Virgile's Vineyard: A Year in the Languedoc Wine Country

No, this story is not particulary humorous. The attempt was made, but Peter Mayle he is not. I didn't particularly enjoy the crazy rich lady from the chateau, however, I DID learn enough about the region and its wine to be able to pick out a truly superb bottle off the shelf. I am not wine-obsessed, in fact I don't drink it anymore, but I did enjoy reading about the tending of vines, the mixing of varietals, and the extremely difficult task of making a good wine. I've read an AWFUL lot of books about France, buying a house to restore in France, landscaping in France, the war in France etc.... and I set aside more than I actually finish. this is one of the good ones, although a bit slow going.

With Bill Bryson-like humor, Patrick Moon intertwines winemaking and history with a rollicking good tale. If you're lucky enough to visit this fabulous wine-producing area of France, Virgile's Vineyard will be even more entertaining. There is a not-so-subtle undercurrent of travel guide to this superbly fun story. Spanning one year, it takes the reader through the winter Mediterranean storms, the summer heat of the South, the drenching rains of spring and the laid-back feel of the area when out of the tourist high season. Moon explores the dubious friendship of his neighbor prone to blatant crop filching, but also a master wine taster in constant search of good free samples. There is a dialogue of local repartee, a love interest (solely, on her side, it seems) who is bent on educating Patrick about the area's past, along with some characters who duck in and out as the story unfolds. If you have any interest in wine or the Languedoc region of France, you really shouldn't miss this book.