TRÈS JOLIE
Abarrel of organic white wine produced by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s estate in the south of France has been sold for more than R135 000 at auction, with the money going to support an agricultural project in Africa.
Winegrowers in the village of Correns, where Pitt and Jolie have their chateau, 80km inland from Saint-Tropez, organised the sale as part of an annual auction to raise funds for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The money was donated to a cooperative which aims to teach young people about sustainable farming.
The Pitt-Jolie barrel was by far the top seller and was bought by local wine merchant Vins Breban. The cask, signed by the couple, holds about 300 bottles, with each bottle therefore worth around R450. This year’s sale made almost R340 000 for the charity, which operates in an area that Jolie visited in March this year alongside UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.
The celebrity couple bought the 17th-century Chateau Miraval in 2008 and since then have cultivated vines on their 400ha. Both are said to take a keen interest in the process; speaking to local producers and discussing how to achieve the best blends. The 35-room estate — where the Hollywood couple spend their summers — is tucked away in its own private valley, with vines sprawling up the hillsides in stonewalled terraces that have been restored to their traditional form.
“It’s a magical place,” said Marc Perrin, a winemaker. “The valley, property of the chateau, offers an unmatched ecosystem and gives the wines a unique style in terms of freshness and elegance.” —