Claire de Montesquiou has developed white, rosé and red wines with her armagnac at  Domaine d’Espérance

It was worth going to Claire de Montesquiou’s Spring wine sale just for the pleasure of chatting with her and of getting two sexy young men to accompany me to the car, with heavy cases of wine. I am a faithful lover of Espérance white wine, a beautiful dry Cuvée d’Or in white glass bottles.

The dry Cuvée d’Or sells for €5,50, unbeatable! The elegant label was designed by Jean Charles de Castelbajac

When almost thirty years ago, she took over the Domaine d’Espérance, located in Mauvezin d’Armagnac, south of Bordeaux, Claire de Montesquiou, who is married to an heir of d’Artagnan, had no idea what she was getting into. After planting new armagnac vines and developing the domaine into red, rosé and white wines, she started selling them in Russia, Great Britain and Germany. Her wines are modest in price and great in taste.

Twice a year, Claire de Montesquiou entertains her customers in her Paris garden and it is a charming traditional get-together, where all her friends and chic relatives meet and exchange gossips from the latest lunch at a nearby château  or the love lives of well to do tv stars.

The day was rainy but excellent wines cheered us up. And if you are in the area, make sure to visit domaine d’Espérance this summer in the Lot and try its white and rosé Flocs. An apéritif typical of Gascony. It can make you very happy very fast ! (info@esperance.fr)