A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE… by Kristin Espinasse
When our alarm rang at 5:45 this morning I mumbled “Good night!“ in French.
“Bonjour,”Jean-Marc replied. The creaking of our armoire, a wedding gift from 20-years ago, was a splash of cold water to my face and now my mind was percolating away as my husband pulled on his threadbare jeans and searched for a warm enough shirt. Early mornings in the vineyard are cold, even if the nearby beaches are already hot with Bardot lookalikes.
Thankfully my husband has eyes only for vines. That is why we call him Chief Grape. I waited until Chief left the room to stretch out over his side of the bed. It’s not fair to rub it in, when you get to sleep in.
Next I heard our coffee-maker, which sounds just like Jean-Marc’s prehistoric tractor. Both machines hum like dinosaurs! Come to think of it, this all must be music to my husband’s boyish ears–a thundering overture for his daily grape adventure.
Just like a kid Jean-Marc ran back into the room this morning, to share an exciting discovery: an article about his labors in the Wine Spectator!
“I can’t wait to read it!” I cheered.
Returning to bed now, with a cup of Tyrannosauras Joe, I clicked open my email to search for the link Jean-Marc had promised to send me.
I found it, and a whole lot more. My husband’s note read:
Thank you for making my dreams come true
I Love youJean-Marc
* * *
Here is the link to that wonderful article on Jean-Marc and I leave you with a few photos taken over the years, just after today’s sponsors.
Jean-Marc’s first harvest (at his own vineyard). He was stick thin, having put all his weight into his first cuvée.
He gained back those kilos, along with experience as he continued to make his prize-winning wine
That serious look! His mind is so often on his grapes.
Serious look and seriously cramped working spaces — all in the name of wine!
2007, in a cramped kitchen full of harvesters. That first year was the most trying, as evidenced by the scarecrow figures smiling back at you. Jean-Marc was NOT blessed with a vineyard wife, a tough broad who works beside him in the vineyard, then hurries back to the kitchen to make lunch for the entire crew. But that didn’t stop Jean-Marc from making the leafy crown you see above, and naming me Queen of Harvest–La Reine de la Vendange–an award given to the one who tries, all the same. It was generous and thoughtful of Jean-Marc to write me that note this morning. But it is he who made his own dreams come true, with all that hard work and determination. So proud of you, Chief Grape!
2007. Harvesting in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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New Orleans, May 27, 2014
Dear Kristin,
Once more you instruct and intrigue us!
And, Jean-Marc works his own magic, on change le terroir au trésor.
Marcel
New Orleans, May 27, 2014
Dear Kristin,
Once more you instruct and intrigue us!
And, Jean-Marc works his own magic, on change le terroir au trésor.
Marcel
The note says it all. And who better to write the article than Robert Camuto.
The note says it all. And who better to write the article than Robert Camuto.
Hi Kristin,
Congratulations to Jean Marc and to you! How satisfying to start something from scratch and watch it grow. It’s lots of hard work but it will pay off in the end! How are the house renovations going? Love all the photos. I almost thought the last photo was of your sister Heidi. You all look so much alike.
Hi Kristin,
Congratulations to Jean Marc and to you! How satisfying to start something from scratch and watch it grow. It’s lots of hard work but it will pay off in the end! How are the house renovations going? Love all the photos. I almost thought the last photo was of your sister Heidi. You all look so much alike.
We’ve enjoyed many a bottle of Domaine Rouge Bleu. All the best with the new venture!
We’ve enjoyed many a bottle of Domaine Rouge Bleu. All the best with the new venture!
Such a wonderful article. I admire JMs knowledge and ability that goes into the vineyard and the production of the wine. I don’t drink but sip here and there, but really understand the refined process of development.
I so enjoy your writing and the photos that you take. I feel as if I am precariously visiting your corner of the world through your wonderful blog…
Such a wonderful article. I admire JMs knowledge and ability that goes into the vineyard and the production of the wine. I don’t drink but sip here and there, but really understand the refined process of development.
I so enjoy your writing and the photos that you take. I feel as if I am precariously visiting your corner of the world through your wonderful blog…
Dear Kristi, and Jean-Marc,
You, the article, Jean-Marc, your two lovely children….Wonderful, simply Wonderful. I’m so pleased for you all. So nice to see a family doing their “right thing”. Please give your mom a hug for me when she gets there. I sure do miss her and Breezy.
Dear Kristi, and Jean-Marc,
You, the article, Jean-Marc, your two lovely children….Wonderful, simply Wonderful. I’m so pleased for you all. So nice to see a family doing their “right thing”. Please give your mom a hug for me when she gets there. I sure do miss her and Breezy.
Your writings always lift me up and what a beautiful love story!
Your writings always lift me up and what a beautiful love story!
Thank you, Chris and friends. Reading your notes is the most rewarding thing. I cannot wait for Jean-Marc to see your supportive words. He is still out in the field, planting poles beside his 2000 vines. You may have heard the tap-tapping in yesterdays soundfile, which he recorded for us on site 🙂
Thank you, Chris and friends. Reading your notes is the most rewarding thing. I cannot wait for Jean-Marc to see your supportive words. He is still out in the field, planting poles beside his 2000 vines. You may have heard the tap-tapping in yesterdays soundfile, which he recorded for us on site 🙂
Even though there have been many heartfelt congratulations sent your way, I want to add mine,too. You, Jean-Marc, Max and Jackie are an inspiration to us all as we follow your achievements both large and small. Could you hear us cheering when we read the article in “The Wine Spectator”? Congratulations Jean-Marc along with your family and friends who helped along the way! Very sincerely, Cynthia
Even though there have been many heartfelt congratulations sent your way, I want to add mine,too. You, Jean-Marc, Max and Jackie are an inspiration to us all as we follow your achievements both large and small. Could you hear us cheering when we read the article in “The Wine Spectator”? Congratulations Jean-Marc along with your family and friends who helped along the way! Very sincerely, Cynthia
What a great article!! You guys are truly amazing — both of you — and yes, an inspiration. It’s never too late. Right? What a life you have created/continue to create for yourselves. Congratulations to Jean-Marc and to you, too!
What a great article!! You guys are truly amazing — both of you — and yes, an inspiration. It’s never too late. Right? What a life you have created/continue to create for yourselves. Congratulations to Jean-Marc and to you, too!
I so admire you and Jean-Marc! I am so inspired by your stories about your life.
I so admire you and Jean-Marc! I am so inspired by your stories about your life.
What a great article in Wine Spectator. Your Rouge Bleu wines were really great and now on to the new venture, but I too did not realize how long it would be before you would finally see the results of your new vineyards.
Patience is a venture and both of you seem to possess this. Best wishes on the new vines and may you have a bunker crop the first year and every year thereafter.
Kathleen
What a great article in Wine Spectator. Your Rouge Bleu wines were really great and now on to the new venture, but I too did not realize how long it would be before you would finally see the results of your new vineyards.
Patience is a venture and both of you seem to possess this. Best wishes on the new vines and may you have a bunker crop the first year and every year thereafter.
Kathleen
What a very nice surprise for J-M’s morning coffee! Congratulations on such a lovely article! I had no idea it would take so long for him to be able to produce the table wines, is that just how long it takes to get a good harvest from them?
I am assuming that it would take longer for the Bandol designation to make sure of a consistent quality that meets specific standards for that appellation?
What a very nice surprise for J-M’s morning coffee! Congratulations on such a lovely article! I had no idea it would take so long for him to be able to produce the table wines, is that just how long it takes to get a good harvest from them?
I am assuming that it would take longer for the Bandol designation to make sure of a consistent quality that meets specific standards for that appellation?
Great post! Great article! Great love note!
Great post! Great article! Great love note!
It’s wonderful to get this up-close-and-personal view into the beginnings of a great wine label, and I have no doubt it will be great. All the best, Kristin and Jean-Marc. Bon travail et Bon courage! What an adventure!
It’s wonderful to get this up-close-and-personal view into the beginnings of a great wine label, and I have no doubt it will be great. All the best, Kristin and Jean-Marc. Bon travail et Bon courage! What an adventure!
What a great post, Kristin, and I love the photos! The article about your husband was wonderful. You two are an amazing team and I wish you both all the best!
What a great post, Kristin, and I love the photos! The article about your husband was wonderful. You two are an amazing team and I wish you both all the best!
I have always been so impressed by Jean-Marc. He is one of the hardest-working people I know – and apparently never loses his good nature in spite of sometimes backbreaking work. I wish him every success in this new venture.
The article, which was interesting, noted that J-M became “restless” after a few years of winemaking at Rouge-Bleu. I had thought one of the reasons for leaving was because of fatigue, as it’s a lot of work that often must be done only or mainly by one person, even if you have help at the harvest. So I still have wondered why he/you would leave one area that had become established, only to really start from scratch in Bandol, which must be even more work. I suppose there is satisfaction in overcoming the challenges of creating something wonderful out of, one could say, nearly nothing. As long as you all are happy, that’s what counts, and we will look forward to eventually sampling the wine from the new vineyard.
I have always been so impressed by Jean-Marc. He is one of the hardest-working people I know – and apparently never loses his good nature in spite of sometimes backbreaking work. I wish him every success in this new venture.
The article, which was interesting, noted that J-M became “restless” after a few years of winemaking at Rouge-Bleu. I had thought one of the reasons for leaving was because of fatigue, as it’s a lot of work that often must be done only or mainly by one person, even if you have help at the harvest. So I still have wondered why he/you would leave one area that had become established, only to really start from scratch in Bandol, which must be even more work. I suppose there is satisfaction in overcoming the challenges of creating something wonderful out of, one could say, nearly nothing. As long as you all are happy, that’s what counts, and we will look forward to eventually sampling the wine from the new vineyard.
A friend whose daughter lives in Marseille tells me that Bandol and surrounds are known for their roses, so I think JM wanted to make his beloved rose more than continue with a red. Vive le vintner! Et sa femme!
A friend whose daughter lives in Marseille tells me that Bandol and surrounds are known for their roses, so I think JM wanted to make his beloved rose more than continue with a red. Vive le vintner! Et sa femme!
Congratulations on the Wine Spectator article! We love Bandol and it’s wines and look forward to yours.
Congratulations on the Wine Spectator article! We love Bandol and it’s wines and look forward to yours.
Awesome article! Congrats, Jean-Marc and Kristi on this nice recognition. Courage!
Awesome article! Congrats, Jean-Marc and Kristi on this nice recognition. Courage!
Wow! And words like Jean-Marc’s are why we stay married.
Wow! And words like Jean-Marc’s are why we stay married.
I’ve been reading for years, but I think this is my first comment. Big fat congratulations to you both! I just love the way you wrote it. 🙂
I’ve been reading for years, but I think this is my first comment. Big fat congratulations to you both! I just love the way you wrote it. 🙂
Chere Kristin, this blog filled me with racing reminiscent thoughts and emotions. Our healthy, very special relationship was a blessing to me. Maintenant j’ai quatre-vingts ans!! Countless times sorrowful experiences have reminded this octogenarian that we must let go, too often with an aching heart. Always grateful to you for the years we freely communicated and for the weekend shared chez vous. New joys and struggles stream into my long, fruitful life. Still drive and in love with my youthful 71 year old wife. Too good an appetite, play pool/billiards recently, had lunch with 2 of 4 great-grandchildren, and joined a senior citizen choral group — no complaints here! Amicalement toujours! Fred
Chere Kristin, this blog filled me with racing reminiscent thoughts and emotions. Our healthy, very special relationship was a blessing to me. Maintenant j’ai quatre-vingts ans!! Countless times sorrowful experiences have reminded this octogenarian that we must let go, too often with an aching heart. Always grateful to you for the years we freely communicated and for the weekend shared chez vous. New joys and struggles stream into my long, fruitful life. Still drive and in love with my youthful 71 year old wife. Too good an appetite, play pool/billiards recently, had lunch with 2 of 4 great-grandchildren, and joined a senior citizen choral group — no complaints here! Amicalement toujours! Fred