Tag: winemaker

Jean-Marc, Recette / Recipe, Travel

Thanksgiving Vocabulary + Périple: Jean-Marc’s Journey from France to New Zealand & Bike Tour

Jean-Marc and Ricci at Port des Capucins. "I'm going to take her with me to New Zealand!" he teases. Read about my husband's 2024 périple in today's update. Joyeuse Action de Grâce!I can't guarantee that's how you say "Happy Thanksgiving" in French. But I hope you have so much to be thankful for and that your lives are brimming with blessings in any language. In … Continue reading Thanksgiving Vocabulary + Périple: Jean-Marc’s Journey from France to New Zealand & Bike Tour

Kristin Espinasse28 Comments
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Décontracté at Chateau de Pibarnon: a visual report

Yesterday we spent a relaxing day at one of the most prestigious vineyards in Provence: Chateau de Pibarnon. Listen to the previous sentence in French, just below, and don't miss the entire post and photos. First, today's word: "décontracté" relaxed, calm, serene Click the following link to listen to the French sentence (English version above) Hier nous avons passé une journée décontractée dans un des … Continue reading Décontracté at Chateau de Pibarnon: a visual report

Kristin Espinasse17 Comments
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Tirer sa reverence & Jean-Marc’s quiet tribute

Jean-Marc, watering 5,600 baby vines by hand. When I posted this picture on my Facebook, Jeanne Asakura wrote: Such a peaceful scene. There’s a reverence about it as well. Jeanne, your words couldn’t be more true. Read on in today’s story… Tirer sa révérence     : to go, to pass away     Beautifully renovated and decorated home in the Luberon. 4 bedrooms and a study … Continue reading Tirer sa reverence & Jean-Marc’s quiet tribute

Kristin Espinasse55 Comments
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Planter des Vignes + photos of our growing vineyard!

Baby vines are capped in red wax. The leaves will soon burst through. Bonjour! Mostly pictures for you today–an exciting phase 2 in the story of our Bandol vineyard, “Mas des Brun.” Enjoy and thank you for reading. (To see the videos, visit my instagram page.) planter les vignes     : to plant vines AUDIO FILE: listen to Jackie read the example sentence:Download MP3 or  Wav … Continue reading Planter des Vignes + photos of our growing vineyard!

Kristin Espinasse31 Comments
wine business, wine maker, Wineries

Grele: Solidarity during a devastating hailstorm at winemaker Raimond de Villeneuve’s vineyard

Un vrai bonnard. Don't miss this inspiring story about a winemaker's comeback following a devastating storm. Pictured: Raimond de Villeneuve. Photo montage from Google images. la grêle (grel)     : hail Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file Un orage de grêle détruit en deux minutes deux années de récolte de raisins. A hail storm destroys in two minutes two years worth of grapes. … Continue reading Grele: Solidarity during a devastating hailstorm at winemaker Raimond de Villeneuve’s vineyard

Kristin Espinasse92 Comments
Birthdays, Jean-Marc, Video

il parait + video interview on French TV

Out of the rubble a wine is born!  Jean-Marc gave more than heart and soul when he made his first wine: he gave his blood, his tears, and an alarming number of kilos. I talk about this, and more, in an interview about the organic winemaker on French TV.  il paraît (eel-pah-ray)     : it seems, it appears synonyms: on dit (they say) or … Continue reading il parait + video interview on French TV

Kristin Espinasse110 Comments
Following One's Dream, wine business

la veuve de la vendange

Photo of a modern cabanon with its carpet of white mustard flowers. Don't you just want to lose yourself in it? la veuve de la vendange (lah vuv deuh lah von danzh)     : crush widoww A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse I learned a new term last fall, while guiding yet another enthusiastic and brave bénévole out to the vine fields to help … Continue reading la veuve de la vendange

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Jean-Marc, wine business

la mère porteuse

Jean-Marc who earned the title "Chief Grape" after years of caring for his precious "babies". Read about them, in the following story.  la mère porteuse (mair-por-tuhz) n.f.   : surrogate mother (One who carries a child for a couple or for a single person is also called "une mère accoucheuse") Click on the following French sentence to hear it spoken by Jean-Marc: La législation concernant … Continue reading la mère porteuse

Kristin Espinasse7 Comments