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Dear Readers, This week we take a look at the work of a producer of AOC Pic St. Loup wines. Our top properties are two stone houses with gardens a little north of Pic St. Loup - the first, a spacious village house with outbuildings, and the second a town house. 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: Guilhem Viau - producer of Pic St. Loup AOC Pic St. Loup country has been on the up and up in the wine world over the last few years through innovation and a lot of hard graft. The 'Pic', a rocky ridge culminating at approximately 650 metres above sea level beside St. Mathieu de Treviers is a landmark regionally, much higher than the lower lying land around it. A place of legend, but also very down to earth fascination on the part of walkers, rock climbers, the local gliding club and so on. Vineyards grow up its flanks. Guilhem Viau, a local wine producer in his thirties and therefore relatively young among local wine producers, readily admits that he married into the wine business. His initiation to wine production was during annual grape picking sessions, though his studies in 'viticulture' - the production of grapes for making wine - set him in good stead.  His job is to produce a fine raw material - today his production amounts to 20,000 hectolitres from 65 hectares of vine - for the Cave Cooperative where specialists 'assemble' the wines using different types of grape from different areas. This latter task is time-consuming and hence costly, and is best left to specialists. The end product is a mixture of red and rosé wines; in Viau's case, primarily Pic St. Loup AOC (Appelation d'Origine Contrôlé) and Coteaux du Languedoc AOC. The AOC gives the product a whiff of prestige but also imposes standards. Seven years must pass following soil preparation before the grape harvest can be used in the red wine, four years for rosé. Grapes from a third harvest are used in the AOC Coteaux du Languedoc as they are considered to lack the necessary character for Pic St. Loup. In addition, where special editions (cuvée spéciale) are concerned, 100% manual harvesting is the rule. The status of an AOC is never a given. It is an ongoing task to safeguard it, a task that Viau takes a keen part in, with his colleagues who take a pride in raising standards. The grapes that go into a Pic St. Loup are typically Grenache, Syrah (fundamental to making Pic St. Loup) and Mourvèdre. Wine assembly is a sensitive area when trying to market wines in foreign countries, particularly in the United States, where wine is most often associated with a single grape (mono-cépage). Hence a certain amount of work has to be done in marketing and communication to raise people's understanding of multi-grape wine composition. Viau's 2003 'cuvée spéciale' red wine won two stars in the Hachette wine guide which describes it as a "seductive fleshy wine with hints of vanilla and spices", and continues, "the assembly of Syrah and Grenache expresses elegance and finesse". This is proof that a good wine can be made in a Cave Cooperative. Respect for the environment The environment is a delicate area for agriculture as a whole. Some so-called organic produce is questionable in terms of its environmental impact. Viau takes a pragmatic attitude toward the use of chemicals, quoting Antoine de St. Exupéry, the writer of The Little Prince - We don't inherit land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children! Grass growing around vines drains them of useful water and minerals. Extensive usage of grass killing chemicals - common practise over the last few decades - renders the soil sterile. Viau therefore limits his use of chemicals, and in parallel, uses grass cutters to minimise its impact. In parallel, he uses preventative techniques against the development of mildew and other bacteria. There is much more scientific knowledge at hand nowadays, enabling the use of chemicals with environmental consciousness. Market Development Viau's market comprises France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. He is currently working on plans for on-site vinification and marketing. To limit spam propagation, his e-mail address will not be given here, but should you wish to contact him, drop me a line. You may also wish to consult the following web sites: Pic St. Loup: http://www.pic-saint-loup.com/ Coteaux du Pic (Cave Cooperative): http://www.coteaux-du-pic.com/index.php  - -
Top Property: Stone house near Quissac (Gard) Spacious village house with garden in a picturesque village. The property has an interior surface area of 180m² and stands in grounds of 850m². An additional 150m² of useful surface area are available in outbuildings and non-adjoining land is sold with the house. The main house offers accommodation over ground, first and second floors. On the ground floor is a cross-vaulted living room and kitchen (35m²) which opens onto a terrace and garden, a bedroom and cellar / utility room. Four additional bedrooms, of which one very large (34m²) with ensuite and a private terrace share first and second floors. The garden is enclosed with various trees, a basin, a garage and shelter. Thirty minutes are required to reach Nimes and forty-five to Montpellier. Property ref. : 572 Asking price: 472,000€  Top Property: Stone 'Maison de Maitre' near Quissac (Gard) In a pretty village set against a cliff face, this property dating from around 1900 has been fully restored and offers 160m² over two floors. At ground level are a large living room, fitted kitchen, dining room, one bedroom, a shower room and lavatory. There are three further bedrooms on the first floor, giving onto balconies, and a bathroom. The walled grounds span 600m². Property ref. : 573 Asking price: 395,000€   +33 467 297 068 +33 626 581 415 Contact: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/message.php For all other information: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com 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 (JPF) 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, Nîmes, Montpellier, Anduze, St. Hippolyte du Fort, the Southern Cevennes, Gignac and Clermont l'Herault and the Hauts Cantons. The property selection proposed by JPF is targeted to fit buyers from abroad in terms of types of location, accessibility, environment / landscapes, and types and formats of construction. Besides bringing you a wide array of properties, JPF helps by running specific searches in the Gard and Hérault. JPF acts as an intermediary between you and a number of regional estate agencies, at no extra charge. Selections of properties that meet your criteria can be established prior to your visits, any linguistic issues totally alleviated, questions about French procedures and legislation addressed quickly, and information on prices and property details addressed plainly by all parties. JPF also presents a wide selection of off plan properties throughout France. If you are thinking about a leaseback operation, traditional buy-to-let or an apartment or villa for personal usage, JPF can help. Regions where JPF is particularly present include Paris / Ile de France, Languedoc Roussillon, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Aquitaine and Brittany. Please browse options on the Off Plan Property Page. JPF helps you with your purchase from the beginning to the end of the process, often communicating with the assigned notary to make sure that content and conditions of sale are correctly documented, ensuring all is in order for completion, and keeping you informed of progress. Insurance and utilities can also be arranged. Should you wish to have assistance in maintaining or making alterations to your house, or any formalities associated with property ownership or financing in France, JPF can give assistance on an hourly basis. Finally, if you are looking to sell your property in the south of France, JPF can also help. If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please click on the following link: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/newsletter.php |