Grape Expectations: A Family's Vineyard Adventure in France

by Caro Feely

Filled with vivid descriptions of delicious wines, great food, and stunning views, this is a unique insight into the world of the winemaker, and a story of passion, dedication, and love When Caro and Sean find the perfect 10-hectare vineyard in Saussignac, it seems like their dreams of becoming winemakers in the south of France are about to come true. But they arrive in France with their young family (a toddler and a newborn) to be faced with a dilapidated 18th-century farmhouse and an enterprise that may never, ever make them a living. Undeterred by mouse infestations, a leaking roof, treacherous hordes of insects, visits from the local farm "police," and a nasty accident with an agricultural trimmer, Caro and Sean set about transforming their "beyond eccentric" winery into a successful business as they embark on the biggest adventure of their lives—learning to make wine from the roots up.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Travel, Wine, France, Food and Drink, Biography

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Caro Feely is a published author, organic farmer, and yoga teacher. She is an engaging speaker and experienced virtual event facilitator.

Her first four books Grape Expectations, Saving our Skins, Vineyard Confessions (originally titled Glass Half Full), and Wine: the Essential Guide, were published by Summersdale. Find out the latest news on Caro’s books due out this year at Caro Feely Author Website .

Caro and her husband Sean run an organic farm and vineyard in South West France where you can stay in beautiful ecological accommodation and attend wine and yoga classes Chateau Feely . Caro also runs walking tours, wine tours and a certified wine school FrenchWine Adventures .

Caro is passionate about the environment, family dynamics, organic farming, wine, and in more recent years, yoga. These threads, and climate change, feature strongly in her current work.

There are two books next up on Caro’s publication roster, ‘Cultivating Change’, a standalone that can also be considered the 4th in the Vineyard series and ‘Saving Sophia’, a standalone book that can also be considered a prequel to ‘Grape Expectations’.

Caro is a registered Yoga Alliance yoga teacher, a WSET* wine educator and a professional with many years of workshop, presentation, training, and management experience with multinational companies including IBM and Accenture. She has a Master’s degree in economics (cum laude); and a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in commerce and economics.

Visit Caro Feely Author Website for more on how to invite her to your book club meeting or another event.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Irish family follows their dream of buying an old chateu and vineyard in France in the hopes of making their livlihood as vintners. They soon discover that running a vineyard is anything but romantic -- days are grueling at best, and downright dangerous at worst (I had no idea how deadly it was to run a vineyard!)

This book held a lot of promise, but instead of a natural story arc, it ended up reading like a series of (entirely too detailed) diary entries. My eyes were definitely glazing over. Perhaps this book would have been better had I been enjoying a glass of artisanal French wine while reading!

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

[Beth Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying wine is second nature here in France. But what does it take to produce a perfect vintage? This no-frills memoir gave me the answers.

An Irish couple moves to the Dordogne. Realising their dream, they buy a vineyard in financial trouble only to find that they have taken on more than they bargained for. And it’s tough on them all. Caro takes the reader on a detailed journey, describing the challenges in renovating their dilapidated farmhouse whilst learning to become wine-makers.

I was fascinated by the gritty realities and sheer hard work needed to make their vineyard a going concern. I was also hugely impressed. I suspect that many others in a similar situation would have given up. Amazingly they struggle on whilst bringing up their young daughters and integrating into their local community. I found this an engrossing book and look forward to reading more about Caro’s life.

[Jeff Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read about making wine in SW France

Such a delight to read this. I interviewed Caro before reading this and her charm, knowledge, and love for the region come roaring through. Fantastic read.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I said `Chateau Haut Garrigue', I bet the first thing that comes to mind is French wine? How often have we all sat down of an evening on holiday, looking out over the beautiful French countryside, drinking a bottle of fruity, spicy French wine and wondered how lovely it would be to live in France, have a view like this everyday and maybe make our own wine? Grape Expectations is the book that tells the story of Caro, Sean and their two young daughters who do just that.

Caro writes honestly about their experiences moving from Ireland to the Bergerac region of France to run an organic vineyard, and her passion and enthusiasm shine through. Living and making a living in France is no holiday and running an organic vineyard is about as far removed from a holiday as you can get. Nothing can quite prepare you for the bureaucracy of setting up a business in France (been there done that), so hats off to the Feely's for attempting it with the added regulations involved in organic wine production. There were times when their future seemed uncertain, but what came across in the book is that they always gave it a bloody good go. Following your dreams can sometimes feel like a nightmare and there are always dark moments. For Sean and Caro these included a couple of nasty accidents that happened to Sean, you could say lots of blood, sweat and tears go into every bottle! The fact that they have been accepted into the local community and more importantly by the local vignerons, many of whose families have been making wine for generations, is a testament to their hard work and passion for organic wine making.

I'm in awe she found the time to write the book and feel very privileged to have been let into their life in France. Time must have been so pressured with two very young daughters to settle into a new life, the day to day running of the vineyard and developing the wine tourism side of the business. She seems to be good at multi tasking as they have just won the prestigious `Best of Wine Tourism 2013' Gold award for sustainable tourism. Caro's writing style is excellent and her descriptions of the wine flavours brought the words to life so I'm sure the vineyard courses she runs will be delivered in a very engaging way.

[Blair Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thought of buying a vineyard in the south of France had been dancing in my head for some time. A brief search on Amazon led me to this fabulous book, one of the very few on the subject. It is well written. From the heart. And it tells the very REAL story of Carol's family moving from Ireland to France and getting neck deep into a foreign business - and a foreign language. Carol describes all the trials and tribulations associated with buying and then operating a vineyard in that part of the world. She goes even further by revealing some of the most intimate elements of what family life is like when you make such a leap from a steady corporate job over to that of basically becoming a farmer of grapes. It is an exciting journey she portrays, yet it is also very sobering. I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in what it is really like to make wine. I assure you that your next sip of that nectar will have you ponder just how much hard work - blood sweat and tears - and money! - goes into producing our favorite end of day medicine. I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into her sequel.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book.

I loved this book which tells of a couple's move from Ireland to France. It's all they've wanted for years.

Arriving in France, the place is pretty rundown. It's going to be a mammoth task. There's so much to do. She tells of hurdles, highs and lows, stress. As well as the renovations inside to do, there's also a huge amount of work involved with the vineyard. It was their dream-but it certainly wasn't all plain sailing. It would strain their relationship, and their bank balance. Would it be worth it? Will they realise their dream?

It sounds like a lovely move to France; pleasant pottering about their vines, making wine...... it's very much different to that! Some totally unpredictable events. They've given a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to this. Blood particularly! There’s certainly much more to vine growing and winemaking than I thought!

Beautifully written, a great read.

[Lorraine Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caro Feely's great book on bringing her family to live on a vineyard in the SW of France is excellent.
A very personal and detailed account of the highs and lows of starting a new business, moving to a new country and everything that goes with this. I'm looking forward to her second book "Saving Our Skins" which is on my list to read.
Well done Summersdale for picking up this author.

If your looking for a good read set in France or are contemplating any variation of living the Good Life in France this is for you!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book up in Saint-Emilion - a great way to keep my vacation fresh.

So great to read this story (and look forward to the next two!). 🍷-making not for the faint of heart! Living the dream (and the nightmare).

[Jesse Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book! I loved reading about the courage of this amazing couple, who literally gave up everything for their dream. Great read, although I got quite confused with all the wine terminology 😂

[Tora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much I went out and attended a wine tasting course! I of course then bought and read the next book. Will have a break now until I get around to the next book, but I do recommend this book for travellers and those interested in wine alike.

[Paulita Kincer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I dream of someday moving to France, I love to read memoirs of other families' adventures as they settle into that beautiful country.
Few authors have written as honestly about the challenges of starting a new life in France as Caro Feely does in her book Grape Expectations. The memoir drew me in so I kept reading, sometimes just to get to the end in hopes that things would turn out better for her. I couldn't imagine trying to rehab a barely livable house while raising a baby and a preschooler and my husband spending every waking moment in the vineyard.
Here's a passage that shows Feely and her husband discovering the ruin they have purchased in Saussignac in the Aquitaine region of France:
The house looked worse than the photos had promised. The shutters were eaten away by rot and termites....
The fence around the 3-metre-high terrace was rusted away, making it a deathtrap for children. The place was thoroughly rundown. I looked at the date 1737, etched above the cellar and thought 'Oh my God, what have we done?' then swallowed back a wave of tears and tried to concentrate on the view. The natural splendour of the valley sprawling below, decked out in the bright greens of summer, was breathtaking.
Feely pulls no punches as she relates the dire financial circumstances she and her family faced, along with the thoughts that the winery would pull her marriage apart.

I enjoyed this book and rooted for Feely and her family throughout. Sometimes the book went into much more detail than I needed about how to make wine and how to farm grapes. But I think some people, like my husband, would enjoy those details, so I've recommended that he read it.
One plodding section of the book went into details about biodynamics, which is extra organic. It's an interesting idea, but again too much detail for someone like me who wanted to hear about the experience of living in France.

A side effect of reading this book was the yearning for wine. I really wanted to drink a lot of wine while I was reading it, no matter the time of day. I also looked up the specific wine that Caro and her husband are creating, and I'd love to visit their vineyard one day to stay in their guest house or take a wine class, so in that way, the book is definitely a success too.


One of my favorite quotes from the book, is actually a quote from Galileo who said, "Wine is sunlight held together by water." That's a beautiful image and encourages me to raise a glass in toast to both Galileo and Caro Feely.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This non-fictional read is about a couple who escaped the rat race, and along with their young children travelled to the wonderful French countryside and bought a vineyard; a rather run down and dilapidated vineyard at that. This in itself was quite eventful for them.

I'm not a wine drinker, but having visited some of the vineyards in France in my school years, I was keen on reading the couple re-cap their journey, sharing with the readers their triumphs and tribulations.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author talking about the renovations that were being made on the farmhouse, and it made me want to go and help out and get stuck in too. However just when they thought they had solved one problem, another appeared in its place. All the while this was being described, I was picturing this in my mind.

I couldn't believe how stressful it was having your own vineyard. You expect it to be hard work, with the planting, the pruning and the gentle tending of the vines. You expect it to be hard work at harvest time. What I didn't ever really think about was the vast amount of French bureaucracy that is involved. These workers work so hard, only to be knocked down at each hurdle by some form that needs filling or something else that needs doing. Even filling in a form isn't straightforward. When you see the hoops they have to jump through, it makes you wonder how French wine is not far more expensive.

What delighted me was the friendliness, kindness and helpfulness shown to them by the locals and other wine growers, even their competitors.

I learnt a lot from this book about the wine making process, and what to look out for in different wines. I loved how all aspects of their life was shared with us. I am full of admiration for them and I don't know if I could give up a secure well paid job to go to another country and work all the hours under the sun. I really liked the author, her family and friends and sincerely hope that all they are doing to live their dream works out well for them.

** At the end of the book, the author directs you to her website about the vineyard. Read the book first and then visit the website to see if its how you pictured it, whilst reading the book **

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever considered chucking it all in and buying a vineyard then I would strongly recommend this book.

Feely, her husband and family did just that, giving up tow well paid jobs in London, and buying a small vineyard in the Bordeaux region. The property was a bit of a wreck, and they had to go from no knowledge and experience of wine making to experts very rapidly. Along the way, Sean suffers a serious injury on his arm, and a little while after loses the top part of one of his fingers. The route to success is tough, not helped by her parents, who are not that supportive.

They almost give it all up, partly because the stress of running the vineyard and raising a family is almost too much. After some strong soul searching they get back on track. They intergrate themselves in the local community, and Caro becomes a respected wine expert in her own right.

Really enjoyed it, but was not always keen on the writing style, hence four stars.

Others that i would recommend are:

A Vineyard in the Dordogne: How an English Family Made Their Dream of Wine and Sunshine Come True

Virgile's Vineyard: A Year in the Languedoc Wine Country

The Ripening Sun

[ROSS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Caro Feely's memoir about her family's brave move from Ireland to a famous wine district in France absorbing, and fascinating. How her family survived those first two years simply placing food on their table was struggle enough. Re-establishing the vineyards, learning how to process their ripened grapes from a base knowledge of near zero, is a stunning achievement in overcoming massive odds. I was aware that French bureaucracy is a trifle over dominating. However, not for a minute did I realize how stifling it is in reality, in holding back new entries into the French wine industry.

I found Caro's writing style held my attention from beginning to end. Thoroughly enjoyed this true life saga. Highly recommend this brilliant little book to others interested in the wine industry and how to survive French bureaucracy.

[Michelle Marie McGrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and inspirational read about a couple moving to France to fulfil a dream of having their own vineyard - with zero experience - and unable to speak French! Their trials and tribulations of the first three years. Great to read this whilst staying here at their wine cottage in the Dordogne and tasting their delicious wine. A great reminder that when we take steps towards our dream we never know how it will unfold and what we will learn along the way. Faith over fear can move mountains. Look forward to reading the second in the series.

[Paul Blakeman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up. Very dry writing style. Seems more like a very badly written personal diary rather than a book written for other people. The book itself is written as to patronize the reader. Would reccommend to stay away.

[Andrew Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking of buying a vineyard in France? Read this book first! Amazing perseverance to see this adventure through. I'll never look at wine the same way again!

[Lindsay Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I read them out of order. I still loved this as much as Saving our Skins, and it was so much tougher for them! Bravo for perseverance.

[Jeannie Boutelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It is a heartfelt story about making a major change in your life, family farming, organic farming, wine making, southwest france, french food, natural wines and the french appellation system. Anyone will find this story interesting whether you are into wine or not. I have visited her winery in Saussignac and it is rustic, sits on a hill and very much like how you imagine it from reading her book. I don't read many books anymore as is evidenced by my lack of reviews on this site. But when I do it is because the book has really drawn me into the story like this one.

If you like traveling, the Dordogne region where Feely's vineyards are located is close to Bordeaux, St. Emilion and the Perigord. I don't like to use the term "learn" much in reviews because it can imply the book is a bit boring. But Feely's book is full of information, real facts, some of which like her descriptions of the cheeses which I have tasted and are truly delicious, will make you want to set up a vacation to the region. It is mind boggling that in between all the things that she needed to attend to as well as her husband and 2 girls, she found time to write this book. You will be happy that you bought it!

[Kt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caro and Sean Feely weren’t the first couple to talk about throwing in their day jobs, buying a vineyard and moving to France. However, unlike most of us that only dream about it, they did it, along with a new born and toddler in tow.

Grape Expectations is Caro’s warts and all take of how she and Sean turned their dreams into reality at what was the very rundown Chateau Haut Garrigue and is now Chateau Feely in the Bergerac region of France. It’s a fantastic read that takes you through the lows of giving up the security of being an employee, dealing with French property laws, learning French as a second language, moving to another country, running their own business, budget blowouts, renovation set backs, the toll it took on the marriage, work place accidents and sacrifice; and the highs of new friendships, their first vintage, their first big order, their Christmas sales, being accepted by their local community and making it through the ongoing and endless red tape of French bureaucracy.

Grape Expectations is not only well written and engaging, it’s also an eye opener about turning your dreams into reality and a must read for anyone thinking about throwing in their day job to pursue their passion. Enjoy it with a glass of wine and some cheese, you’ll be glad you did

[Katya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great beginning to an enjoyable, real-life story of changing your life and chasing your dreams. I found this book inspiring, interesting and also incredibly informative about winemaking. Moving from Dublin to southwest France with two little ones, no actual winemaking experience but a dream and a willingness to work hard made this story very appealing. I love France and am a confirmed Francophile so this helps.

If you love France and love "expat" / moving to France stories then you would enjoy this. If you've held a dream to lead a simpler life, love rural France or imagine you might this is a great read.

It's a great beginning to a set of memoirs which really bring home the hard work, tenacity and creativity winemakers or wine farmers have to have. If you're interested in wine then this would also be a great read as it's the very important human side of wine creation.

I loved it and have read the whole set at least twice. Well worth a read without falling into escapist expat stuff or very dull 'we chose this colour of paint from the DIY shop' type books. This reads well and seems professionally edited.

Enjoyable and 'real'. Love it.

[Jennifer Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This summer I read all three of Caro's wonderful books about her adventures on her family's vineyard in France. In lieu of travel this year, these books gave me the luxury of exploring new places and meeting new people. I have laughed, I have cried, I have learned and I have been inspired. Caro's style of writing is honest and easy to read and you really feel that you know the writer - in fact, you will definitely want to visit the vineyard and meet her after reading these!
Not merely entertainment - though they are certainly entertaining!- Caro's books highlight the importance of living organically and authentically, along with a wealth of knowledge about wine.
I dreaded finishing the third book as I felt I was losing a friend but the bonus here is that you can continue to follow Caro on her adventures on her Chateau Feely website and facebook page.
I thoroughly recommend all three of these books - read them in order if you can. And I challenge you to read them without a glass in hand!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely memoir of the grit it takes to build a dream in a new country. I'll be honest, at first I struggled a bit with the flowery language: the book kicks off with an overload of adjectives and descriptions, but halfway through it becomes all about the story and truly gripping. It made me want to read the second book, which I did, and which is even better! Very inspiring, and I say this as a total wine Flintstone. Good for gaining understanding in how chasing a dream as an expat can be the hardest and the most rewarding thing you can ever do. Hats off to Caro and Sean's mind-boggling energy and courage!

[Anne Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The joys and frustrations of buying a French winery

So enjoyed Caro Feely's first book. From the dream of owing a winery in France, to the daily frustrations of working with French government requirements, to constant fear of failure to the final joy of living your dream and drinking wine you've made. Caro, with humor and honesty, shares the struggles of moving to a new country and learning the challenging job of running a vineyard and making wine. Now every time I drink a glass of wine, I think of those like the Feely family who worked so hard to make it for me to enjoy.

[Ricardo Ribeiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although some aspects of the author personality are a bit annoying to me, overall I did enjoy the book. I read it during a long trip in Asia and it was my companion during a food poisoning episode. It was entertaining and it helped going through the unpleasant moments.

Sometimes I thought it a bit too much focused in the wide production. I liked some of these parts but would like more some highlights about the region, its history, the people around, anyway, whatever which would not be wine production although I understand that would always be the big actor.

[Matt Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rather chanced upon this book in a bookstore, and was drawn to the cover. I’ve a brother in France and just fancied it. What a brilliantly written book highlighting the trials and tribulations of following your passion into the wine business in the most traditional of French settings. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the way it flowed from one season to the next, and enjoyed learning about how the author and her family/friends adapted and thrived in their new surroundings. Beautifully written, I’ll be searching for Caro Feely’s other titles for more enjoyable bedtime reading.

[John Hubbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read that really introduces small wineries and Bergerac well. At times, she is a bit repetitive with topics in a way that is tiring. I bought this at the wonery after a week in the region. Would have been nice to do so beforw my trip.

Her wines are great and her wine tasting and mixing day was so fun and informative.

[Jennifer Smith]

A couple gives up their safe jobs to pursue a dream of of resurrecting a run down vineyard in France, and a bio-dynamic journey begins.
This a great read and adventure of hard work and perseverance to fulfil a goal and stay on course for something you believe in. Château Feely is born and at last well deserved success.

[Vincent Bristow]

Exactly what I had hoped it would be, and more.
Caro is very revealing about her relationship with her husband, and writes well about the experience of taking on this mammoth task. I enjoyed it very much

[Liam Mycroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into the growing pains as the author and family commence their FrenchAdventure. It's a roller coaster of a ride, with lessons for every reader - Go for your dreams.