Only 5 years ago we were renovating a 350-year-old farmhouse and beginning to care for a vineyard in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes. Then, last August 30th we moved… only to begin again! Our new home is already cozy—no major work to be done. Jean-Marc will begin planting his dream vines in 2013. Read on, in a letter from Ex Chief Grape. (Photo taken in 2007, after realizing his first mis-en-bouteille, story here.)
la raison (ray-zon)
: reason (there many senses of the word, see examples below)
la raison d'être = literally "reason for being"
avoir ses raisons = to have one's reasons
pour une raison ou pour une autre = for one reason or another
perdre la raison = to lose one's mind
raisonné(e) (adj) = wise
raisonner = to reason with
avoir raison = to be right
pour des raisons médicales ou religieuses = medical or religious reasons
raison de plus! = just one more reason! (to do/not do something)
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* A Letter From Ex Chief Grape *
Note, the following letter, in French and in English, has been speedily translated. Feel free to offer corrections, here in the comments box. Thanks so much! P.S. photo captions are by Kristin.
Chers amis,
Dear friends,
Un mois après avoir déménagé dans la région de Bandol, je voudrais vous donner les raisons qui nous ont poussé à changer notre merveilleux quotidien de Sainte Cécile les Vignes.
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One month after moving to the Bandol area, I would like to give you the reasons that pushed us to change our marvelous Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes daily life.
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Il faut que vous sachiez que mon premier choix d'installation viticole a toujours été d'être dans cette région de Bandol. En 1999 et en 2004 j'ai essayé d'acquérir des vignes, sans succès… Le choix de s'installer en 2006 à Sainte Cécile les Vignes pour créer le Domaine Rouge-Bleu n'a pas été un choix par dépit mais un vrai choix de cœur.
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What you should know is that my first choice for a vineyard set-up has always been to be in this region of Bandol. In 1999 and 2004 I tried to aquire some vines, without success…. The choice to settle, in 2006, in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes, to create Domaine Rouge-Bleu, was not due to a lack of a better choice, but to a "following of the heart".
Néanmoins je n'ai jamais perdu à l'esprit mon choix originel. Amoureux de toujours des vins de Bandol et du Mourvèdre, je suis également un homme qui aime profondément la Mer et cela explique en très grande partie mon choix.
However, my heart never forgot my original choice. Having always been in love with Bandol wines, and Mourvèdre , I am equally a man who loves the sea and this explains the greater part of my choice [for moving].
Whoever forgot their orange shorts at our place.. is now having an "aha" moment! –Kristin
En dehors de ces raisons de fonds, je dois avouer que j'avais besoin de souffler un peu après 6 intenses années à gérer entièrement (et tout seul) 9 Ha de vignes tout en vendant, depuis notre tout premier millésime, la totalité de notre production en bouteilles.
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Apart from these basic reasons, I must admit that I've needed to take a breather after 6 intensive years running a 9 hectare vineyard entirely on my own, all the while selling, since our first vintage, the entire production in bottles.
Jean-Marc, at his own first harvest. He looks like he's gone through the wine press, and he may have felt that way, too! I've never seen him work so hard.
Le fait d'avoir trouvé de merveilleux partenaires (Caroline et Thomas) qui vont continuer à développer notre "bébé" est fantastique. Aujourd'hui, ce n'est plus une seule personne mais trois forces vives qui s'occupent de notre vignoble, où Kristi et moi avons gardé une participation financière et ou j'espère bien rester le plus actif possible, notamment dans la distribution à l'export.
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The fact that two wonderful partners (Caroline and Thomas), who will continue to devolop our "baby", have been found is fantastic. Today, it is no longer one person alone, but three live forces who take care of our vineyard, where Kristi and I have kept a small part, financially, and where I hope to stay as active as possible, notably in wine distribution and export.
Thomas, Caroline, and Jean-Marc. I just swiped this photo from Caroline and Thomas's FB page… Look up "Domaine Rouge-Bleu on Facebook or click on "three live forces" in the paragraph above. –Kristin
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Enfin et accessoirement, même si notre vue fantastique sur les Dentelles de Montmirail et le Mont Ventoux étaient une vrai source de bonheur visuel, le climat et le Mistral ont participé, à moindre mesure, à mon désir de changement.
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Finally, and as a side note, even if our fantastic view of the Dentelles de Montmirail and le Mont Ventoux was a true source of visual happiness, the climate and the Mistral wind participated, just a little, toward my desire for a change.
Les vendanges 2012 sont maintenant finies à Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Toute l'équipe de vendangeurs dont j'ai eu l'honneur de faire partie a fait un travail fantastique. Les vins que Caroline élabore sont dans le même esprit que ceux que nous avons fait dans le passé. Nous vous remercions pour votre soutien, qui plus que jamais maintenant, est très important pour nous.
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The 2012 harvest is now finished at Domaine Rouge-Bleu. The whole harvest team, which I had the honnor of being a part of, did a fantastic job. The wines that Caroline is making are in the same spirit of those we made in the past. We thank you for your support that is, now more than ever, so important to us.
Picture of Kristin and Caroline taken by Jacques Morin
Home now, near Bandol! Jean-Marc, back from the calanque, where he hunted a few sea urchins. He is using scissors to open them.
Quant à la famille Espinasse, elle s'installe avec joie dans cette merveilleuse région où j'espère produire mon premier millésime en 2013.
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As for the Espinasse family, they are settling, with joy, into this marvelous region where I hope to produce my first vintage in 2013.
Cheers,
Ex Chief Grape
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A new sight for us–so different from all those tractors—would be all the surfers!
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Blessings to the whole family. I look forward to hearing about the new adventures in wine.
Jean-Marc, you did a fantastic job of sharing your dream. Bandol sounds like Part II. I wish you and your family continued success and mutual satisfaction. I’m not sure why you call yourself “Ex-Chief Grape.” Once a Chief Grape, always a Chief Grape. You are just taking a short sabbatical.
Oops. I forgot to say how difficult it would be to choose a favorite photo from this edition. As much as I like landscapes and nature, I love seeing pictures of the people who are a part of the “Espinasse adventure.” Kristin, your skin is absolutely beautiful. It must be a part of your inner glow.
I am so happy for you and your family. It looks absoulutely beautiful there. Jean-Marc looks happy in the pictures. I am looking forward to reading about your new place as well as seeing the pictures you send.
Take care
Best wishes for your new home and the vinyard to be developed. I note that Ste-Cécile is in a more rural location than is Bandol.
I liked especially the photo of your old vines amidst the bed of yellow blossoms.
As for the letter, I was somewhat puzzled reading “…après avoir déménagé dans la région…”, and thought it should have read “…déménagé à la region” instead of “…déménagé dans la region…”. I’d appreciate being corrected.
Also the typo “a fait un travail”— not “à fait un travail”. Minor details for a pleasant letter that pleased your admirers, answering their wonders.
Superb! Aloha, Bill
Thanks for the explanation! I feel so much better now that I know it is all as you wanted it and hoped for and are achieving a dream. Good luck. But the MISTRAL —I have sort of heard of it but please –maybe a kittle more about how it colours life for those in Provence.
Glad you are LOVING it here! WELCOME! We live in Portissol, and feel like it’s Heaven on earth! Counting the surfers used to be a pasttime for the grandchildren on our bikerides along the coast last year. They moved to Embassy Brussels and are really missing the sun and the sea!
Nancy and Dan Painter
Bonjour Kristin – What a great way to keep up with my love for French wine and language. I adore where your blog is going! I’ve been a very bad blogger as of late as I sort out where mine is going. Yet, there are the staples – and they all seem to be in France, the wine blogs, and my crazy friends who just love wine. Yours is one of them, although I don’t show my bloggy face often. Bisous! Valerie
Thanks Kristin! Enjoy your life in Bandol! Love the picture of the flowers and the ocean.
Raison d’être is a French phrase meaning “reason for existence.” Raison d’être may also refer to: Raison d’être (band), a Swedish dark-ambient-industrial-drone …
Bon chance et courage.-Michael and Leslie Perlman, San Ramon, CA et Paris!
Bonjour Kristin,
All of your photos are beautiful and your new home looks wonderful.
You mentioned a possible “rainy day post” from the archives..and I love a letter from your Mom that appeared in the “comme ci comme ca” issue as a click to the photo after your “H” scar. You described her as having emotion and enthusiasm..an understatement..don’t you think? Perhaps after her recent visit you would have more to share.
I have recently become a new grandmother and am thinking that Jules would be a really good grandmother name…Wouldn’t everyone enjoy someone with emotion and enthusiasm in their life?
Blessings to you and your family,
Merci Jean Marc for the wonderful letter. I’m so glad you’re following your dream of being in the Bandol region and I look forward to hearing about all of your family’s new adventures.
Bonne chance avec toutes choses!
Chère Kristin,
Ici, c’est Barbara. J’ai passé un an en France à Aix-en-Provence. C’est mon rêve de retourner à France! Merci beaucoup pour l’aide que vous me donnez dans votre blog. C’est le réponse exact de mes rêves!
Mon vocabulaire est si maigre que j’ai toujours les difficultés en parlant français. J’espère bientôt de parler plus fluamment [sp?]. Encore une fois, merci mille fois pour votre blog! Et aussi, s’il vous plaît, mes félicitations à Jean Marc!
Amicalement,
Barbara
P.S. Ce n’est pas “néaumoins,” au lieu de “néanmoins”?
I’m a little behind in my reading but I thoroughly enjoyed JM’s official explanation of the great move. It’s important to follow one’s heart and as someone who has done the same numerous times, I am in total agreement! Great that you will still have a hand in Rouge Bleu with Caroline and Thomas. I see many great things ahead for all of you! My best wishes to you all.
Thank you for sending me this post Kristin. Now I understand. I thought, perhaps you two had given up the vineyard dream and wondered what was next! Good luck and we hope to visit someday.
Sublime lecture, merci !!!
J en veux plus !!! par ici je vous met dans mes favoris, et vous dit a bientot.