Reine, her real name and the word for Queen in French, was destined to live up to her namesake. She grew up among the grapes of the Pécharmant wine producing region near Bergerac and has been nurturing these fields and her family for the better part of 80 years. Not only has her domaine (Domaine du Haut Pecharmant) created a delicious array of wines, but also a thriving family business, and a reputation that precedes her.
“She’s famous,” says Olivier when he introduces his 85-year-old Grandmother as “Madame Roches”. He adds, “You can’t escape the history.”
Looking less like a family matriarch and more like a proud grandmother, Reine squeezes Olivier’s arm and smiles, moving slowly with her walking stick to greet us. Olivier and his brother Didier are the 4th generation to manage the operations of the business, and are unmistakably proud to be a part of this living history. Michel Roches, Reine’s son and Olivier and Didier’s father, joins us in the wine cave for a small tour.
“We have always been aware of the presence of those who have been here before us,” reflects Michel. “My mother transferred to me a magnificent job, and all I had to do was follow her example. Now, my sons take part in this story.”
To read more a this 'queen' and her family's history in the vines around Bergerac, read Dordogne Stories: Tales From The Table.
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