Praise for Glass Half Full:
'Caro Feely is a force of nature! Her new book Glass Half Full tells the story of her family's adventure to live, love and make healthy, natural wine on their small vineyard in France. Caro draws the reader into her world with its all of its challenges, triumphs and heartaches.'
Mike Veseth, author of Wine Wars and Extreme Wine and editor of The Wine Economist
'A brave and compelling tale about a gnarly life in the vines and the choices we frail humans make in our emotional journeys.'
Alice Feiring, author and journalist
'Honest and touching. Caro Feely gives us the real thing, not only living the dream of making great wine in France but the stress and work required while raising a family and holding a marriage together. And at the same time, she has produced a hugely readable, persuasive and informative book on organic wine-making, and why we need to heal our soil and change the way we farm.'
Martin Walker, bestselling author of Bruno, Chief of Police series
Praise for Saving Our Skins:
'Earnest and winning sincere and passionate'
Eric Asimov, New York Times Book Review
'Caro Feely has written a careening memoir in Saving Our Skins. So impassioned that it could inspire you to drop all security, move to the backwaters of France, and bet your life, all for the love of making wine.'
Alice Feiring, author and journalist
'Should be required reading for anyone who loves wine! Even a teetotaller will drink up every page of Saving Our Skins, for the fascinating behind-the-scenes of organic farming. Making good wine is truly a labour of love and respect for the earth often, we learn, at the expense of the wine farmer. Caro takes us along in her grape-stained pocket to experience the picking, the pressing, and the profit questioning: can her family afford to continue making natural wine? We quickly turn the pages, eager to find out and we can't help but root for Caro et compagnie as they creatively keep on top of things, namely a precious heap of grapes!'
Kristin Espinasse, author of French Essais, Blossoming in Provence and Words in a French Life
'In Saving Our Skins, Caro's courage and determination leaps off every page, redefining what it means to be brave when you're at the mercy of the weather, uncertain cashflow and endless, often puzzling, French bureaucracy. Caro has produced a beautifully written sequel which in turn seduced and terrified me about the prospect of owning an organic vineyard in rural France. I thoroughly enjoyed the urgency of her writing I needed a rather large glass of wine when I'd finished. Bravo, Caro.'
Samantha Brick, author and journalist
'Caro Feely understands that winemaking is an art, a science and a business. Saving Our Skins entertains and informs as it tells the story of her family's struggle to make a living making organic and biodynamic wine in the south of France. Requiredreading for wine lovers everywhere and anyone dreaming a vineyard dream.'
Mike Veseth, author of Wine Wars and Extreme Wine and editor of The Wine Economist
Praise for Grape Expectations:
'Captivating reading for anyone with dreams of living in rural France.'
Destination France
'I was moved and delighted by this book, which has vast and useful amounts to say about wine and the passion of wine-making, about France and the great adventure of family life, and above all about the trials and challenges that build a marriage splendid book.'
Martin Walker, bestselling author of the Bruno, Chief of Police series
'Really liked Caro's book; it's not the usual fall in love with France story, it's warts and all including horrific accidents! Definitely the best and most realistic tome coming from the 'A Year in Provence' genre.'
Joe Duffy, Irish radio personality
'bright, passionate, inspiring, informative and absolutely delicious'
Breadcrumb Reads blog
'Filled with vivid descriptions of delicious wines, great food a story of passion, dedication, and love'
Bookalicious Travel Addict blog
ALSO BY CARO FEELY
Grape Expectations
Saving Our Skins
Wine: The Essential Guide to Tasting, History, Culture and More
GLASS HALF FULL
Copyright Caro Feely, 2017
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the publishers.
Caro Feely has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Condition of Sale
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Summersdale Publishers Ltd
46 West Street
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1RP
UK
www.summersdale.com
eISBN: 978-1-78685-142-0
Substantial discounts on bulk quantities of Summersdale books are available to corporations, professional associations and other organisations. For details contact general enquiries: telephone: +44 (0) 1243 771107, fax: +44 (0) 1243 786300 or email: .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caro Feely can usually be found juggling vineyard, wine school, accommodation and writing deep in south-west France. She and husband Sen produce wine and much of their own food, with the help of their daughters Sophia and Ellie, on their certified organic farm. No matter what she is juggling, at the end of the day, one hand usually has a glass (half full) of wine in it.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
This is a true story. However, some names and the order of events have been changed for privacy and for the flow of the story. Speech is based on memory and seeks to capture the essence of the moment.
In memory of Peta-Lynne 'Blossom', our beloved Mum Feely
This is a story about the ebb and flow of life and love, of living and dying, a shout for the earth, for nature, for us and our future
It doesn't matter if the glass is half full or half empty there is always room for more wine.
Anonymous
CONTENTS
PART 1
FIRE AND FRUIT
Nature has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do.
Wendell Berry
CHAPTER 1
HAIL THE DESTROYER
