As readers of my books might have noticed, I’m a bit of an organic zealot. I believe very strongly that products grown naturally, without the addition of agrichemicals, are better for the land, the people who work the land and the people who consume them.
One area of organic produce that I haven't really explored is organic wine. But on a recent visit to Eymet in the Dordogne, I discovered the Cave d'Eymet, a wine shop bang in the centre of the bastide town, selling an excellent selection of organic and biodynamic wines. (Biodynamic wines are a supercharged form of organic, produced in close harmony with nature and following the rhythms of the moon and stars.)
According to the owner, Mitch O'Sullivan, who has a raft of wine qualifications to her name, wines produced without chemical fertilizers not only taste crisper and fresher, but have lower levels of sulphur dioxide, so there is less chance of a hangover or a headache. Anyone need any more persuasion?
I mention this because on Thursday, August 9 I’ll be signing copies of Tout Soul at the Cave d'Eymet, between 10-1.00 pm, along with local author and historian Peter Hoskins, who walked over 1300 miles across France, while researching his book, In the Steps of the Black Prince, the Road to Poitiers, 1355 -1356.
It’s a market day in Eymet, and we’d like to invite anyone who happens to be in the area to join us for a pre-lunch glass of organic wine from Clos le Joncal an organic vineyard in Bergerac, and a wine-tasting. Books and fine wine: an excellent combination. I'm incredibly excited about this signing. No booking necessary, but hope to see you on the day.
Cave d'Eymet, 23 Place Gambetta, 24500, Eymet, the Dordogne
www.eymetwines.com
Sadly, we won't be in the Eymet region on that date, but we WILL finally be chez nous for good at our house! We both agree absolutely with you regarding the whole organic wine thing: we were introduced to the concept at our local, award-winning vegetarian restaurant in Cockermouth (Quince & Medlar) a few years ago, and it was the lure of the headache-free 'day after' that won the day! We both wish you and Biff a successful, biodynamic signing experience. Rosie and Richard