Victorian Vineyard

Gloucestershire: Constable - In association with Christie's Wine Publication, 1983. Hardcover. Maroon boards. Near fine, in very good dust wrapper. 160 pages. 22 x 25 cm. In 1875, two English brothers - Walter and Alfred Gilbey - Bought from an ancient French noble family the château, vineyard and estate of Loudenne, in the heart of the Médoc. They were the first English to venture into the world of French viticulture, and Loudenne remains the longest wholly English-owned vineyard in Bordeaux. A fascinating portrait of an ambitious family, with all its foibles, factions and intrigues - including unpublished diaries and family records. Laid in: two letters from Martin Bamford on Château Loudenne's stationary. Martin Bamford was the director of IDV - International Distillers and Vintners. Also laid in, "an appreciation" of Martin after his death. Owner's presentation on half title page: "For Dottie and Bob, Remembering Martin - Belle and Barney, 21 January 1984" Illustrated throughout. Interior clean and crisp, dust wrapper price-clipped, and lightly toned.