Friday was my final day working in the cave at Domaine de Cristia.  The winemaking experience was fantastic of course.  I was given every opportunity to observe the vineyards, their individual terroir, the fruit as it arrived to the cellar and then to work with the juice/wine over my ten days.  Baptiste and his father were incredibly helpful in explaining their methods and techniques (some of them very old world and some very modern) and Alain was ever ready to share with me his library of winemaking books and internet articles offering evidence of support for this decision or that.

Further, I was introduced to scores of winemakers from the area who also opened their cellars and their ideas for my further edification.  I not only felt a part of the winemaking community of CNdP but became increasing close to the Grangeon family.

Both of Dominique’s grandparents (her father’s father Etienne, and her mother’s mother Coulette) joined us for lunch and coffee on my final day.  When leaving to return to the cellar after lunch and taking a few extra moments to say my goodbyes I became overwhelmed with emotion.  In fact, I had to depart rather quickly rather than suffer a complete meltdown.   Etienne asked me to join him for a moment at his home (which is directly next door to the cave) on my return to work.  I did so and was again overtaken by emotion.  He showed me a decoration that he had put together for the millennium welcoming in the new century.  It consisted of a grapevine designed as a tree announcing the births of his children and grandchildren.  There was other memorabilia resting on the table creating a very personal display.  He then offered me a copy of a poem that he had written for the occasion.  It was titled the ‘four seasons’ and outlined for him the significance of each with respect to the growing of the vines.  His final words to me were, “my great passion in life is my vines, my great honor in life is that my children and grandchildren continue to work them”.  I tried to hide my falling tears as I returned to the cellar to continue his work.

Etienne Joseph Grangeon, "Papé"

Papé would ride his bike over several times a day to check up on us.  I always saved my sweetest kisses for him.