For most people giving up the day job and moving to a beautiful area of France and living off the vines is an impossible but delicious dream. In 1990, Patricia Atkinson and her husband decided to sell up in Britain and emigrate to the Dordogne. Their idea was to buy a house with a few vines attached and employ someone to tend to the wine while they earned their living with some financial consultancy work. There followed a series of disasters: the stock market crashed leaving their small holding as their sole source of income; the first red wine harvest turned to vinegar; and Patricia's husband returned to Britain, unable to cope with the stress and never returned. Patricia Atkinson, whose only knowledge of wine up to that moment was 'that it came from a bottle' and who had not a word of French, was left to salvage their life savings form the vineyards. What follows is a remarkable story of struggle and transformation whereby her tiny 4 hectare plot has become a major estate of 21 hectares, where her Clos d'Yvigne wines have won awards and been adopted by wine merchants throughout the world and where she has been hailed as a superstar by UK wine writers.
The Ripening Sun: One Woman and the Creation of a Vineyard
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'a story which will inspire many' -- Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, 3rd April, 2003
'inspirational reading' -- The Week, 3rd May, 2003
It's an excellent and enjoyable read' -- Everything France, June 2003
amazing and amusing...unputdownable -- The Lady
remarkable...an extraordinarily affecting read -- Daily Mail
'inspirational reading' -- The Week, 3rd May, 2003
It's an excellent and enjoyable read' -- Everything France, June 2003
amazing and amusing...unputdownable -- The Lady
remarkable...an extraordinarily affecting read -- Daily Mail
Book Description
The Ripening Sun plugs directly into the fascination for books by inspirational women who have dared to live their dream, such as Extra Virgin and The Olive Farm. An inspiring autobiography, set in romantic France, to be enjoyed by fans of wine and success stories worldwide. (20030402)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
"One woman and the creation of a vineyard". Oh no, not another book about Brits moving to France to live their dream! But this one really does stand out from the crowd -- unlike the mediocre Virgile's Vineyard, this book is definitely worth reading.
Curiously, I remember seeing Patricia Atkinson in a programme on Channel 4 in about 1993 -- one of the first programmes of that type. She and her husband had moved to Bergerac to live in a beautiful old house and grow vines. But within months the husband contracted a debilitating illness and returned to the UK, leaving Patricia on her own, struggling to cultivate four hectares of vines with no knowledge of French, wine, or how to drive a tractor. She survived, and funnily enough she reappeared on a programme on French television a few months back -- now a respected winemaker who regularly wins prizes and gets her wines into the Guide Hachette.
Not only does she make good wine, she turns out to write quite well too -- recording her fears and insecurities as she struggles along on her own. The winemaking idea had been entirely her husband's, but she is obviously someone who believes that if she has to do something she will do it well, and she discovers talents that might never have been revealed otherwise -- not only learning the numerous skills required to grow grapes and make wine, but developing the physical strength needed to drive tractors, shovel grape debris, prune vines, and heave pipes, pumps and barrels about in the winery. And as if that weren't enough, she turns out to have a remarkably well-developed palate, to the extent that after a few years she is invited to join the official tasting committee for Bergerac AOC wines.
She relates all this with a pleasing humility, and it's clear how her courage, determination and willingness to learn endeared her to her neighbours, who rallied round to help her. By the end of the book she has truly become an integral part of the small community of Gageac. Bravo to her, and eat your heart out, Peter Mayle!
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I agree with one of the other readers - I could not put this book down but at the same time didn't want it to end. It is much better than other books in this same genre which tend to be a bit glib for my taste. The author shares a lot of real life stories with us and not just the pretty "up" ones. I felt like I knew the people she was writing about and was really heartbroken when one in particular died. And for her to become a vigneronne without any previous experience is amazing, I was in awe of what she has accomplished. I love this book!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By allen scott
Format:Paperback
...inspirational.
a truly remarkable story from a truly remarkable lady. a bit of peter mayle here, a bit of tour de france there, lashings of fresh air, wine, and great company; who could ask for more? read in one day...tres magnifique!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and inspiring
This book has been a joy to read. Ms Atkinson portrays the many intricacies and delicacies inherent to French life, and ensures the reader is swept along in the narrative... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr Jacob W E Swain
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
I have read this before years ago and loved it. Loved it this time too. Some sad bits but some great bits too
Published 3 months ago by jack
4.0 out of 5 stars
Running a vineyard
If you are wondering about buying a vineyard abroad then this will be of great interst. although in France I found it very interesting as we about to buy one in Italy and it gave a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by court
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic read!
'The Ripening Sun' by Patricia Atkinson tells the story of how one woman, Patricia, who knew nothing about wine production, bought a vineyard in France and started to make her own... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ben_H
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating read
Patricia Atkinson is a very plucky lady and if you are at all interested in how the wine you drink is made then you will enjoy this fascinating book. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Burghmuir
4.0 out of 5 stars
The ripening sun
This is a good holiday read although it becomes a bit repetative when it comes to the vines and pruning/picking. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2010 by edmoraz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Making wine and losing loved ones
This is the story of one woman and her vineyard. Patricia Atkinson bought a vineyard in the Dordogne with her husband and moved there in 1990. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by M. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Inspirational Story
I agree with most of the above comments on this book. It certainly opened my eyes to the exhaustive process of wine making and French Beaurocracy! Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2008 by G. M. Martin
3.0 out of 5 stars
An admirable woman's story ...
I first came across this lady in the Channel 4 series "A French Affair" in 1994, it being the story of 4 families who relocated to the Dordogne, and was struck dumb with admiration... Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2007 by The Librarian
1.0 out of 5 stars
Where there's grape there's groans
What a turgid, boring, heartless awful book. Not a single emotion, not a single well written sentence, not a tear shed for a marriage ending nor a dear friend dying young. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2007 by T. Lancaster
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