A love story
CHAPTER 1
Two Continents
Paul : I was born in Villefranche de Lauragais in 1993, but my heart was always in the Corbières where we spent most of our holidays with my mother’s side of the family.
Sarah : I was born on the East Coast of the USA in 1992 and I am very proud of my New England heritage. My parents, who brought my brother and I on many business trips, gave me the love of travel and international gastronomy at a young age.
CHAPTER 2
Two Paths
Paul : I studied Oenology and Viticulture in Carcassonne at Lycee Charlemagne. Once I got my BTS, I felt the need to travel before taking over the family vineyard.
I spent two years working for Vela Wines in Central Otago, New Zealand where I learned “New World” vineyard techniques with a great team and met the love of my life.
Sarah : I earned a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, Boston, MA. After graduating, I worked in a brewery during the day and took evening sommelier classes at Boston University.
After a year of wine immersion in Beantown I wanted to get a hands on experience in a winery or vineyard, and so packed up for New Zealand when an opportunity called.
CHAPTER 3
A Shared Horizon
Sarah :After six months working together in New Zealand an unexpected romance budded between us.
Many days were spent hiking around Lake Wanaka with awesome Central Otago Pinot Noirs and meat pies in our packs.
We were both pulled into New Zealand’s majestic atmosphere, and with its magic, our story started with an excitement for the many possibilities we could share together.
Paul : Sarah was the first to take the plunge with visas by spending a year in Angers studying the French language while I obtained a professional license.
In 2017 we moved to California to work for two fantastic family wine estates. I had the pleasure of working and learning from Paul Sloan of Small Vines in Sebastopol. Sarah on her side worked at UNTI Vineyards in Healdsburg.
With the loss of Sarah’s father in 2018 we decided to stay closer to her family on the East Coast. I did harvest with Ravines Winery in Geneva, NY while Sarah took on the Big Apple working for a French wine importer.
CHAPTER 4
Our Future Together
Sarah : On our annual trip to Maine, Paul knelt down on the rocky beach one misty morning and asked me to be his partner for life.
We got married at the Abbaye de Fontfroide (Narbonne, FR) in a bilingual celebration surround by friends and family from all over the world.
It was a fairy-tale weekend.
Paul :Now we are here to stay, to create a community in Cruscades, to make the best wine we can, and to show the world how phenomenal the Corbieres region really is.
If I could convince Sarah, I think we can convince everyone else.
The Calmon family
It all started in 1878 with Vincent Calmon, the great-great-great grandfather of Paul, 145 years ago.