We are just finishing the design for our first book which we are planning to release in the next couple of months. It has been fascinating journey to document our story thus far and reflect on all those challenging times, the moments of seeming despair and the celebrations that finally resulted.
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]As you will have already seen, the title of the book will be called ‘From Cabbage Patch to Cabernet Franc’ and as the name suggests, we didn’t really start with a great asset. In fact as I reflect now, it was more of a nightmare! Most people are puzzled by this fact as they assume that we had hand selected the vineyard we wanted.
But it wasn’t like that! The complete Paradise Rescued project was different, not driven (initially) by a passion to create a unique wine but by a mission to protect the heritage of our beautiful village Cardan Bordeaux and sustain the rural community. The Hourcat Sud block was there – right in front of what is now our winery and head office. The need to act was driven by our community’s passion to protect this piece of vineyard from becoming another housing estate.
[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]At the time of purchase we had been led to believe that the Hourcat Sud block was comprised of Merlot vines – one of Bordeaux’s favourite right bank red wine varietals. It wasn’t – they were Cabernet Franc. The block was saturated from excessive chemical treatment. Indeed, it looked like our worst nightmare.
Yet in many ways, that apparently difficult start was the key to our success. It quickly focussed us on our organic conversion project. We changed our thinking to embrace the unique possibilities that come with producing a niche full varietal Cabernet Franc – the princess of red wines. Today that vineyard block is unrecognisable compared to what we bought in 2009. The physical transformation in the vineyard and the mental transformation in our heads have been dramatic.
To read how we turned a Nightmare into a Niche, keep watching our blog page here or join Club Paradise Rescued and you will be amongst the few that get the first update on all of our progress. Details of our book ‘From Cabbage Patch to Cabernet Franc’ will be available shortly.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]