Patrica Atkinson and her husband lived in London and worked in the finance industry. They dreamed of growing grapes in the south of France and bought a property in France to realise this dream. However, shortly after her husband was taken ill -- following the stock market crash -- and Patricia found herself in France, not being able to speak the language, or drive the tractor and knowing nothing about making wine.
Friends told her she couldn't do it.
Little did they know Patricia!
Today the wines of the Clos d’Yvigne vineyard are internationally acclaimed for their high quality. The vineyard is three times its original size. And the story of the struggle and the success has reached a wide audience through Patricia Atkinson’s bestselling book, The Ripening Sun.
(The vineyard estate includes two beautiful country houses that are available to rent as luxury holiday accommodation. Les Amis de Clos d’Yvigne, is a club that provides its members with the vineyard's wine and holiday houses at special prices.)
The Clos d’Yvigne vineyard is situated at Gageac et Rouillac on the beautiful ridge of hills that run along the left side of the Dordogne between Sainte-Foy-la-Grande and Bergerac. In recent years the Bordeaux satellite appellations in this region, in particular Bergerac, have gained widespread recognition as the homes of excellent wine making.
The terroir of Clos d’Yvigne is an excellent mix of gravel and clay on a limestone base. The grapes are the traditional varieties of the South West of France: merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc for the red and rosé wines and sauvignon, semillon and muscadelle for the dry and sweet white wines.
The judgement of Tim Akins, MW, Chairman of the Wine Vintner’s Circle and the wine correspondent for The Observer and Harper’s. He is referring to Clos d’Yvigne’s Petit Prince in a blind tasting which included first growth Bordeaux and top-of-the-range New World wines.
But it is recognition of her neighbours and fellow French wine makers that prove the mark of excellence of her wines.
TAGS: Wine France
chateau Wine Making French Holidays
Dordogne Perigord
