Southern Hospitality

A Post-Gard from Quilles de Joie . . .

We just returned from a weekend in the Gard to attend the village of Souvignargues' annual winter fair, Quilles de Joie. Our good friends Vicky & Fergus Clague were there to cook for the masses on Saturday and pour the 2022 Sa Fille, from their old vine Grenache. Ferg brought an injection of UK gastronomy by blowing minds with scotch eggs and mince pies (aka fruits confits et pommes en tartes feuilletée).

Quilles de Joie is a very wholesome affair, organised by an association of local volunteers, with growers primarily from the Gard and its surrounds, with a few choice producers from further afield. While planning, the Clagues had the generous idea to invite Lucie & Jules from Ham Street (Rue de Jambon as they were affectionately nicknamed) to pour their wines at the fair as their guest. To observe the interactions between Lucie & Jules and the guests and growers at this rural fair was a proper privilege. Watching friendships form, pre-conceptions being happily challenged, and the atmosphere of hospitality and curiosity around their barrel was a joy throughout the weekend.

It was also a great opportunity for us to catch up in the cellars of some of our favourite winemakers around Souvi. We got to taste a set of properly energetic and nourishing 2025 wines from tanks, a vintage that's already showing incredibly well across the board. Thierry Forestier (Mont de Marie), Olivier Pichon (La Grange Saint André), and Laurent Bagnol (Mas Lau) each showed us their unique take on the terroir of Souvignargues. And over in Vieilleville, the Moulin brothers (Mas de La Font Ronde) taught us about their pumpkins, indigenous wheat, and where the Pompom of their titular rustic charmer comes from (Yves' treasured horse harness!). We finished the trip with a lunch of roast pork and their (fantastic) carrots. 

A huge thanks to everyone for their hospitality and generosity of spirit - long live the Gard. The wines of this region have such a soft spot for us. And for those of you seeking characterful, good value zero-zero wines from true paysan vignerons, we couldn't recommend them more.

A great selection available online now. 

Cul sec!

Ben & Christopher