France or Bust
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 6
France or Bust
Hi
Well, I've got to 65 and TLR is coming up 60.
For years (I really mean decades) we have holiday'd in France and have now decided to sell up our self sufficient organic Smallholding in Sunny Devon and toddle off to the Dordogne.
Despite our really healthy lifestyle here the onslaught of arthritis, joint replacements (plural) and both of having suffered cancer some years back, means there are only so many sacks of animal feed, bales of hay and straw, bags of compost we can lift.
Time for longer summers and shorter winters.
Our favoured area is just a few km south of Bergerac near places like Castillones, Villarreal, Issigeac etc, so if we have any potential neighbours just flag it up.
We love to be self sufficient in growing food, brewing beers, ciders and wines, beekeeping, preserving and so on. TLR is an excellent seamstress and I love to weld, wood turn and grow tomatoes, grapes, blueberries etc etc.
Well, I've got to 65 and TLR is coming up 60.
For years (I really mean decades) we have holiday'd in France and have now decided to sell up our self sufficient organic Smallholding in Sunny Devon and toddle off to the Dordogne.
Despite our really healthy lifestyle here the onslaught of arthritis, joint replacements (plural) and both of having suffered cancer some years back, means there are only so many sacks of animal feed, bales of hay and straw, bags of compost we can lift.
Time for longer summers and shorter winters.
Our favoured area is just a few km south of Bergerac near places like Castillones, Villarreal, Issigeac etc, so if we have any potential neighbours just flag it up.
We love to be self sufficient in growing food, brewing beers, ciders and wines, beekeeping, preserving and so on. TLR is an excellent seamstress and I love to weld, wood turn and grow tomatoes, grapes, blueberries etc etc.
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: France or Bust
All the best with your plans and welcome to the forum
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 6
Re: France or Bust
Thank you.
It just occured to me that I might be taking one or two things for granted.
Having read my post I began to wonder what the 'Home Brewing' rules are in France....can we can't we????
I did have a google and found that any clear info is pretty sparse so I then wondered....surely there must be some ex-pats on this forum who have looked into this/gone to prison/run illicit stills etc etc. who could lend some first hand advice.
And yes there will be a spare room :-)
It just occured to me that I might be taking one or two things for granted.
Having read my post I began to wonder what the 'Home Brewing' rules are in France....can we can't we????
I did have a google and found that any clear info is pretty sparse so I then wondered....surely there must be some ex-pats on this forum who have looked into this/gone to prison/run illicit stills etc etc. who could lend some first hand advice.
And yes there will be a spare room :-)
Last edited by Poppa T; Nov 30th 2015 at 11:39 am. Reason: more content
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: France or Bust
People will come and help you drink that beer ! NOT me, I am TT !
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: Dépt 61
Posts: 5,254
Re: France or Bust
No but I have drunk probably-illicit stuff brewed by others which seems to me the best way to get involved in all this. And I don't think anyone went to prison.
I don't think there is a big home-brew beer culture here and with wine at 1,99€ for a bottle of drinkable I doubt too many people do that either, but think calvados, ratafia, cidre fermier and wicked concoctions based on alcool de fruit
I don't think there is a big home-brew beer culture here and with wine at 1,99€ for a bottle of drinkable I doubt too many people do that either, but think calvados, ratafia, cidre fermier and wicked concoctions based on alcool de fruit
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,888
Re: France or Bust
Thank you.
It just occured to me that I might be taking one or two things for granted.
Having read my post I began to wonder what the 'Home Brewing' rules are in France....can we can't we????
I did have a google and found that any clear info is pretty sparse so I then wondered....surely there must be some ex-pats on this forum who have looked into this/gone to prison/run illicit stills etc etc. who could lend some first hand advice.
And yes there will be a spare room :-)
It just occured to me that I might be taking one or two things for granted.
Having read my post I began to wonder what the 'Home Brewing' rules are in France....can we can't we????
I did have a google and found that any clear info is pretty sparse so I then wondered....surely there must be some ex-pats on this forum who have looked into this/gone to prison/run illicit stills etc etc. who could lend some first hand advice.
And yes there will be a spare room :-)
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 365
Re: France or Bust
Home brewing appears to be legal based on this Faites de la bière
Dmu is right ; it is allowed to brew beer however it is not possible to sell it without legal authorisation.
Rules are not the same for other alcoholic beverages.
Last edited by babyposer; Dec 1st 2015 at 5:25 am.
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: 61 Normandy
Posts: 297
Re: France or Bust
AFAIK you can brew your own beers, wines and ciders etc. as much as you like. However, for spirits such as Calvados, you need a licence. Having said that, there is a mobile still in this area for the distillation of Calvados which seems to get around the problem, i.e. the Calvados is made from your apples, but the licence is with the distiller.
#15
Re: France or Bust
France & bust.
Two things very close to my heart.....
Two things very close to my heart.....
Spoiler:
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Dec 1st 2015 at 2:59 pm.