I am always troubled by articles about Provence that read like "the gentle stream of expats settling in Provence has, over the past decade, become a steady river." I imagine hordes of Brits descending and eating chips, sorry, frites.
But this interesting piece in the Telegraph is more about folk who've bought up vineyards in Provence and actually make quiet decent wine: "So, if you feel an incredible tug for Provence, a heart-achingly beautiful restored bastide, with eight hectares of vines and 1,200 olive trees, is for sale not very far away."
I had no idea that Chateau de Berne was owned by a man who started with a Fulham vegetable shop, and after 20 years of success in a variety of pharmaceutical-based businesses, from his then base in Monaco decided to buy his own vineyard. It's now owned by the man from Regus, who has extended the facilities and is now marketing Berne Viognier wine in square bottles (weird, huh?) . I have tasted the wine and it's good (to quote Hemingway).
Better get saving then...
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