Languedoc – Roussillon
, France
Winery Overview
Good friends Tierry (renowned French winemaker) and Guy (British wine industry rebel) created FAT bastard
almost by accident. It started out as an experiment in the back of Thierry’s cellar, leaving a barrel “on the lees”
(yeast cells). He didn’t know what to expect, but when he and Guy tried the wine, Thierry exclaimed, with a strong
French accent, ”Now zat iz what you call eh Phet bast-ard!” This very British expression perfectly described the
wine’s wonderful color and round, rich palate, so that’s what they named it. In 1991, Véronique Torcolacci obtained
her degree in oenology from the University of Toulouse. She joined Gabriel Meffre as oenologist in charge of
quality before becoming head winemaker.
Location of Vineyards
Produced in partnership with Gabriel Meffre and crafted from the low yielding vineyards of the Languedoc-
Roussillon region of France, the wine is remarkably full bodied with a vibrant, fruit forward style. It is no wonder
that Time magazine has referred to FAT bastard as, “Wine for the anti-snob.”
Winemaking Philosophy
When crafting FAT bastard, the objective of Véronique and her team remains the same: never make the slightest
compromise on quality. With this in mind, she regularly visits the Languedoc vineyards, meeting with the
winegrowers and seeking out wines that satisfy her rigorous demands.
As someone who feels strongly about protecting the environment, Véronique raises the issue of sustainable
development with winegrowers and always strives to respect the land and the grape varieties as much as possible
during the winemaking philosophy. Commitment and passion are the driving forces that have enabled her to rise
to this challenge for the past 20 years. Thanks to her unique knowledge, she has obtained more than 100 medals,
several 4 and 5-star ratings, and special mentions for her wines in all the major wine competitions and top wine
magazines. Her skills have also made her a name throughout the profession, particularly in the area of wine bottle
capping and corking.
