraged me with 'tough love': Senan Molony, 'Bullet' Andrew Bolton, John Campion, Gabi Cutayar and Ian and Brigit Wilson.

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