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NEWSLETTER No. 14 - DECEMBER 13th 2005 The winter months are when olives are harvested. The Languedoc is home to many olive groves and production of olives for general consumption and for olive oils is on the up. This newsletter sheds a little light on the matter. Property of the fortnight is a sumptuous villa overlooking the eastern edge of the Ardèche gorges. The next newsletter will be sent on January 10th. James Properties France would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very pleasant festive season and a happy and prosperous new year. Should you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please use the link provided at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, kindly read on. Theme Of The Fortnight: The olive is one of the emblems of Mediterranean civilisations past and present, with a clearly defined place in historical, cultural, religious, therapeutic and economic terms. The olive tree requires the long, hot and dry summers and gentle winters common of a Mediterranean climate. Olives grow a pale green colour from September to October, and turn black in December / January going through stages of pale mauve and violet. The 2003-2004 harvest put the Languedoc-Roussillon region in second place behind Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur with an annual production of olive oil of 728,4 tonnes and in first place for the production of olives for general consumption at 700 tonnes.  A long history of cultivation The cultivation of olive trees is at least 6000 years old. Amphores - traditional wide shouldered ceramic vases - dating to 3500 B.C. have been found on Crete. Paintings on royal tombs in Egypt also shed light on early cultivation. A symbol of strength and wisdom, the olive was used as a reward to Olympic champions of the Greek civilisation. Indeed, The Greeks and Romans were instrumental in spreading the olive tree throughout the Mediterranean under successive civilisations and conquests. Under the Roman empire, it enabled its conquerors to maintain a level of calm by giving people a product with multiple virtues. The olive tree - in French "l'olivier" - has one of the greatest longevities given that it can live for up to 1000 years or more. Its growth is very slow and it is said that it is the 3rd generation who benefits: the grand father plants the tree, the father prunes the tree, and the son harvests the olives. In other words, one doesn't plant an olive tree for oneself, but for one's lineage. Merits and Uses The olive tree has been used since Antiquity as a tree of health and peace. The leaves are an excellent stimulant for the liver. It protects the brain against ageing and reduces the risks of cardio-vascular illness. Olive oil is considered very beneficial for the body not only by consumption but also since Egyptian antiquity for curing skin ailments. It aids the skin regeneration process and tones it. In China, olive tree wood is used to counter poisons and venims.  Different types of Olive, Different Olive Oils Olives for general consumption are harvested before full maturity (green) and processed to be less bitter, or at full maturity. Olives destined for the press are harvested at full maturity. The extraction of oil dates from early antiquity. The first step consists in obtaining a blackish pulp from which it is possible to extract the oil by means of a press. As many as 5 to 6 kilos of olives are required to make one litre of oil. The classification of oils depends on their acidity, smell and flavour : Virgin olive oils are obtained from a cold press and undergo no other processing. Different aromas characterise different oils: "fruité noir" is associated with vanilla and truffle, "fruité mûr" with nut and sweet almond and "fruité jaune" with prune and pineapple, typical of oils from the Nîmes region. Olive varieties are very numerous. Their yields and oil qualities differ greatly. The best known are the Picholine, Meski, Chemlel, Ouslati, Tanche, Grossanne, Limli, Sigoise, Chétoui etc. The Meski, Grecque, Sigoise, and Barouni are prefered for general consumption.  Maintenance of the olive tree can be done once every two years. The year this happens, the olives are big and kept for jarring. On the other hand, when a little maintenance is done, the olives are generally smaller and destined for the mill to make oil. Jean-Benoit Hugues, owner of 6 hectares of olive groves in the Alpilles says "We harvest our olives at the optimum moment - they are then pressed within six hours in order to preserve freshness, fruitiness and crunchiness and avoid any fermentation." He sees himself very much like a winemaker. At the press, each type of olive (Aglandau, Salonenque, Grossane, Verdale) is kept separate until "assembly" into an olive oil that characterises his region.  Olives in the Languedoc-Roussillon Nimes now has an AOC - the famous French stamp of quality relating to a particular geography that dictates the types of olive employed, the degree of acidity, and so on - which gathers 3500 producers under the same aegis in the Gard and an additional 100 in the Hérault. In addition there are 11 presses and 2 jarring plants in the area. Favoured olives in the Languedoc are the Picholine, Négrette and Noirette. Regional Events: - Nimes hosts annually its "Journées Méditéranéennes de l'Olivier" - the largest olive oil market in France. This is held in April on the main square (Esplanade Charles-de Gaulle) with conferences and about 60 professional participants. In addition local shops and restaurants turn an eye to the celebration of the olive. - May 2005 saw the 13th edition of the regional competition for best olive oil in various categories of which "intense, medium and light fruitiness", best Nimes AOC and best beginner. Winner of the intense fruitiness was the Moulin des Vautes in St. Gély just north of Montpellier. - On December 11th this year, the town of Millas in the Pyrénées Orientales welcomed its second olive oil celebration. The event aims to federate local producers and spruce up former olive groves. Conferences, tastings and the sale of plants and specialist books were all scheduled. Sample Recipe Recipes with olives and olive oil are not hard to find. Nevertheless, I thought worthy a little "mise en bouche" to close the theme of this newsletter. "Pain aux tomates": Toast some wholemeal bread, and grate in some garlic. Next grate some tomato onto the bread and pour on some olive oil. Afterwards put on a slice of raw ham or some anchovies. Bon appetit! Top Property Of The Fortnight: Elegant villa, built 2002 and standing on three quarters of an acre of grounds in an exceptional setting, a few hundred yards from a village, 6km from the eastern edge of the Ardèche gorges. The interior measures 148m² and comprises a spatious central open-plan living / dining room and fully fitted kitchen, along with four bedrooms (approx. 22, 17, 12 and 9m² - set two by two either side of the living room), two bathrooms, two lavatories, a cellar and garage (20m²). One of the two bathrooms requires fittings. Living and bed -rooms look south, while utility areas and garage face north. Three bedrooms and the living room give directly onto a patio by way of large French windows. The patio is covered to one side for outside dining in the shade. The house has high quality fittings, a fuel fired central heating system, double glazing, aluminium and wood shutters, a fine choice of tiling in the living room, carpet in the bedrooms, stylish integrated wardrobes and a chimney - should a buyer wish to install a log fireplace. Outside, the swimming pool measures 9m x 4m and is surrounded by a patio, which is fenced in respect of new regulations in France. The pool house alongside has been equally well built and has ample space for garden tools. The garden measures 3000m² consisting of a main part with lawn and driveway around the house, and on lower ground, a pretty zone reserved for playing boule in the shade of oak trees. The views, either of vineyards or of close or distant wooded hills are exceptional - on days without heat haze, the Alps are visible. The property lies in an agricultural area hence nothing can be built around it. All necessities can be found at a 15 minute drive in Bagnols-sur-Cèze or Pont-Saint-Esprit. Access is excellent to the A7 north-south autoroute along the Rhone valley, hence the Roman city of Orange is within easy reach, as is Avignon. In all, an exceptional proposition for those seeking a very comfortable and modern house in a quite stunning and tranquil setting. The house benefits from reduced notary fees, given that it is less than 5 years old. The asking price is 484,400 Euros.        Further photographs are available on request. The details can also be viewed on the web site at the following address: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/viewpropNP.php?id=303 The next newsletter will be on January 10th.  +33 626 581 415 Enquiries can be made through the following page: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/contact.php About James Properties France: Based in Montpellier in the south of France, bringing to you a carefully picked selection of properties within a 70 mile radius - with the occasional more distant exception - that are chosen for their combinations of attributes, most notably: - Setting of outstanding natural beauty - Distinct character or unusual features - Quality of renovation or authenticity - Value for money James Properties France serves primarily an English speaking, though often highly Francophile clientele looking to move or own a second home in the south of France around such places as Uzes, Nimes, Montpellier, Anduze, St. Hippolyte du Fort, the Southern Cevennes, Gignac and Clermont l'Herault and the Hauts Cantons. Besides being a rich source of housing options, James Properties France represents a useful accompaniment during the process of viewing and purchasing a house. If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click on the following link: www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/unsubscribe.php |