Who is it today

Domaine Treloar is a small, high-quality wine producing estate in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

It is owned and operated by Englishman Jonathan Hesford and his Kiwi wife, Rachel Treloar. Rachel's Maori and Cornish ancestry is reflected in their logo.

Jonathan is a qualified Viticulturist and Oenologist. He graduated top of his class at Lincoln University, New Zealand's premiere wine academy.

He was then employed for 2 years as the assistant winemaker atNeudorf Vineyards, one of the most highly regarded wineries in New Zealand.

Here in the Roussillon we bring together a passion for good wine, New World techniques and the wonderful local terroir.

Our aim is to make the best wines possible from every vintage.

Read the full story ...

St Juste

Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just (IPA: [sɑ̃ʒust]) (25 August 1767 – 28 July 1794), usually known as Saint-Just, was a French revolutionary and military leader. Closely allied with Robespierre, he served with him on the Committee of Public Safety, becoming heavily involved in the Reign of Terror and was executed with him after the events of 9 Thermidor. ..........Read more

St Geraud

These are the traditional fishing boats, tied up in Collioure. Look at that beautiful clear sky and sea like a mill pond. Well it wont be like that today, the Tramontana wind arrived yesterday and the white caps are looking stunning.

St Geraud is todays Saints day.

Gerald of Aurillac or Saint Gerald (c. 855 – 909) is a French saint of the Roman Catholic Church, also recognized by other religious denominations ofChristianity.

Gerald was born into the Gallo-Roman nobility as the son of the Count of Aurillac, to which title he succeeded. The details of his life known today come primarily from the The Life of St. Gerald of Aurillac (c. 930–931) written by St. Odo of Cluny. According to Odo, Gerald suffered various illnesses as a child, and in later life was to suffer blindness. He seriously considered joining a religious order, but was persuaded against it by Geusbert, Bishop of Cahors, on the grounds that with his social position he could do more good by remaining in the world as a layman. Nevertheless, he consecrated his life in service to God, gave away his possessions, took a personal vow of chastity and prayed the breviary each day.^{[1].......... Read more}

St Wilfried

Wilfrid (originally spelled Wilfrith)^[3] (c. 633 – c. 709) was an English bishop and saint. Born a Northumbrian noble, he entered the religious life as a teenager and studied at Lindisfarne, at Canterbury, in Gaul, and at Rome; he returned to Northumbria in about 660, and became the abbot of a newly founded monastery at Ripon. In 664 Wilfrid acted as spokesman for the Roman "party" at the Council of Whitby, and became famous for his speech advocating that the Roman method for calculating the date of Easter should be adopted. His success prompted the king's son, Alhfrith, to appoint him Bishop of Northumbria. Wilfrid chose to be consecrated in Gaul because of the lack of what he considered to be validly consecrated bishops in England at that time. During Wilfrid's absence Alhfrith seems to have led an unsuccessful revolt against his father, Oswiu, leaving a question mark over Wilfrid's appointment as bishop. Before Wilfrid's return Oswiu had appointed Ceadda in his place, resulting in Wilfrid's retirement to Ripon for a few years following his arrival back in Northumbria.........Read more

So why the photo of USAP (Perpignan). It is amazing how things change so quickly, even down here in sunny Pyrenees Orientales.. About this time last year, as the Heineken Cup got underway, we went to watch USAP against Leicester and had the privilege of watch Dan Carter steer the team to success. One week later and Dan was out for the season.....Somehow, this seemed to bolster the rest of the team and later on in 2009 USAP were champions of France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

So now the new season has started, the team are lying about 4th in the Top 14 table and Heineken Cup Fever has started all over again. STOP. Benetton Treviso 9 USAP 8.

Allez les champions

St Firmin

Saint Fermin of Amiens

(also Firmin, from Latin, Firminus; in Spanish, Fermín; in Basque, Fermin) is one of many locally venerated Catholic saints. Fermin is the co-patron of Navarra, where his feast, the 'San Fermín' in the capital Pamplona, is forever associated with the Encierro or 'Running of the Bulls' made famous by Ernest Hemingway. Fermin was long venerated also at Amiens, where he met martyrdom.........Read More

Glad to say that the sun is back and the temperature is due to reach the heady hights of 24 Degs. Not bad for the middle of October. we have been keeping an eye on the Pic de Canigou but as yet there is no snow. If we get a year like last year then The Pyrenees will be a great place to visit for your skiing holiday. We went up for a short break last season and had some of the best snow that we have every skied on.

St Ghislain

Saint Ghislain (died October 9, 680) was a confessor and anchorite in Belgium. He died at the town named after him, Saint-Ghislain (Ursidongus).

He was probably of German origin. Ghislain lived in the province of Hainaut in the time of Saint Amand (d. 679) and Saints Waudru, Aldegonde, andMadelberte. With two unknown disciples he made a clearing in the vicinity of Castrilocus (now Mons, in Hainault), taking up later his abode at a place called Ursidongus, where he built an oratory or chapel dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

The photo is of the Chateau Comtal, Carcassonne.

Raymond-Roger lived in the Château Comtal in the fortified hill town of Carcassonne. The château was built by his ancestors in the 11th century. Raymond-Roger was not a Cathar, although many of his subjects were. He adopted a laissez-faire attitude to Catharism – and to other cultures and religions. He relied strongly on Jews to run Béziers, his second seat of power.

By mid-1209, at the beginning of the Albigensian Crusade, around 10,000 crusaders had gathered in Lyon and began to march south. In June, Raymond of Toulouse, recognizing the potential disaster at hand, promised to act against the Cathars, and his excommunication was lifted. The crusaders headed towards Montpellier and the lands of Raymond-Roger de Trencavel, aiming for the Cathar communities around Albi and Carcassonne. Like Raymond VI of Toulouse, Raymond-Roger de Trencavel sought an accommodation with the crusaders, but Raymond-Roger was refused a meeting and raced back to Carcassonne to prepare his defences. The city of Béziers was sacked in July and its population massacred......................Find out more on wiki

Acouple of good books linked to the Carcassonne area are.

Narrow Dog to Carcassonne

Labyrinth

Ceret, South France

Friday 9th October. Had to use an old photo as it is very overcast today. Here in France it is St Denis, saints day. St Denis was Bishop of Paris in approx. A.D. 250. He is venerated as patron of Paris, France. Further Information.

Ceret is a delightful destination for anyone looking to find unspoilt areas of France or Northern Ctalonia, where you can sample a mix of French/Spanish culture. You can find a selection of places to stay at www.french-med-property.com