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31st July 2010
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 White Stone Black Wine by Amanda LawrenceLife among the ancient vineyards of the Quercy BlancA light-hearted and whimsical romp through the lovely Quercy Blanc, one of the last undiscovered corners of southern France. White Stone Black Wine is generously slanted towards the regional specialities and famed local wines. It is as light as a soufflé, just as delicious and will fall very happily into a holiday suitcase. The Quercy Blanc – named for its white stone – is a wild and sparsely populated area of rural France, squeezed between the great wine trading port of Bordeaux and the fizzing city of the south, Toulouse. It’s home to the goose and the grape, sumptuous foie gras, the mysterious black truffle and world famous Agen prunes. There are miles of walnut groves and, most important of all, acres of vines.  The author introduces us to some colourful local characters, freezes from the kneecaps down whilst braving the famous winter truffle market in Lalbenque, throws herself with Gallic gusto into numerous fetes and uncovers traces of the luminaries who once called this place home. From Champollion, who translated the Rosetta stone, to the illustrious Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose marriage to Henry Plantagenet brought the area to the English crown.About the author: Born in the sedate southern counties, Amanda Lawrence was blessed with pioneering parents who regularly bumped her down the primitive roads of continental Europe. The Quercy was always a favourite halt, slowly working its charm on her until she finally succumbed. It’s now where she lives and works, overlooking the famous Cahors vineyards. Author's comment: White Stone Black Wine is a light hearted and witty tale of my experiences as an Englishwoman in the Quercy – our move to France, buying a house, dealing with bureaucracy, the food, wine, places in the region. It would be ideal holiday reading for the thousands of people who dream of doing exactly the same thing. The Lot (Quercy) region is still relatively undiscovered. It’s south of the popular and increasingly overcrowded Dordogne. It’s lesser known among the English – many people who come on holiday to the region will say they have been to the Dordogne, when in fact they’ve been in the Lot. The two departments that make up the area (Lot and Tarn et Garonne) are among the least populated in France. In the Lot itself there is no industry and life in the region still revolves around agriculture and the cycle of the seasons. The book also has generous helpings of local specialities – not forgetting the famous Cahors black wines. French Magazine Review The following review appeared in the October 2008 issue of French Magazine: Since Peter Mayle first put pen to paper to document his "Year in Provence", dozens - nay, hundreds judging by the strained look on our postman's face - have attempted to do the same, with varying degrees of success. Lawrence is the latest of these faithfully recounting her relocation to the Quercy Blanc with a familiar wry smile in the first person style that many Mayle fans find so appealing. We may be slightly cynical (you would be too if you had to read as many of these as we do) but Lawrence is quite the charmer, casting a similar spell over her readers as she did with those canny French folk. Review By Sarah Weston, Freelance Journalist The allegory ‘White Stone, Black Wine’ epitomizes the Quercy; a region in the Midi Pyrenees famous for its limestone buildings, the culinary delights of the duck, and the rich red wine from the ripened grapes which grow on the vineyards of Cahors. The book is a light hearted account of Amanda Lawrence’s first year living in the France, an essential read for any Francophiles or those thinking of moving to the area. The Lawrence family soon become accustomed to their European lifestyle and learn like most things in France, all situations revolve around ‘food’. Amanda becomes the French hostess preparing the dishes of the south west, and goes on a culinary expedition. She illustrates how to prepare a Quercynoise ham for Christmas; makes fresh oil from the olives from her trees; a rich Toulousian cassoulet to warm the soul on a wintry evening. A good French dish only needs one accompaniment; Amanda describes a visit to her local Chateau to buy wine ‘en vrac’ and makes walnut liqueur. The narrative is informal, as if she’s writing a letter to a friend, it’s a tale of living in France giving the reader sound advice on various subjects, blended with an almanac of everything you need to know about your new lifestyle. She goes beyond the meanings of everyday French words. Living in a new area can be enjoyable; Amanda explores the local towns around the region, giving insight on their vibrant history. There have been many books written about people’s peoples experiences of living in France, Amanda Lawrence is worthy of the genre. Read a sample from White Stone Black Wine Order A Signed Copy White Stone Black Wine is also available from Amazon, most other online bookstores and all good bookshops in the UK and Quercy. Holidays and Leisure Home Page |
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