Wine, Women & Friends

Jo and Carol are a totally charming middle-aged couple of lesbians who got it into their heads that they would like to be winemakers, and against all  odds, and with a lot of very hard work and with great band of friends, they actually succeeded, even going on to win gold medals for their vintage. They settled on a vineyard in the small village of Collias in the south of France having taken some courses in winemaking, although they never really quite took onboard exactly how tough the road ahead would be.

Jo, the quieter of the two woman, was originally from Alsace and is a specialist veterinarian by day. Carol on the other hand who is an irrepressible force of nature, is a French Canadian, and a nurse by trade. When they first started their venture they knew absolutely no-one in the village at all, which was tough as so many parts of the winemaking, such as harvesting,  need a collective support system. A few minutes into this very affectionate documentary from Fiona Cunningham-Read it was clear that making new close friends was very easy for Carol in particular, and thanks to their local postmen, they also quickly discovered that they were not ‘the only gays in the village’.

It’s an inspirational wee film about these women who thrive on the joy of the wine they produce (10000 bottles a year) and the sheer camaraderie of all the friendships that it has bought them.  There was talk about one homophobic neighbor, and a hint of the jealously that their success has caused, but it is also very clear that this will certainly never throw this charismatic couple off their stride.

B.T.W/ The wine is bottled under the name Domaine Les Cabotines and looks like that it is well worth  driving to Languedoc for.

★★★★★★★★