Thursday, July 3, 2008
Burgundy, France
Dear International Living Reader,
If you’ve ever driven across France, you’ll have caught more than a glimpse of vine-covered slopes and valleys on your way through. And if, like me, you have a taste for the liquid produce of those vines, you’ve probably shared a similar dream of making your own wine. This year I found the next best thing—I bought a house next door to a vineyard.
My appetite was whetted by a trip to Chablis in Burgundy, two hours southeast of Paris. A glass of crisp Chablis or silky Petit Chablis is a real treat, and I started house-hunting in the area. I was not alone—homes in these villages don’t stay on the market for long. One stunning three-bedroom property of 1,075 square feet with creamy exposed stone walls and an old bread oven on sale for €107,000 ($168,000) looks sure to be snapped up. The area is also a little too flat for me, so I headed west toward the Loire river to explore the rolling farmland of the Puisaye area, the stunning views from Sancerre…and even more affordable house prices.
Sancerre is a quaint town of half-timbered houses perched 490 feet above the upper reaches of the Loire. The main square has a number of pastry shops, wine cellars, and realtors along the café terraces. From the walkway of the Porte César, you have panoramic views of the vineyards and villages that cover the slopes below. You can also see the Loire and one of the canals that cuts through the region. There’s an active tourist office and the Maison du Sancerre—the region’s wine center—regularly holds tastings and other events.
Houses here and in neighboring Saint-Satur farther down the slope are a lot more affordable than you would imagine. One small house on the edge of Sancerre that I saw for €23,000 ($36,000) was sold in less than a week, but there’s another of 720 square feet with exposed beams, an attic, and a yard and garage that just needs a little modernizing for €56,000 ($87,800).
And where did I end up? In the village of Pouilly-sur-Loire, where I have a choice of two types of wine: the famous Pouilly-Fumé made with Sauvignon grapes, and a less-well-known slurping wine made with Chasselas. I’m a minute from the nearest wine-making estate, plus I have a choice of free tastings at more than 15 producers, all within walking distance of the house—and discounts of up to 50% by buying direct.
Leigh Fergus
Europe Editor, International Living
Editor’s note: Subscribers to International Living magazine can access Leigh’s full article including realtor contact details here. Not a subscriber? Sign up here and get our monthly magazine. It is filled with information on affordable property in Europe and Latin America, as well as excellent expat advice from our experts.
