🍷 Wine, Wind, and Rugby: A Day in Southwest France! 🏉
The beauty of life in France is in the details—the crisp morning air, the taste of a perfectly aged wine, and the laughter shared over a thrilling rugby match. In this episode, we take you along for an unforgettable journey through the vineyards, into the heart of French winemaking, and straight into the warm embrace of the local community.
🌅 A Chilly Morning on the River
The day began with a breathtaking sunrise over the River Lot, but the cold bite in the air was undeniable. The deck of the boat was coated in a fine layer of ice—an unexpected reminder that spring hasn’t fully taken hold yet. As the morning fog lifted and the world slowly warmed up, it was time to set out on my regular trip across the river to Fongrave
🍷 Behind the Scenes at a French Winery
France is known for its wine, but what really goes into creating those bottles we love so much? Today, we had the privilege of stepping inside a local vineyard and winery, where tradition and craftsmanship come together in the most fascinating way.
We learned how concrete vats, rather than stainless steel, are used to ferment the grapes, allowing for a unique oxygen exchange that influences the final taste. From the first pressing to the delicate balancing act of aging, winemaking is an art as much as it is a science.
One of the highlights was tasting a sparkling rosé made from Malbec—a grape that is notoriously rich and intense. The challenge? Extracting just the right amount of color and flavor without overpowering the wine. The result? A beautifully dry, crisp, and full-bodied sparkling rosé that defied expectations.
Then came the Chardonnay aged in oak barrels—a wine Maria usually avoids due to its often overpowering oakiness. But this one was different. Instead of a strong, woody taste, it had subtle tannins and a mineral-rich crispness that made it surprisingly enjoyable. It’s fascinating how different aging techniques can transform a wine’s character entirely.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the Château’s signature red, aged for 12 months in oak barrels. With bold tannins and deep complexity, it was the perfect example of a wine that only gets better with time—potentially up to 15 years! While Maria found it a little strong, I absolutely loved it. It’s incredible to think about opening a bottle in a decade and tasting how it has evolved.
🏉 Rugby, Food, and French Community Spirit
After a day of wine, what better way to end the evening than with a good old-fashioned rugby match? The bar was packed with locals, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement as France faced off against Ireland.
One of the best things about life in France is the community spirit. Everyone brought food—home-cooked dishes, local delicacies, and, of course, plenty of wine. It wasn’t just about watching the game; it was about sharing the experience together. The energy in the room was infectious, the kind of moment that makes you feel truly at home.
It reminded us once again why moving to France was such a life-changing decision. The slower pace, the focus on food and friendships, the appreciation for the little things—it all comes together to create a way of life that feels richer, fuller, and more connected.
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💭 Why France? A Reflection on Life Here
Every time we have days like this—sipping wine at a family-run vineyard, chatting with people who have dedicated their lives to a craft, and then gathering with a community to enjoy something as simple as a rugby match—it reminds us why we made the move.
There’s a certain magic in the way the French approach life. It’s not about rushing, it’s not about constantly chasing the next big thing—it’s about savoring the moment. Whether it’s a glass of wine that took years to perfect, a meal made with love, or a conversation that stretches long into the evening, life here is about appreciating what’s in front of you.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to live in France, we hope this episode gives you a taste—not just of the wine, but of the lifestyle that makes this country so special.
Would you trade the hustle and bustle for something slower, richer, and more fulfilling? Let us know in the comments!
👉 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon so you don’t miss our next adventure!
📍 Follow us on social media for more behind-the-scenes moments:
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Richard.Hall/
📝 Web: https://villa-la-rive.com
The Vineyard Featured: https://www.chateaudechambert.com/en/index.html
The Malbec WIne Tours on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063958933989
Merci for watching, and see you next time! 🍷🇫🇷✨
#LifeInFrance #FrenchWine #MovingToFrance #FrenchLifestyle #RugbyFrance #Winemaking
29 Comments
Your french is fantastic .
3rd will watch later with seize
I fell in Love with your song 🥰
Another fun video.
Great video despite Richards very bad joke about the tap on his shoulder 😂. It’s so cool that you get to pop across to your lesson on the boat too. Love it! I never get tired of seeing the view of your house at night from the river all lit up with the lights. Fabulous 😊. Finally your song is amazing! I love it. It’s like a country music style song and so clever with the personalised words. Nickel! ❤
Huge hug and big kiss to our US friends, wellcome in France, live well and enjoy your life, food, wine and frienship.
Fab! Hello from Strasbourg!
Maria et richard, belles images, reportage, super montage !!! J' espère que vous utilisez l' eau de la rivière pour votre terrasse, ce serait dommage de ne pas en profiter, une chance !!! gardez votre joie de vivre…
A wonderful video to watch on a Sunday afternoon, loved the visit to the winery. Both of you and Rob& Lisa have through your videos given me moments of happiness, thank you, David xx
You’ll
never tire of your garden view across the river! It’s priceless at all times of day, all weather!
Très belle chanson qu'on vous à fait … Ça me fait penser à un mélange d'une bande son d'un dessin animé de disney et une publicité américaine pour un syndicat d'initiative !! 😁😁👍
Ah great just came up on my feed. Just what I needed after a scary night in emergency room here in Italy. France is in my future thanks for the upload x
What a lovely video. Wished it was longer and showed you the next day after all that wine
Thank you for the shout out. Will reciprocate for tomorrows video for sûre. Not that you need my help, you guys are smashing it
Go Team Hall ❤️❤️
It's extremely cold, even here on the Med. Do you pay extra if you are late for French lessons or are they free?
Only "A Year in the Lot" 🎵🎶 or is it permanent? 👍 We're on the Champagne after Newcastle's win. ⚽🏆🍾🥂
p,s, love loved this episode! especially the chateau visit and winetasting. Im a wine journalist and have been all over the world tasting and judging wines, so loved that. Exploring Burgundy again this summer and hope to see you then for a glass of wine. Love your music outro x
I have 2 favorite YouTube Channels…one is Escape to France with Rob & Lisa and your channel. I always enjoy your interviews and just general life as you've made the move to France. We moved to the Haute-Vienne in August 2024 from Canada and are so happy we did. Thanks for the most enjoyable video. I watched while drinking a lovely glass of red wine. 🍷
Lovely views, lovely people, lovely fun, as always!! We look forward to every Sunday when we can learn what's going on in the Lot. We've thought that we were set on the Loire Valley for retirement, but honestly, before all is said and done, perhaps we need to check out the Southwest of France as well.
Great catchy song at the end!
im french and i'll move to somewhere else out of europe/chaos !
…BRILLIANT!!!…
I don’t know how well you speak French, but expats who don’t fully integrate bother me. That other guy has not. Seriously, he mocks French food which actual French people don’t eat at all often & whines about everything French. He puts on a beret, which literally no French people have worn in decades & mocks French people. I’ve met quite a few British expats like that & they’re really not cut out for integration into a foreign culture. It takes really hard work to make French friends & speak the language. I think the French government is right to up the language requirements for continued residency. My husband is an immigrant who said about learning a foreign language in a new country, if you can’t do it quickly, go back. And, he’s very liberal pro-immigrant, but thinks expats don’t really bother with integration.
Thankyou for another great video, loving the weather, such a friendly group in the pub aswell, you makw the whole living in france idyllic, can't wait till its our turn 😊
Lovely, I enjoy watching your life in France. Thank you for another great video ❤
Had a chuckle when I saw Richard talking about the plummeting temperature and showing the ice on the deck of your boat then walking along wearing shorts. My husband does the same thing in our Sydney winters. He doesn’t feel the cold. Is Maria like me and says “for goodness sake put some long pants on?” 😂 That sparkling rosé looked délicieux!
We will see you June 24!
Another premier vlog 👏👏👏… Pity your 'tap' joke wasn't understood….I could hear the whining from here 🤭…. Boy, you have a tough life…….(soon….soon… I'm on my way….soon)…… Keeping wine for 15 years….yeh, right… 15 days in my house 😂
C quoi cette"daube"?😢
Commentaire DÉBILE 😢
Avec ça vous dévalorisé votre vidéo !
Dommage mais, je ne peux vous suivre 😢😢
Veloma
France is now becoming a muslum country, you should stay away from big cities, be carfeful