Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 15
In the
Merde
with the Merlot
The apricot dawn filled me with joy. I stood on the balcony and felt uncanny delight and
weightlessness looking down onto the Dordogne valley's bountiful patchwork of plum blos-
soms and manicured vines. We still didn't have the order confirmation, the malos hadn't star-
ted and we were broke, but I felt positive. It defied logic. Despite working harder than ever
physically and mentally for no return, our new life was strangely fulfilling.
That morning the Saturday magazine of a major newspaper that ran the cover story on us
the year before called to say they were going to run my follow-on story as another cover
feature. Perhaps the emotions I felt at dawn were a premonition.
I called Dave, the wine buyer, with the news and suggested they take the wine in immedi-
ately so it would be in store in time for the publication date. Within hours we had the order
confirmation and a date for pickup. I didn't know why they had been delaying but right then
the only important thing was that we had the official order. The chunky payment would hit
our bank account in a few weeks and we'd be able to get our creditors off our backs. It was
a major milestone.
Our second offer of our summer wines went out to our subscriber list. Within two weeks
we had sold out of our rosé and our sauvignon blanc. Some customers bought five cases of
sauvignon blanc at once. It boosted our morale. People wanted our wines.
Even with these successes, the wine business would not be able to support us on its own.
We had to develop new streams of revenue. I was renovating frantically to make half of our
house available as a self-catering unit. Adding a second unit would make the prospects a
little more rosy, but the old building Helen and Derek had uncovered was still in its ruined
state. I measured up every perspective and realised the second level was too low to be useful
for human habitation.
I drew up some plans then called Monsieur Fracasse, the builder who had helped with the
terrace. He arrived, tape measure in hand. We walked round the side of the tasting room.
'Quelle vue,'
he said, whistling through his teeth. 'I can see why you want to turn this into a
house. From the upper level it must be even better.' It was a tranquil piece of heaven.
'Yes, but look, it's too low for a house.'
