Season 2, Episode5: Amanda Garnham of the Armagnac Bureau

Today's episode reveals the story of a remarkably resilient English lady who packed her bags, took her kids out of school and headed for rural France many moons ago. It's an dream many of us have had; but not many of us have had the bottle to make a reality. Living in splendid isolation in the shadow of the Pyrenees, Amanda Garnham has carved out a life as a trusted and respected expert on the wonderful world of beautiful French brandy, Armagnac, and she chats to Nick about those early years; about learning France's idiosyncratic way of doing things; of discovering the ancient lore of this evocative spirit that so embodies the lives of those who live and work in Gascony; and about how, in the end, a love of craftsmanship, tradition, wisdom, a thorough understanding and appreciation of the land they live on and a tangible link to the work of their ancestors is what gives residents of miraculous little corner of the world such fulfilled lives. Happy Friday, folks.