faire du vin (to make wine in French)
Friday, October 19, 2012
Jean-Marc, a.k.a. Chief Grape, about to pour his wine at Shakespeare and Company bookshop, Paris, in 2010. Listen to Jean-Marc read his latest story--click on the soundfile link just below. And thanks to those who tried to guess what kind of dress Jean-Marc was wearing in this post. Answer: un boubou (another boubou story, here). Thanks to Millie for helping us with the French verb for flattening wood: raboter, as illustrated here.
faire du vin [fer-doo-va(n)]
: to make wine
Audio File: Listen to the following story, written and recorded by Jean-Marc :
Tip: first listen to the story, while trying to understand the French words. Listen a second time while reading the text, in the column just below: Download MP3 or Wav file
A Day in Chief Grape's New Life...
a wine-maker takes a break from a pressing work schedule... to chill out by the sea
*Read the English version of the following story, here.
Mercredi dernier, je suis allé courir avec Maxime. Notre parcours nous a fait traversé le magnifique vignoble du Domaine de la Nartette, propriété appartenant au Conservatoire du Littoral (organisation qui a pour mission de protéger le littoral de toute "pollution immobilière" en rachetant des terrains) et situé sur l'appellation Bandol.
En passant à côté d'une très belle parcelle de vieux Mourvèdre plantés en coteaux, j'ai remarqué qu'il restait encore beaucoup de raisins, malgré le fait qu'elle avait déjà été vendangée.
.
.
.
.
.
En effet, la plus part des raisins étaient des "grappillons" qui n'avaient pas été ramassés lors des vendanges car les raisins n'étaient alors pas assez mûrs, ce qui explique qu'ils ont été laissés dans les vignes. De fait, il y a une très belle acidité dans ce vin et cela me ravi, moi qui ai un palais très Bourguignon.
.
Il a aujourd'hui de jolis arômes de fruits rouge (cassis) après avoir initialement eu des notes de mures. Il termine par des arômes de poivre bien typiques du Mourvèdre. Je l'aime beaucoup et il sera, quoi qu'il arrive, un vin très spécial puisque c'est le premier vin de Bandol que j'aurai fait.
.
***
Corrections to the French text in this story are most welcome, here in the comments box.
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Ange - Angel. More about Paris's most famous bookshop, and the great character who ran it. Read it here.
A view of the back of our new home. For a pretty view of the side, don't miss this post. And here's a view of the living room, in case you missed it. More photos here.
What is Smokey saying? Something about GMOs? Or something else, entirely? Add a Smokin' thought bubble here, in the comments box.
Leaves of change, in Villedieu (Vaucluse)
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For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
I think Smokey is saying: "Hmm, the mayonnaise is past it's use-by date. Maybe I can have it? I'm sure nobody will mind."
Posted by: Bill in St. Paul | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 01:41 PM
For the new wine, I suggest "Odyssey" or "l'Odyssée"..
Beyond the timeless and compelling maritime story of coming home, m-w.com provides a secondary definition as 'an intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest.'
(Trademark considerations are left as an exercise for the user.) :-)
Posted by: djd | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 02:05 PM
Smokey may be asking, "Does that light EVER go off?"
Posted by: Margaret in Mississippi | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 02:12 PM
Smokey is saying, "Let's see, what to have for lunch..."
Posted by: Cyndy Witzke | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 02:44 PM
Kristi and Jean-Marc,
I suggest "Fruit de Mer" as a name for the new vintage. I hope you are all doing well in your new home, which looks absolutely lovely. Perhaps we will visit you while we are in Cairanne over the holidays in December and January.
Posted by: Tom Mann | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 02:58 PM
Salut tout le monde
Merci, Jean-Marc, pour l'histoire.
It's great practice for us learners
Peut-être le nom du vin "ne déchets pas rouge" va bien
Posted by: Herm in Phoenix, AZ | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 02:58 PM
names for new wine:
~ Les Ballades en Mer
~ Le Vin Perdu
~ L'Ange Souffle
~ Le Coteau des Anges
~ L'Ange Murmure
~ Le Souffle des Anges
~ Reve de Mer
~ Reve Bleu
~ La Cuvee Perdue
my hubby and I had fun thinking of names...thank you for the chance to make history!! :)
Posted by: Debra Saturday | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 03:17 PM
Très bonnes idées ici! Mon contribution: "Vin des Anges"
Posted by: jtmarquardt | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Aux Pieds de la Mer
Posted by: David | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 03:30 PM
Le Vin Bandol Bleu
Le Vin Espinasse Bleu
La Mer Bleu
Congrats on the new home...best of luck to you both in your endeavors...I hope the new home will further inspire your creativity and keep you inspired...it sure would for me!!!!
Posted by: Vickie | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 03:44 PM
J'offre:
La bandolette
La Mistralaine
Cuvee DES Oubliettes
la belle du sud
Le soleil rouge
Larmes DES Anges
William from Arles
Posted by: William welch | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 04:05 PM
Jean-Marc,
Thank you for your wonderful story..
name ideas..
For your Mere.. Mer Michele..
For you mother in law..Jus de Jules..
Posted by: vicki ford | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 04:06 PM
How is Smokey liking the new house? I have missed seeing him in pictures lately. Wish you all the very best in your new home! Cheers, Rhina (Glen Ellen, California)
Posted by: Rhina Badia | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 04:26 PM
Thanks for these fun and creative names for Jean-Marcs wine. I cant wait to hear his response!
Rhina, Smokey is loving it here. The other day he and his mom chased a rabbit through the forest behind our house. Im so glad the cotton tail out ran them both!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 04:36 PM
By the time I got to my task here in the western U.S., David had already suggested my idea, so I second it! it seems like "pied" or walking has to be in the name. "Marchant sur la mer"
BTW, I love reading J-M's french stories. More please!
Posted by: gary | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 04:46 PM
"hey!! we're almost out of grey poupon!!"
Posted by: beth g. | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 05:00 PM
How about "Maree Rouge"? The tides are changing in your lives, who knows what the next tide will bring in....
Posted by: Sheryl in Denver | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 05:31 PM
Smoky is clearly asking: mayonnaise, ketchup, Yuk...
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Posted by: Jean Hay | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 05:43 PM
Mistral de la mer
L'élixir de la mer
Le Orsin chatouillé
L'esprit Orsin
Le vin charmeur
Massif de la mer
Les restanques belles
Posted by: Chateau Oie | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 05:50 PM
The obvious would be Domaine Orsin Rouge
Posted by: Polly Adkins | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:01 PM
You lucky guy! The wine sounds very tasty to me because I love the deep reds. My first thought for your name would be, Les Sirenes from mythology...those part women part bird who lure the mariner! I'll give it some more thought, too.
Posted by: Mem | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:03 PM
what creative ideas!! I love word play, but it's hard for me in another language. I'm trying to imagine a play between 'mer' and 'mere.' Is there a French idiom/saying with the word 'mere' that could have 'mer' substituted? It would evoke family and sea. The only example I can think of at the moment is "La Mer de la Famille'... get where i'm trying to go? or maybe it's a saying about the sea where 'mere' is substituted.
what a fun process. i think naming something is a very profound exercise and i can't wait to see what it is!!
Posted by: Gwyn Ganjeau | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:17 PM
I don't speak French, but I love France, wine, grapes, great writing, beautiful photographs... and this came to mind for a name for the wine: de raisin de la rive. There is a plant, the sea grape, that is very salt resistant and is used along shorelines to protect sea turtles. There is some poetry here I suppose, but I must get back to work! Thanks for the diversion!
Posted by: Mary L. Holden | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:23 PM
Smokey is thinking "What does a guy have to do to get some steak?"
Love your new place! A lot of work - moving - but a new adventure is always fun.
Posted by: nancy v | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:41 PM
I think Smokey is saying:
Coucou!
Je voudrais pommes frites avec le ketchup et pas avec mayonnaise!!!!!
Posted by: Cecily | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:45 PM
I am sitting here in Bandol looking out at the grey-green sea trying hard to come up with a bright name.
L'Aubaine, L'Aubaine Rouge, Le Phare Rouge, L'Aube Rouge
Alors, je continuerai...
Posted by: Cynthia Gillespie | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:45 PM
Hortensia Rosé
Pivoine Blanc
Géranium Lierre Rouge
Posted by: Ronni Lester Ebbers | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 06:55 PM
Doué de Vie
Posted by: Joanne Ablan | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 07:01 PM
Le pied marin! (pied de vigne, naturellement!)
Posted by: Brigitte Castellan | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 07:32 PM
How about a little French/Spanish name:
Band-Ole..(sorry that my computer will not put the accent on ole)..
Posted by: vicki ford | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 07:36 PM
How about a little French/Spanish name:
Band-Ole..(sorry that my computer will not put the accent on ole)..
Posted by: vicki ford | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 07:37 PM
For the name of the wine how about
Reve de Matelot
Susie Q. Finley
Posted by: Susie Q. Finley | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 07:53 PM
Loved this description of the 'birth' of a new wine. For a name I propose...Des Anges de Mer...to signify a gift from the angels.
Posted by: Peggy | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 08:21 PM
Moursin glanée perhaps?
Posted by: bonnie poppe | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 08:23 PM
Thank you so much for all your inputs
I will digest them and will offer a poll in the next weeks
My offerings are :
- Oursin Violet (Violet is à mix of red and blue colors and it is the best one to eat)
- Mericius (combinaison of "Mer" and "Ericius" which means urchin in Latin
- Rouge-Bleu sur Mer
Cheers
Posted by: Chief Grape | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 08:27 PM
I read every word of Jean-Marc's post, despite the fact that I have an aversion to reading anything that describes a how-to process, such as making wine. It was well worth reading.
This guy was obviously meant to be a wine maker. Even without his vineyard, he found a way and did it. It's really a story about how the talent within us finds a way to express itself, like a plant pushing up through the soil, through cracks in the sidewalk, through a fence. It WILL, it WILL. And so will Jean-Marc.
And you will too, Kristi. You will write more wonderful things, without a doubt. It's just IN you.
As for a name for the wine, I like Odysee, and I like Sirenes even better. Maree rouge sounds good but unfortunately has undesirable connotations, as some people think the tides can be harmful to people. I haven't thought of anything yet myself, but will post again when I do.
Posted by: Teresa | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 08:33 PM
Maybe "Oursin Bleu?"
Your mom could have fun designing a logo.
Edie from Savannah
Posted by: edith schmidt | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 08:43 PM
Here are the corrections to the French text :
- Château (accent circonflexe oublié sur le a)
- environ 400 kilos, environ 300 litres, environ 1,5l, environ 13,5% : no s when environ is an adverb
- j'ai dû utiliser
- bien que j'aie prévu (bien que + subjunctive)
- quelques litres que le château m'avait donnés
- une fois la fermentation terminée
- cela me ravit
- des notes mûres.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story; have a great weekend.
Posted by: Lavender | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 10:24 PM
"Maree rouge" gets my vote! (Except as I repeat it to myself in English it makes me remember that on the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida coast "red tide" will make people think of red algae blooms that kill many fish and leave them dead and stinking on the beaches. So on second thought...... Sp much to consider when coming up with a good name!) Also like "oursin bleu" but it would certainly have people who didn't know the back story scratching their heads.
Posted by: Kathy (near Sacramento) | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 10:29 PM
I like Glaner,or a varieation thereof, for the grapes themselves and for your gleaning of life in all your stories. I love all the pictures of your new place. It is. to me, a dream to be is such a wonderful place and close to the sea.
Posted by: Peggy | Friday, October 19, 2012 at 11:34 PM
J'offre "Brume des Cotes"
Posted by: Pierre Howard | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 12:18 AM
Merci pour nous faire comprendre comment vous faites du vin. Est-ce que ça chatouille quand on foule les raisins avec les pieds nus? Et pour le nom de votre vin, soudain je pense à...étoile de mer, la méduse ou bien loup de mer.
A part des fautes que Lavender a trouvées, j'en ajoute quelques unes..."parcours nous a fait traverseR"; la PLUPART au lieu de "plus part".
Non, je ne suis pas surdouée. C'est le français que j'ai appris... il était une fois.
A propos de Smokey, il se demande "qu'est-ce qu'ils trouvent, les humains, de délicieux dans ces bouteilles?"
ou bien "Avez-vous du Grey Poupon?"
Posted by: Millie | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 01:37 AM
J'ai pensé a trois noms:
Bon Voyage!
Le Navire (ou Navire de Guerre)
Le Bâteau Ivre
Posted by: Alice Dent | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 04:20 AM
"Les pieds dans l'eau"
Posted by: Dick Kahane | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 04:54 AM
Merci pour la générosité avec laquelle vous continuez à nous partager votre vie, dès les aventures en littérature jusqu'aux aventures en viticulture. On apprend beaucoup!
À propos de noms possibles pour le vin, j'offre:
-Domaine Bandol des Anges
-Domaine des Anges
-Domaine Chegrappe (inspiré par le sobriquet "Chief Grape")
-Domaine Sol Rouge
-Domaine Oursinguine (combinaison des mots "oursin" et sanguine")
En attendant les prochaines postes, je vous souhaite un non weekend et une excellente continuation dans la nouvelle vie à Bandol!
Posted by: Leslie | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 05:16 AM
Naming your vintage nouvelle/veau
thinking of:
Put on a red dress mama and wear your wig-hat on your head;
I recommend the following:
"l'homme à la robe rouge".
I double dog dare you as I think that Jean Marc looks really good in a dress. I vote for men wearing dresses. Very sexy too! And I would NEVER argue with them!
[email protected]
Posted by: Harriet Provence Van Eps | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 05:42 AM
Perhaps:
Le Bon Goût de la Mer
Côte de la Mer Bleue
Domaine Espinasse
Bandol, France
ou
Côte de la Mer Violette
Kristin, your mas and photos are lovely as always - and Jean-Marc's story and love of wine-making is just wonderful.
Posted by: Judi Boeye Miller, Lake Balboa, CA | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 06:21 AM
Beautiful pictures and a wonderful post!
THANK YOU both for starting our weekend off to such a super start!
Bon journee!!
Posted by: Natalia | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 06:43 AM
Le vin doit etre appele 'Les Orphelins' - parce que les raisins etaient 'abandonnes' par l'autre vigneron!
Posted by: Kevin O'Brien | Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 03:29 PM
I loved the part about the evaporating wine going to the angels. How about "Les Restes des Anges" for a name?
Thanks as always for your stories, beautiful photos, and glimpses into French life. Although I'll never speak it fluently, reading your newsletter is a delightful way to keep trying.
Posted by: Mary Jo Kolb | Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Bonjour et pourquoi pas 'LE GLANEUR' c'est là d'où il vient, c'est simple, doux et si romantique! Comme j'aimerais en goûter! Je vous souhaite bonne continuation!
Posted by: Martine Baboin | Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 03:41 AM
La Mer Tranquille is my suggestion.
I love hearing from Jean-Marc, and of course the pictures are great.
Posted by: Karene | Monday, October 22, 2012 at 01:34 AM
Clos De La Mer
Sirène
Sirène De La Mer
Bleu Marine
Nouveau Bleu
ou
Bleu De Nouveau
:)
Bonne chance!
Posted by: Lisa A.,Los Angeles, CA | Monday, October 22, 2012 at 08:04 AM
un nom peut-etre: Les Amis Marins
How exciting to be making your first Bandol wine! Bonne chance/
Smokey is thinking, "now's my chance to grab something I like while they're immersed in winemaking"
Posted by: Diane Young | Monday, October 22, 2012 at 06:33 PM
L'Odyssee (first post) gets my vote, what a fab name!
Posted by: Kendal | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 02:10 PM
Such fun, thanks for inviting us to participate; here are a couple more:
Bleu pas deux; Bleu acte deux :)
Cheers & happy searching
Posted by: elsee | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 03:15 PM
Suggestion:
Amour dela Mer
Posted by: Sheri Murphy, Bethlehem Pennsylvania | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 04:47 PM
So many great suggestions already Jean-Marc.
Here are mine:
Etoile du Littoral or Domaine du Littoral
Thank you for such a fun blog.Janine Cortell
Posted by: Janine Cortell | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 06:03 PM
l'ivresse Bleu
Posted by: Maiten | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 07:27 PM
Smokey pense que je ne sens pas umami.
Posted by: Maiten | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 08:19 PM
I think it is time you include your name in the wine. Can you do that if you don't actually grow the grapes yet?
Vin Epinnase de la Mer
Posted by: joie in carmel,ca | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 10:32 PM
Passage en Mer
Posted by: Blair Pessemier | Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 08:45 AM
How about " La danse de la Mer " ?
Enjoying this post from New Zealand (da la mer)
Posted by: Anne | Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Délice de Marin
Doué d'Amis
Posted by: Joanne Ablan | Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 06:45 PM