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Terroir
On the gentle banks of the Gironde the vendange engages the entire community. They labour furiously to serve an ancient English family, the Cunninghams, whose magnificent vintages can sell for hundreds of pounds. Cecilia Harman, struggling to discover her vocation, works the sweltering fields from the fresh promise of dawn until the exhausted sun sets. Then, her limbs aching, her skin burning, she enjoys the raucous company of her fellow vendangeurs as the night deepens; nights lively with food, stories and song, and the ever-flowing jugs of wine. Soon she finds herself absorbed into the decadent lives of the Cunninghams. But what is the secret of their wine? Is it the soil, the climate, the blending, or the ageing? Or are there stranger influences that govern the ripening of the dark grapes, that bud and fatten along the creeping green tendrils; struggling every year from the twisted stumps of the ancient vines? What is hidden inside the silent rooms of The Mater Suite in the deserted East wing of the grand Chateau? Who leaves flowers and letters in the family mausoleum? As the months pass the land continues its cycle of the seasons, working deep transformative magic from the composted past; in time the sorcery of terroir reveals its truth.
- GenresHorror
150 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
D.P. Watt
67 books75 followersD.P. Watt is a writer living between Scotland and England in an otherworldly, misty borderland. His collection of stories, An Emporium of Automata was reprinted by Eibonvale Press in 2013, and his second collection, The Phantasmagorical Imperative and Other Fabrications, is now available in paperback. A third collection, Almost Insentient, Almost Divine, appeared with Undertow Publications in 2016 and was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. He won the Ghost Story Award 2015 for his story ‘Shallabalah’ published in The Ghosts and Scholars Newsletter, no 26.You can find him at The Interlude House: www.theinterludehouse.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 28, 2020
arrived 0/26/2020
chapter headings:
007 = Budburst
035 - Shoots and Leaves
053 - Flowering
083 - Veraison
111 - Harvest
148 - Dormacy
“Terrior” by D.P. Watt was First published by Mount Abraxas (Ex Occidente) Press:
Bucharest: 2019, as a limited hardcover,
Cecilia Harman, struggling to discover her vocation, works the sweltering fields from the fresh promise of dawn until the exhausted sun sets. For in France, the grapes in the vineyards are ripe for picking.
Then, her limbs aching, her skin burning, she enjoys the raucous company of her fellow co-workers as the night deepens; nights lively with food, stories and song, and the ever-flowing jugs of wine, especially the red. Soon she finds herself absorbed into the decadent lives of the Cunninghams. But what is the secret of their wine? Is it the soil, the climate, the blending, or the ageing? Or are there stranger influences that govern the ripening of the dark grapes, that bud and fatten along the creeping green tendrils; struggling every year from the twisted stumps of the ancient vines? What is hidden inside the silent rooms of The Mater Suite in the deserted east wing of the grand Chateau? Who leaves flowers and letters in the family mausoleum?
As the months pass the land continues its cycle of the seasons, working deep transformative magic from the composted past; in time the sorcery of terroir reveals its truth.
ter·roir (French word)
/terˈwär/
noun
the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.
chapter headings:
007 = Budburst
035 - Shoots and Leaves
053 - Flowering
083 - Veraison
111 - Harvest
148 - Dormacy
“Terrior” by D.P. Watt was First published by Mount Abraxas (Ex Occidente) Press:
Bucharest: 2019, as a limited hardcover,
Cecilia Harman, struggling to discover her vocation, works the sweltering fields from the fresh promise of dawn until the exhausted sun sets. For in France, the grapes in the vineyards are ripe for picking.
Then, her limbs aching, her skin burning, she enjoys the raucous company of her fellow co-workers as the night deepens; nights lively with food, stories and song, and the ever-flowing jugs of wine, especially the red. Soon she finds herself absorbed into the decadent lives of the Cunninghams. But what is the secret of their wine? Is it the soil, the climate, the blending, or the ageing? Or are there stranger influences that govern the ripening of the dark grapes, that bud and fatten along the creeping green tendrils; struggling every year from the twisted stumps of the ancient vines? What is hidden inside the silent rooms of The Mater Suite in the deserted east wing of the grand Chateau? Who leaves flowers and letters in the family mausoleum?
As the months pass the land continues its cycle of the seasons, working deep transformative magic from the composted past; in time the sorcery of terroir reveals its truth.
ter·roir (French word)
/terˈwär/
noun
the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.
November 21, 2019
* FULL DISCLOSURE - I KNOW AND HAVE PUBLISHED D. P. WATT.*
I discovered D. P. Watt's work some years ago via the publications of Ex-Occidente Press (now Mount Abraxas) and immediately liked his work. Admittedly some more that others, as he has experimented with various styles ('weird' fiction, fantasy and modernism) but it has always been interesting and whatever style/genre he is working in, it is certainly stylish prose.
Of late his work has seemed to have dealt with 'place' or environment (witness his work for Sarob Press 'Darkly Haunting' or Swan Rivers 'The Scarlet Soul') partly, one assumes, in the wake of the U.K.'s vote on Brexit. Whilst I voted to remain within Europe I am not a fan of Brexit related stories (can anyone name a great pro or anti Britain joining the E.E.C. story?) so am pleased to report that this story is not in that vein, although it is about assimilation.
'Terroir' is a term primarily used by wine-makers to describe the environment in which their vines are grown (climate, soil etc) and the story revolves around a post graduate (Celilia Harman) going to harvest grapes in France and falling in love with the son of the vineyard and becoming part of that family.
As with any family, there are idiosyncrasies and much of the book concerns Cecilias adjustments to these. We become aware that there is some sort of secret or possibly even family 'folklore' associated with her arrival; what, for example is the significance of wild boar, or the head servants relationship to the mausoleum? There is a lot of dialogue about wine vintages, good and bad years and special blends and the reader is left to wonder whether we are heading towards M. R. James territory or something more akin to 'folk-horror'. It is masterfully done, particularly in the central section when Cecilia is bored with nothing to do except be the 'lady of house' and feels she is being withheld from the business side of the vineyard.
All is revealed in the final pages when external event come into play) and it is only then that one realizes the significance of the clues that had been given to us earlier in the book. Does she believe or not believe what she has learnt? How will she adjust to whatever she decides? The reader must make that choice.
Did you blink? Then you've probably missed getting a copy of this handsome book, nicely printed (black on thick orange paper) in a tiny run of 122. It's tales like this that make me wish Mount Abraxis runs were longer so that more could enjoy the contents because it's worth trying to find a copy.
I discovered D. P. Watt's work some years ago via the publications of Ex-Occidente Press (now Mount Abraxas) and immediately liked his work. Admittedly some more that others, as he has experimented with various styles ('weird' fiction, fantasy and modernism) but it has always been interesting and whatever style/genre he is working in, it is certainly stylish prose.
Of late his work has seemed to have dealt with 'place' or environment (witness his work for Sarob Press 'Darkly Haunting' or Swan Rivers 'The Scarlet Soul') partly, one assumes, in the wake of the U.K.'s vote on Brexit. Whilst I voted to remain within Europe I am not a fan of Brexit related stories (can anyone name a great pro or anti Britain joining the E.E.C. story?) so am pleased to report that this story is not in that vein, although it is about assimilation.
'Terroir' is a term primarily used by wine-makers to describe the environment in which their vines are grown (climate, soil etc) and the story revolves around a post graduate (Celilia Harman) going to harvest grapes in France and falling in love with the son of the vineyard and becoming part of that family.
As with any family, there are idiosyncrasies and much of the book concerns Cecilias adjustments to these. We become aware that there is some sort of secret or possibly even family 'folklore' associated with her arrival; what, for example is the significance of wild boar, or the head servants relationship to the mausoleum? There is a lot of dialogue about wine vintages, good and bad years and special blends and the reader is left to wonder whether we are heading towards M. R. James territory or something more akin to 'folk-horror'. It is masterfully done, particularly in the central section when Cecilia is bored with nothing to do except be the 'lady of house' and feels she is being withheld from the business side of the vineyard.
All is revealed in the final pages when external event come into play) and it is only then that one realizes the significance of the clues that had been given to us earlier in the book. Does she believe or not believe what she has learnt? How will she adjust to whatever she decides? The reader must make that choice.
Did you blink? Then you've probably missed getting a copy of this handsome book, nicely printed (black on thick orange paper) in a tiny run of 122. It's tales like this that make me wish Mount Abraxis runs were longer so that more could enjoy the contents because it's worth trying to find a copy.
September 1, 2024
A marvellous book of gothic horror. Highly recommended!
March 6, 2020
one of the top books of last year!maybe the highest work by Mr. D.P.Watt. Fantastic setting in rural France, an ancient manor inhabited by a noble and mysterious family, curious ancestral traditions, folklore legends and rare wine degustations, grapes everywhere.... i have already read this twice! A+++++++
April 16, 2023
Watt, D. P. - Terroir
Cecilia, early 20’s, wondering what to do with her life, hires on to work the grape harvest at Château Fontaine.
She catches the eye of Marcel, oldest son and heir apparent.
Mutual attraction and hormone driven activity belie a fleeting undercurrent.
Cecilia’s intuition senses a mystery behind the smile, charm, and grace of Marcel, and indeed, of his whole family.
Questions are evaded or glossed over, as are worries.
And slowly, you, like Cecilia, are eased into story that pulls you down like quicksand.
There was a point in this when I sensed a trope, and really worried Mr. Watt might go that route.
For me, at least, he did not, and I enjoyed this immensely.
Vendange
There is a long passage on the vendange, or grape harvest, and it was bang on.
(Several years ago, I participated in a preliminary harvest in Sonoma County.)
Cecilia, early 20’s, wondering what to do with her life, hires on to work the grape harvest at Château Fontaine.
She catches the eye of Marcel, oldest son and heir apparent.
Mutual attraction and hormone driven activity belie a fleeting undercurrent.
Cecilia’s intuition senses a mystery behind the smile, charm, and grace of Marcel, and indeed, of his whole family.
Questions are evaded or glossed over, as are worries.
And slowly, you, like Cecilia, are eased into story that pulls you down like quicksand.
There was a point in this when I sensed a trope, and really worried Mr. Watt might go that route.
For me, at least, he did not, and I enjoyed this immensely.
Vendange
There is a long passage on the vendange, or grape harvest, and it was bang on.
(Several years ago, I participated in a preliminary harvest in Sonoma County.)
January 8, 2021
Vintage vines of this author for you to harvest, even if that shadow was a monster, and that I in Terror you.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is its conclusion.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long to post here.
Above is its conclusion.
November 14, 2020
A splendidly macabre tale. Loved it.
December 15, 2020
a wonderful read! Just don’t call Cecelia “sissy”.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews