Every month, we introduce you to an interesting woman who lives in Languedoc. Out of curiosity, as we are, we would like to find why he lives in this beautiful region, what he does to make a living and some of his favorites from Languedoc. This month, Wendy Gedney invited me to a cup of tea to be able to ask her everything about her French trip. Recently he retired from his Touring Wine, Vin and Vin business, which he made with great success for 15 years: Wendy is about to publish his first novel.
Introduction
Before my French adventure, I was a wine teacher in England. I directed courses for the confidence of the education of wines and spirits (Wset), which is the wine body of the entire world.
First time visiting the region
That must have the 1990 leg with John, my deceased husband and our children. We were in the Lagrasse area in the Aude department. I remember sitting in the car while driving and thought I could live here. It is curious, at that time, I already felt like my place.
Accommodate in Languedoc
After John’s death, my life was completely agitated. I needed a goal to continue, and I found one in memory of my late Hus band. I was a wine fan, and after following a wine course, which led me to become a qualified wine teacher in five years, it was time for the next step. I was teaching wine in gray classrooms and I thought it was much more attractive to do it in a beautiful environment. Then, I decided to go to Languedoc to rent a cabin for six months to explore the area with the idea of starting a Vineyard Tour business. It was successful and I loved it, so for five years I spent my time between England and France showing wine studies in the winter and career tours in the summer. Until I bought a cabin in 2013 and settled in southern France. If John had his leg looking down from the sky, I know he would be proud of his leg or me. But maybe also a little jealous.
Seventeen years after my great loss, I return to England to stay with my eldest son. One night, I went to a concert with a friend. Without knowing it, she managed to take my phone and install Tinder. After creating my profile in secret, the first man that she slid to the right was Fisher, my now husband (1). He lived in England, he thought. So in addition to falling in love with me, I also had to make me fall in love with southern France. Fortunately, that was too difficult, and now we live in the area of Minervois, where we renew an old winery in Villeneuve-Minervois (2).
Vin and vacancies
I started my business, vin and vacancy, in 2009, and during the first ten years he assaulted. It was a lot of fun, but hard work organizing so many wine tours with the magical landscape of Languedoc as a backdrop. Covid duration, I had to close for two years, well, except the six weeks I managed to operate. After the pandemic, I directed the business for another three years before retiring in October 2024.
Author
As I had always been putting words on paper, I finally had the time to concentrate on writing again. I love this second race. Being more a hobby than a business, it allows me to write from a different mentality. My first project was to relaunch my self-edited book ‘The Wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon’ (3). I wrote this guide on history and the many denominations in the area, since I lost this information when discovering the Languedoc wine region. It is a very accessible book aimed at anyone who enjoys a glass of wine and would like to know more about this fascinating and exciting part of France.
In addition to this wine guide, I am about to launch my first novel. It is a story in part set in Paris and Languedoc, of course, and inspired by an old old French bed that I bought and restored years ago. In my substantic pages-Wendy Gedney and Franco-Files, you can read it more and keep them informed about the real launch. And I have a ‘first’: I just started my second novel!
Establish a business in France
It was too difficult to establish my business, vin and vacancies, in France, mainly due to bureaucracy. Therefore, I found another way creating a vineyard tours agency in the United Kingdom that my son ran for me. I will also say that it helps to speak French, which I did not tense well at the beginning.
Living in southern France
Besids the weather and the rhythm of life, now I have more friends than when I live in England. Before moving to France, I did not think I would mix with expatriates. However, it is important to find its own tribe and do it, common language is important. I decided to open my mind and now most of my best friends here come from abroad. The fact that we all have in common to start a new life in France create great ties.
The best wine from Languedoc
If you have a trained palette, you want to surprise and baffle yourself for a wine. And you want to have food with him. For me, it is the white wine l’Ancandu (4) of clos du gravels. I love this wine not only for its fantastic flavor, but also for the people who achieve it. The first time I tried L’Atndu, made me sit, thinking “wow, what is this?” The wine estate that did, Clos Du Gravillas, is directed by the lovely Nicole and American John. They were pioneers in the region and made beautiful unusual organic wines. For example, the grape varieties used to make L’Atndu are Grenache Blanc and Gray and Maccabeu. Quite revolutionary if you know that most winemakers in the area of Saint-Jean-The-Minervois plant Muscat grapes on the white limestone floor.
Favorite restaurant
The Restaurant Cagarol in Aigne is nothing elegant or elegant, but it is simply a lovely place to enjoy good food. Duration the 15 years that I have bone going there I never had a bad meal. I taught the guests of my wine tour there for years, and I also enjoy going there private. The chef, Christophe, is inventive and presents different flavors.
Perfect day in Languedoc
My perfect day would not be too hot, not too cold and not too windy. One of my hobbies is walking, so I would go to Minerve (5), one of my favorite places and where my heart is, to cross the river and walk through the gorge. After this increase in energy, I wore my car and led to the nearby Aigne to lunch in Cagarol.
